Southwest Iowa Nonprofit for Collective Impact celebrated a major milestone Tuesday as donors, community leaders and project partners gathered for a sneak peek and ribbon cutting of Rivers Edge Phase Four. The $60 million project is privately funded. The event celebrated three signature amenities to River’s Edge Park in Council Bluffs.
The project includes the MidAmerican Energy Adventure Tower, Ty and Linda Heithoff Borman Treetop Walk and the Charles E. Lakin Foundation Pier. Despite the ribbon cutting, the projects are not quite ready to open to the public.
Located along the Missouri River at the foot of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, River’s Edge has transformed dramatically over the past two decades. What began with environmental restoration efforts in 2007 has grown into a public destination that attracts residents and visitors with trails, events and connections to downtown Omaha.
SINC led the fundraising and project management efforts for River’s Edge Phase Four. The project was funded entirely through private donations and foundation support, in addition to a grant from the Iowa Department of Economic Development and Pottawattamie County with no tax increases used to fund construction.
The Iowa West Foundation provided the lead gift of $16.5 million.
“River’s Edge creates opportunities for future generations while connecting people to the river and the natural environment around them,” said Pete Tulipana, president and CEO of SINC. “This project would not have been possible without the vision and generosity of our donors, foundations, partners, and community leaders who believed in what River’s Edge could become.”
The centerpiece of Phase Four is the MidAmerican Energy Adventure Tower, made possible through a lead gift of $5 million from MidAmerican Energy.
Standing 138 feet tall, the tower features multiple observation platforms offering views of the Missouri River, surrounding woodlands and Omaha skyline. The structure also includes a 50-foot outdoor climbing wall designed to meet pre-Olympic speed climbing specifications, a roll-glide attraction spanning nearly 480 feet and a simulated caving experience totaling approximately 400 linear feet.
The tower was designed above the flood zone at levee elevation and engineered to withstand Missouri River flood conditions while providing year-round access to visitors.
Adjacent to the tower is the Bormann Family Treetop Walk, funded partially by a lead gift from Ty and Linda Bormann. The approximately one-half-mile elevated walkway carries visitors through restored woodland habitat while connecting the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge to the adventure tower. The experience offers a new perspective of the riverfront ecosystem and allows visitors to experience the canopy level of the woodland landscape.
The Charles E. Lakin Foundation Pier, made possible through a lead gift from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation, extends visitors beyond the shoreline and creates a unique above-water experience along the Missouri River. The pier includes gathering spaces and scenic overlooks designed to bring people closer to the river itself.
Throughout the project, environmental stewardship remained a priority. Invasive vegetation was removed and replaced with native species intended to improve shoreline stability, restore habitat, and support long-term ecological health along the riverfront.
While construction of the tower, treetop walk, the roller glide and pier are substantially complete, the caving amenity has been slightly delayed. Project leaders expect the caving components to be completed in the next few weeks and anticipate opening the new amenities to the public this summer.
River’s Edge Phase Four represents the culmination of years of planning, fundraising, design and construction. Looking ahead, additional improvements are planned for the area, including a dog park and playground anticipated in 2027.
Photo by Brad Williams
