In last week’s Council Bluff’s City Council Meeting, Pete Tulipana presented Phase V of the River’s Edge development project. Tulipana is the president and CEO of Southwest Iowa Nonprofit for Collective Impact (SINC), the organization that leads funding efforts for the River’s Edge project.
SINC has raised more than $50 million in private donations to build the MidAmerican Adventure Tower just north of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, as well as an under-construction pier just south of Interstate 480 along the Missouri Riverfront. The tower – and an attached elevated walkway through the treetops – will open this summer.
Phase V will consist of three major components: a playground north of Interstate 480 next to River Park by Broadmoor apartment complex; a dog park north of I-480 next to a parking lot; and a donor commemoration and wayfinding plaza. The city council felt that the $600,000 contribution that the city will make to help pay for the donor plaza was a surprise. However, the council had previously approved last year.
Additionally, the council appeared caught off guard by the proposed location of the dog park. As planned, the dog park will be built in the 100-year flood zone. The council was concerned about the cost and effort of clean up in the event the dog park is flooded. Tulipana ensured that the park is fairly simple and was being planned with fencing that could more easily be removed and installed as needed to avoid flood damage.
Some council members claimed that this was the first time they saw the plans, even though the plans were first presented to the council in April 2024 when they approved a $50,000 contribution to qualify for an Enhance Iowa grant of $1 million for the project.
The council and SINC will be considering possible other locations for the dog park near River’s Edge but outside the flood zone. The council appeared to be content with the children’s playground, however. Tulipana explained that the playground is designed as a destination playground with play features and structures that no other park in Council Bluffs currently has.
Additionally, there will be a fitness zone for children and a restroom facility. The future park will be served by a parking lot located underneath the I-480 overpass.
