{"id":786,"date":"2017-06-08T10:00:48","date_gmt":"2017-06-08T10:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/conference.rbms.info\/2017\/?p=786"},"modified":"2017-06-08T14:49:46","modified_gmt":"2017-06-08T14:49:46","slug":"iowa-city-outdoors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/conference.rbms.info\/2017\/iowa-city-outdoors\/","title":{"rendered":"Iowa City Outdoors"},"content":{"rendered":"

Iowa City has many exercise facilities and outdoor amenities to take care of your fitness needs. I am a walker and a swimmer (reflected in the notes below) though I try to do justice to other forms of exercise too.<\/p>\n

Walking & Local Parks<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Near Sheraton Inn and Hotel Vetro<\/h4>\n

Those staying in the Sheraton Inn<\/a> or Hotel Vetro<\/a> have a park-like atmosphere right outside their door. The downtown pedestrian mall<\/strong> offers walking space with access to dining and shopping. The pentacrest <\/strong>is an open space with broad lawns available to all. (Check out the museums if you have time) This is located at Clinton Street and Iowa Avenue, in the heart of downtown.<\/p>\n

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City Park (Image: Iowa City government,\u00a0https:\/\/recserv.uiowa.edu\/facilities\/campus-recreation-wellness-center)<\/p><\/div>\n

College Green Park<\/a> is a one block park with benches, a gazebo, and a basketball court. For those of you who like to walk or run on paved trails, there is the 107 acre City Park<\/a>, about 12 blocks from the conference hotels. There is also a swimming pool with lanes for serious swimmers at this park. To skip the 12-block walk, take the Blue Route or Red Route Cambus (free) and get off at the Hancher stop. City Park is across the street to the North.<\/p>\n

If any of you are so inclined, across the river from City Park is Terrill Mill Park<\/a>, which includes a skate park.<\/p>\n

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Skate Park near City Park & Terrill Mill Park (Image: Iowa City government, https:\/\/www.icgov.org\/city-government\/departments-and-divisions\/parks-and-recreation\/parks-and-forestry\/parks\/parks-15)<\/p><\/div>\n

And finally for those of you who like walks on natural paths (maintained with wood chips) there is the 185-acre Hickory Hill<\/a> on the east side of town. Since it\u2019s about 25 blocks away, you can take the North Dodge bus (not free, $1.00, exact change required) to reach the south part of the park. \u00a0You can ask the bus driver where you should get off. The stop is roughly opposite the Hy Vee store.<\/p>\n

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Hickory Hill Park (Image: Iowa City government,\u00a0https:\/\/www.icgov.org\/city-government\/departments-and-divisions\/parks-and-recreation\/parks-and-forestry\/parks\/parks-8)<\/p><\/div>\n

Near Hampton Inn<\/h4>\n

Those of you staying at the Hampton Inn<\/a> have access to a walking path behind the hotel, between the hotel and the river. You could, in fact, walk to and from the conference site on this path if you like. Just turn left (north) as you come out of the hotel onto the path, and walk until you come to Burlington Street, then take a right turn (east). In about 7 blocks you will see the conference hotel on your left. (It\u2019s the back side of the hotel, so it will look a little different. There\u2019s a parking ramp to the east.) \u00a0It\u2019s about a 15-20 block walk. I have walked from the library to Brueggers\/Jamba Juice, eaten lunch there, and walked back to the library within an hour lunch break.<\/p>\n

You can follow this path from behind the hotel south to Terry Trueblood Park<\/a> or north to City Park<\/a> and points north and west. (These both are relatively long walks; i.e. an hour or more.) For relaxation or another place to run, there is Benton Hill Park<\/a>, which has walking trails; and Brookland Park<\/a> which has a shelter. Further west are Willow Creek Park<\/a> and Kiwanis Park<\/a> (the two parks are contiguous). These parks are about 20 blocks from the hotel, so if you want, catch the Plaen View bus downtown (not free, $1.00, exact change required) and get off at the Benton Street and Mormon Trek stop and walk east on Benton Street. The parks have a combination of paved and unpaved trails.<\/p>\n

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Entrance to Benton Hill Park (Image: Iowa City government,\u00a0https:\/\/www.icgov.org\/city-government\/departments-and-divisions\/parks-and-recreation\/parks-and-forestry\/parks\/parks-1)<\/p><\/div>\n

Near Iowa House Hotel<\/h4>\n

Those of you staying at the Iowa House<\/a> have access to a walking path just to the west of the building. Go south on this path and you will come to the Hampton Inn eventually. If you cross the river at Benton Street (farther along the trail south of the Hampton Inn), you will connect with the Iowa<\/strong> River Corridor Trail<\/strong>, which goes south to Terry Trueblood Park<\/a>, where you can walk around the lake. If you go north, you will come to City Park<\/a>, which picks up the river trail. This trail will take you to Crandic Park<\/a>. There is a path going north out of this park, but it is unfinished. If you want a longer walk, follow the sidewalk past<\/em> Crandic Park, and go under the railroad tracks. You\u2019ll find yourself on Second Street, locally known as the \u201cCoralville Strip.\u201d Here, you can turn right and go down the strip, or keep going straight ahead.<\/p>\n

*Interesting aside: \u201cCrandic Park\u201d is a portmanteau word for \u201cCR and IC\u201d, the intraurban railroad that passes through this park. The tracks are still there and still in use, though the last intraurban passenger car ran on the tracks in 1956. The CR and IC stand for Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, of course.<\/em><\/p>\n

Swimming & Recreation Centers<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Information and rules for city recreation centers and pools here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Outdoor city pools:<\/h4>\n