News

The 31st annual Decorah Parks and Recreation Fair Fun Run sponsored by Collins Aerospace, Deco Products Company, Gundersen Health System, Oneota Valley Family Eye Care, The Family Table, Viking State Bank was held on Saturday, July 15^th with 90 people registering. The overall male champion in the 3-mile run was Grant Zilka of Decorah with a time of 16:25. The overall female champion was Olivia Volkmann of Decorah with a time of 21:10.  Kids 12 and under were also able to participate in a ¾ mile run.  The overall male champion of the kid’s race was Judah Mutsune of Decorah with a time of 4:10; the overall female champion was Eva Butler of Decorah with a time of 5:04. Medals were awarded to 1^st through 3^rd place finishers in each division.

Kids Race (3/4 Mile)

Male 6 & under: – Cash Stayskal (4.42), Putnam Dibble (5.41), Brenton Noble (5.42)

Male 7-8: – Jaxton Humpal (4.40), Flynn Thompson (4.46), Emmitt Quandahl (5.02)

Male 9-10: – Judah Mutsune (4.10), Eli Lyon (4.17), Ossie Nordschow (4.26)

Male 11-12: – Dawson Bliven (6.21)

Female 6 & under: – Cali Hovey (5.13), Violet Butler (5.40), Ava Harless (5.59.46)

Female 7-8: – Ada Lyon (5.04.93), Lillian Rude (5.59.10), Lyla Rude (6.27)

Female 9-10: – Eva Butler (5.04.51), Keira Strand (5.14), Andi Dibble (5.56)

Female 11-12: – Anna Bailey (6.02)

3 Mile Run

Male 14 & under: Oak Pasche (18.12), Derek Hrdlicka (18.19), Logan Nalean-Carlson (18.57)

Male 15-19: Grant Zilka (16.25), Garrett See (16.50), Thomas Hammel (17.28)

Male 30-39: Andrew Dueckwerth (18.47), Cory Miner (25.24), Jon Kallen (38.37)

Male 40-49: Benny Volkmann (20.06), Scott Nordschow (21.29), Lee Fullhart (21.54)

Male 50 & over: Scott Hervey (32.27), Dan Byrnes (23.37), Justin Gullekson (24.11)

Female 14 & under: Olivia Volkmann (21.10), Jodi Fullhart (21.50), Anya Volkmann (44.44)

Female 15-19: Ramsey Zilka (27.33)

Female 30-39: Christina Weckwerth (24.48), Stacy Miner (25.23), Jennifer Bliven (29.41)

Female 40-49: Marissa Nordschow (22.10), Gwen Strand (23.39), Micarach Mustune (26.23)

July is National Parks and Recreation month.  As part of that, Decorah Parks and Recreation will be hosting a “Celebration of Parks” the weekend of July 8 & 9.  This fun family orientated weekend will be a chance to celebrate new amenities in the park system that have been added over the last few years.

Decorah was a recipient of an Iowa Great Places Grant in 2019 to help restore historic rock structure features in the parks, including; the Wall along Park Street in Phelps, Phelps Trail, work at Dunning’s Spring, Pulpit Rock and the steps at Ice Cave which will wrap up this summer.

We will also celebrate some new memorial shelters in Phelps Park and Wayside Park as well as the facilities at Mary Christopher Park.

The following link will show a map of the selected locations: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1LQfLG5k-b7aQUmpLeHuMUXPrXXRC0jY&usp=sharing

• Ice Cave
• Dunning Springs
• Wayside Park
• Pulpit Rock
• Phelps Park
• Mary Christopher Park

Each of these locations will have a description of the Park Improvement(s), as well as a brochure for additional information. Come out and celebrate!

Pulpit Rock Brewing Co. recently announced the upcoming Pulpit to Pulpit 2023 fundraiser benefiting the Decorah Public Library and Decorah Free Clinic. The event will be held on Tuesday, July 4.

The fundraiser includes a timed-5K race and an untimed one-mile fun run/walk. Both races are family and dog friendly and will start and end at Pulpit Rock Brewing Co.

Registered participants will receive a Pulpit to Pulpit 2023 T-shirt (while supplies last), a free Spring Grove Soda, or $1 off draft pour at Pulpit Rock Brewing Co.

The event will also feature Josey Jewell as the official race starter, the Phil Iverson “Touch of Brass” band playing ‘Ol fashioned 4th of July celebration music’, the Rotary Club providing ice cream, and the Lions Club providing popcorn immediately following the race.

The entry fee is $30 for adults and $13 for children 12 and under. T-shirt and bib pickup will be at Pulpit Rock Brewing Co. from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, July 3, and starting at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, July 4. For details, maps, and to register, visit www.pulpit2pulpit.com.

The Pulpit to Pulpit event is sponsored by Pulpit Rock Brewing Co., the Landing Market, DECO Products, A&J Petersburg, LuLu & BB’s, Kelly Real Estate, Letterwerks, Spring Grove Soda, Inspire(d), Nagle Signs, Oneota Health Solutions, West Side Dental, and ArtHaus, Inc.

Thank you to everyone who came out and participated in this event!

1st place winners at the local meet will advance to the state championships in Bondurant, Iowa on Saturday, June 17. Whether or not you plan to attend the State Meet, please call and confirm with the Park-Rec Office by Wednesday May 31, 2023.

More information is also available on the LIVE Healthy Iowa Kids Track Championship Website.

Come celebrate our planet at the 2023 Earth Day Festival!

Decorah Parks and Recreation is proud to partner with Winneshiek County Conservation for a fun morning of environmental education activities, giveaways, and more! The Earth Day Festival will be held from 9:00 AM to noon on Saturday, April 22nd in the Community Building at the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds in Decorah, IA.

Decorah Parks and Recreation will have brochures, pamphlets and access to other activities for the whole family to enjoy!

This free, open house event is for all ages. For more information about the festival and other Earth Week events, visit https://www.winneshiekwild.com/events/earth-day-festival-2023

Friends of Decorah Parks is planning two dates in the month of April for garlic mustard weeding.

Where: Van Peenan Park: go up Quarry Hill Road past the quarry, to the parking lot with the sign.

When: Sat. April  8, 10:00-noon

Where: Phelps Park: near shelter on river side of the parking lot

When: Sat. April 15, 10:00-noon

Plan to arrive by 10, as we will be moving from the gathering spot.

Bring gloves.  We’ll have hand diggers and hoes, but we could use more hoes.

Garlic mustard is a greedy invader.  Smells and tastes like garlic, has small white 4 petaled flowers on a stalk in its second year. Find out how to recognize and kill it!

Come out, enjoy the spring woods, and keep them healthy.  We’d love to have your help, and besides, you can we have quite a bit of fun.  Other events may be planned after these two, so contact us if you’d like to keep informed. Think about adopting a plot, your very own piece of the earth that you can save from this invasive species.

Contact: Mary Lewis lewismar02@gmail.com 563 202 4064

Join us in a family-friendly scavenger hunt along Ice Cave Road!

Search for Gnomes and other creatures that may be hiding along the trail.

Participants can start their hunt at the Dunning Springs Parking Lot and head towards Ice Cave. The trail will have riddles and clues for you to solve along the way. Once you have reached Ice Cave, follow the trail back towards Dunning Springs to solve new challenges on the way back!

Submit photos of your adventures to our social media pages (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) to show off your hunting skills.

This event will end Monday, April 10th!

The ice rink will stay open as long as conditions are favorable, please obey signage while at the rink.

The Wayside Warming House will be closed for season starting Saturday, February 18, 2023.

Times below indicate the remaining Warming House Hours.

Wayside Warming House Hours:

Wednesday, February, 15th     3:00pm-7:00pm

Thursday, February 16th          3:00pm-7:00pm

Friday, February 17th                1:00pm – 7:00pm