New Year’s at Home

Decorah park-Rec New Year's Eve at HomeRing in the New Year at home!  Decorah Parks & Recreation is creating a bag of supplies for families to celebrate New Year’s Eve at home. The bag will include crafts and activities for indoors and outdoors to help make New Year’s a special celebration amidst a year that has been unlike any other.

Families wishing to participate should register their children (bags are geared for ages 2-10 years) online by Wednesday, December 16. New Year’s Eve at Home bags will be available for families to pick up 8am-5pm Tuesday, December 29 outside the Park-Rec Office.

There is no cost to participate in this program, but a box for free will donations will be set up outside the Park-Rec Office throughout pick-up day.  Funds received will be used to support this and future free activities offered by Decorah Parks & Recreation.  If you have questions please contact the Park-Rec Office via email (parkrec@decorahia.org) or by calling 563-382-4158.

 

 

G2G Drive Thru Santa Event

G2G Drive Thru Santa Event

Free Event for Adults with Special Needs

Decorah Parks & Recreation is hosting a Get-2-Gether (G2G) Drive Thru Santa Event for adults with special needs Saturday, December 19, 10:00-11:30am outside the Spectrum Network Kitchen at 200 Railroad Street, Decorah. Adults with special needs are invited to stop outside of Spectrum Network in Decorah to greet Santa and receive a small goodie bag. Participants should stay in their vehicles. This is a free event, but participants must register online at http://www.get2g.com/ or by calling the Park-Rec Office (563-382-4158) by Thursday, December 17.

Thanksgiving Adventure Series Prize Winners Announced

Decorah Parks and Recreation hosted a series of free, self-guided, outdoor events Thanksgiving weekend! This included a Turkey Trot (5k and 1 mile loop) in the Decorah Community Prairie, a Fun Fact walk along Ice Cave Road and River Trail, a Downtown Turkey Hunt, and a Carlson Park Adventure. All activities were set up and available for participants to complete Thursday, November 26 thru Sunday, November 29. All participants were entered in a drawing to win Chamber Dollars, which can be used at local Decorah businesses.

Nearly 200 individuals participated in the Thanksgiving Adventure Series. Prize winners were selected at random and are listed below.

Aiden & Everly

Barry, Olivia & Spencer

Kayla, Jenny, Julie & Bob

Gregg, Karen, Kyle & Kate

Thanks to all who participated and a special congratulations to the drawing prize winners!

Pop Up Event: Thanksgiving Adventure Series

Decorah Parks and Recreation is hosting a series of free, self-guided, outdoor events Thanksgiving weekend! This includes a Turkey Trot (5k and 1 mile loop) in the Decorah Community Prairie, a Fun Fact walk along Ice Cave Road and River Trail, a Downtown Turkey Hunt, and a Carlson Park Adventure. All activities will be set up and available for participants to complete Thursday, November 26 thru Sunday, November 29. Participants are eligible for drawing prizes.

Turkey Trot

Run or walk the 5k or 1-mile loop that we have marked out in the Decorah Community Prairie. This can be a fun challenge for individuals or for your entire household. The Decorah Community Prairie is located at the south end of Ohio Street (over the levy) in Decorah. Click here to submit your run/walk or send a picture of you during your turkey trot to parkrec@decorahia.org to be entered in a drawing to win a prize.

Fun Fact Turkey Walk

Find the turkeys on the trail as you walk Ice Cave Road and River Trail. Park in the gravel lot on the south side of Ice Cave Road near Palisades Park. Head west on Ice Cave Road until you reach the gravel parking lot on the south side of Ice Cave Road (near Dunning’s Spring Park) From there travel east on River Trail and follow the trail to return to where you parked. Read the signs along the route and you’ll be sure to learn something about turkeys that you never knew before. Look for a sign on the trail with instructions for your chance to win a drawing prize.

Downtown Turkey Hunt

Stroll downtown and see how many paper turkeys you can find in the storefront windows of local businesses. Be sure to walk the sidewalks on both the north side and south side of water street so you don’t miss any. For an added challenge see if you can figure out what all of the businesses with turkeys in the storefronts have in common. Click here to let us know how many turkeys you spotted and what you think the businesses with turkeys have in common. All participants will be entered in a drawing to win a prize.

Carlson Park Turkey Adventure

Challenge yourself and walk the loop at Carlson park. You’ll find turkeys with activities for you to complete throughout your walking adventure. Carlson Park is one of Decorah’s newest parks and is located adjacent to St. Benedict Cemetery on Pleasant Avenue heading south towards the Fish Hatchery. The park currently includes a 2-mile grass loop through the park. Look for a sign on the trail with instructions for your chance to win a drawing prize.

Hoopsters, Sharp Shooters, and Adult Volleyball Leagues Suspended

Decorah Parks and Recreation staff follow the direction of state and local authorities and will work to determine if alternative programming dates are an option in the future. We appreciate your continued patience and understanding as we navigate this unprecedented time.  If you have questions or concerns please reach out to us by emailing parkrec@decorahia.org or by calling the Park-Rec Office at 563-382-4158.

Click here for the Governor’s Proclamation.

Turkey Shoot Winners Announced!

November 4, 2020 – News Release:  Turkey Shoot Results
76 people participated in the 38th Annual Decorah Park-Rec. Turkey Shoot on Tuesday, November 3.  This parent-child free throw contest was held in the high school gym.  There were 10 age categories (combined ages of parent and child) and a turkey was awarded to the top scoring team in each category.  Turkeys were provided by Decorah Fareway and other prizes by Deco Products Company, The Family Table, Oneota Valley Family Eye Care, and T-Bocks Sports Bar & Grill.  Turkey and drawing winners listed below should pick up their certificate or prize in front of City Hall Thursday, November 5, 8am-5pm. Winners that are unable to pick up their prize November 5, should email recreation@decorahia.org or call 563-382-4158 to setup arrange a pick up time.

Turkey Winners

38 & under: Megan and Ada Lyon

39-41: Andrew and Brandon Bailey

42-22: Bryan and Beckham Panos

45-47: Tadd and Harper Schutte

48-50: Amanda and Payge Webb

51-53: Brian and Grace Huinker

54-56: Jonathan and Mark Bean

57-79: Scott and Noah Milburn

60-62: Gregg and Kyle Pattison

63 & over: Jerry & Will Robinson

 

Drawing Prize Winners

Zac and Pater Robinson

Tadd and Natalie Schutte

Erick and Fitzgerald Kephart

Brian and Grady Huinker

Josh and Cora Giddings

Tristan and Kurt Hanson

Scott and Dawson Irons

Joe and Elsey Gavle

Kathy and Kyan Oftedahl

Curly and Draiden Todd

Nick and Carter Rissman

Michael Bean and Shirley Zaft

Pop Up Adventure: Decorah Community Prairie Oct 30 thru Nov 1

Pop Up Adventure: Decorah Community Prairie – Outdoor fun for all ages

Your Decorah Community Prairie Adventure awaits! Pumpkin signs will be placed along the trails in the prairie. Signs include activities for kids and fun facts for adults. Make your adventure a little more thrilling by heading out after dark with a flashlight or under the full moon on October 31.

This is a free self-guided event. No registration will be taken. Pumpkin signs will be on the trails Friday, October 30 thru Sunday, November 1. Participants should head to the Decorah Community Prairie at the south end of Ohio Street, choose a trail to explore and enjoy their outdoor adventure.

Turkey Shoot November 3

This free event will be held Tuesday, November 3, 6:30-8:00pm in the Decorah High School Main Gym. No need to register, just show up!

In this fun family event, a parent and child team up, combine their ages to determine their competition bracket, and each shoot 10 free throws in an attempt to win a certificate for a free turkey. In addition, all teams are eligible for a prize drawing.

Please note, in accordance with the city mask mandate, face masks must be worn by all participants upon entering the High School and at all times while in the facility. 

This event is sponsored by Fareway Stores (Decorah, IA), Deco Products, Oneota Valley Family Eye Care, T-Bock’s Sports Bar & Grill, and Family Table Decorah.

Youth Basketball Registration due Mon, Oct 26

Registration for youth basketball programs (1st-6th grade) and adult volleyball leagues is now open and can be completed online.

Please note participants, coaches, volunteers, spectators, and anyone who enters school facilities must wear masks at all times, including while participating in Decorah Parks and Recreation programs. 

Sharp Shooters Basketball (1st-3rd grades) will be held in the Carrie Lee Elementary Gym on Saturday mornings, November 7 thru December 12.  Participants will be divided into groups based on grade level and each participant will be assigned to attend five 45-minute sessions. All sessions will be held Saturday mornings between 8:00am and 1:00pm. Registration due Monday, October 26.

Hoopsters Basketball (4th-6th grades) will be held Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings beginning November 9 and running through December 7. Participants will be divided into groups based on grade level and each participant will be assigned to attend six 45-minute sessions (6:00-6:45pm or 7:00-7:45pm). Registration due Monday, October 26.

Adult Women’s Volleyball: Matches are played in the evenings in the Carrie Lee Elementary Gym. A and B divisions. League play is Wednesdays starting November 4. Registration due Friday, October 23.

Adult Coed Volleyball: Matches are played in the evenings in the Carrie Lee Elementary Gym. League play is Sundays starting November 8. Registration due Friday, October 23.

 

Carlson Park Community Input

Thank you to the community for your tremendous support and feedback at the Carlson Park open house events Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3.

Carlson Park is a 110 acre gift to the Decorah Parks System from the Rick and David Carlson Families. Public access to the park is located adjacent to St. Benedict Cemetery on Pleasant Avenue heading south towards the Fish Hatchery. Suggestions and comments for this new park area may be submitted by electronic survey through Sunday, October 11, 2020.