Over 100 individuals participated in Decorah’s first Iowa Healthiest State walk October 7, 2020!
Congratulations to all who participated and a special congratulations to our drawing prize winners listed below.
Dave Hobbs
Emily Falck
Cheryl Pellet
Kristi Armour
Elizabeth Lesser
Challenge yourself to continue walking and enjoy the outdoors!
Decorah Parks & Recreation was named a recipient of the 2020 Iowa Parks & Recreation Association Community Walk Mini Grant in partnership with the Healthiest Sate Initiative. Decorah is one of four grant recipients throughout the state of Iowa.
Flag Football & Spikesters Volleyball Registration due Tuesday, September 8
Decorah Parks and Recreation will offer Flag Football and Spikesters volleyball beginning in mid-September. The registration deadline for both programs is Tuesday, September 8 and can be completed online.
Flag Football is open to students in 1st thru 6th grade. Participants will be assigned a team and will play Saturday mornings, September 19 thru October 17. Saturday mornings will include a short practice followed by a game. Due to COVID-19 participants will receive team masks instead of team shirts for the 2020 season. Participants must wear masks throughout the program. Participants may pick up schedules and their team masks Thursday, September 17, 8:00am – 1:00pm outside the Decorah Municipal Building.
Spikesters Volleyball is open to students in 3rd thru 6th grade. This program will be held Tuesday and Thursday evenings September 17 thru October 1. Schedules will be sent to participants after registration is complete. Due to COVID-19 this program will be held at the outdoor sand volleyball court near Whalen Cabin in Phelps Park and participants will receive team masks instead of team shirts for the 2020 season. Participants must wear masks throughout the program.
Please note, Flag Football and Spikesters Volleyball will be suspended if Decorah Public Schools suspends in person classes and moves to online only learning due to COVID-19.
Decorah City Council Passes Face Covering Ordinance
Friday, August 21st, the Decorah City Council approved the second reading and approved waiving the third reading of Ordinance 1257 This ordinance mandates the use of face coverings in public places within the city limits of the City of Decorah. The ordinance was signed by the Mayor and published August 27th. As of August 27th, 2020 the ordinance is in effect. For more information and to read the full ordinance click here.
The Decorah Municipal Swimming Pool will close for the season in August. The last day of public swim will be Friday, August 21.
The Decorah Municipal Pool remains open to those 18 and older for adult lap swim and water walking hours the week of August 24-30.
Lap Swim & Water Walking Hours
Monday thru Friday: 6:45-7:35am, 11:00-11:50am and 12:00-12:50pm.
Saturday & Sunday: 11:00-11:50am & 12:00-12:50pm.
Due to limited end of season hours we recommend you call the Park-Rec Office (563-382-4158) 24 hours in advance or by 12pm Friday for weekend lap swim to ensure lane availability. Office hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm.
Cost for lap swim & water walking is the same as daily admission. $5 for those ages 18-64 and $4 for those ages 65 and older.
The 2020 pool season was unique. We appreciate the patrons and community members that helped make this season a success.
The Decorah Parks and Recreation Department is suspending all in person youth recreation programs until after the start of the school year. We plan to to offer fall parks and recreation programs later in the season. More information will be released after Labor Day.
Spring soccer was suspended in April and the decision has now been made to cancel that program. All registered participants should have received an email Monday, August 5. Participants will receive a credit to their account for the cost of that program. Please call the Decorah Parks & Recreation Office at 563-382-4158 with any questions.
Decorah Parks and Recreation is partnering with local yoga instructors to offer Free Yoga in the Park Saturdays, July 25-September 26, 10-11am in the green space west of John Cline School. Bring your own mat or towel. No need to register, just show up!
A complete list of dates and instructors are included below.
Upon arrival participants will be asked to sign a liability waiver and confirm that they;
Do not have a fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, new loss of taste or smell, or any other COVID-19 like symptoms now or in the past 48 hours.
Have not had close contact (within 6 feet for equal or greater than a 10-minute period of time or living in your household) with a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 by a medical provider in the past 14 days.
Have not been diagnosed with COVID-19 by a medical provider in the past 14 days.
Have not been told by a medical provider or public health official within the last 14 days to self-quarantine due to potential COVID-19 exposure or been suspected of having COVID-19.
Participants are asked to socially distance while participating in Yoga in the Park.
Decorah Parks and Recreation has added a new web page to their website to keep community members and visitors up to date with the many projects our park staff, stone masons, and volunteers have been working on. We hope this website is informational and provides you with valuable information while visiting and exploring the Decorah Park System.
Dunning’s Spring Park and Ice Cave have been extremely busy this season. Visitors should park in the gravel lot near the river on the south side of Ice Cave Road. If the parking lot is full visitors may park along Ice Cave Road. Please be respectful of private property.
Dunning’s Spring Waterfall: From the gravel parking lot it is about a 200 yard walk along the paved drive to Dunning’s Spring Waterfall. Please note, there is not parking at the waterfall. The paved drive is open to drop off traffic for those with mobility concerns.
Ice Cave: From the gravel parking lot it is about a ½ mile walk east on Ice Cave Road to the cave. Ice Cave is open to the public with no fee for admission. The cave narrows significantly after the first 10 yards. For more information about the geology of Ice Cave, click here.
Decorah Parks & Recreation is accepting registrations for the spring programs listed below.
Soccer (ages 3 thru 7th grade)
Active in the Outdoors (grades Kindergarten thru 2nd)
Easter Egg Hunt (ages 8 & under)
School’s Out, We’re In (ages 5 thru 8)
Live Healthy Iowa Kids Track Championship (ages 7 thru 14)
Taekwondo (ages 4 & up)
Softball Leagues (adult men’s & coed slowpitch)
Registration can be completed online or in the Park-Rec Office. For additional information please call the Decorah Parks & Recreation Office at 563-382-4158.
Please look for these signs on our multi-use trails.
Due to minimal snowfall and warm temperatures trails are no longer being groomed for winter recreation.
Welcome to the Decorah Parks and Recreation Winter Trail System! All of our trails are multi-use trails. Please watch for signage and use proper winter trail etiquette so that everyone can enjoy their favorite winter activities!
The following trails and park areas are groomed regularly.
Van Peenen Park
Palisades Park
The Decorah Community Prairie
Trout Run Trail
Ice Cave Road
Will Baker Athletic Fields
Luther College Prairie & River Loop
Luther College Intramural Fields
For best skate skiing conditions we recommend the following areas:
Ice Cave Road
Will Baker Athletic Fields
Trout Run Trail from the Decorah Fish Hatchery traveling west to Middle Calmar Road
For best winter walking routes on plowed trails we recommend the following areas:
2.7 Mile Loop: Start at the Decorah Swimming Pool. Travel north on the sidewalk along College Drive. Take your first left towards Luther College and follow down the hill to the right. Stay on Luther College Dike Road past the fields and tennis courts. Turn right on Riverview Dr and follow to 5th Ave. Take a left on 5th Ave. Follow 5th Ave to College Dr. Take a left on College Dr and follow the sidewalk along College Dr. back to the Decorah Swimming Pool.
9.2 Miles Out & Back: Sidewalks and trails are plowed starting at Vesterheim Museum traveling east along Water St. through downtown and south along Montgomery St. Cross over to east side of Montgomery St. just past Winneshiek Medical Center. Follow trail east towards Walmart, past the Dog Park through Freeport to the end of the trail at Haugen Hummel housing development.
