Recreation

Registration for Decorah Parks and Recreation 1st-6th grade basketball programs and adult volleyball leagues begins Friday, October 1. Registration can be completed online or in the Park-Rec Office. 

The following programs will be offered by Decorah Parks & Recreation beginning in November. A complete list of programs and our registration form can also be viewed in our fall brochure.

Sharp Shooters (1st-3rd grade basketball): This basketball program is held in the Carrie Lee Elementary Gym on Saturday mornings, November 6 thru December 11 (No basketball Sat, Nov 27). Each day of this program will include a skill session followed by a short scrimmage. Participants will be divided into groups based on grade level and each participant will be assigned to a 45-minute time slot each Saturday morning. Please note, this program is held in Decorah Community School District Facilities and will follow Decorah Community School District mask requirements. Participants pick up their schedule and jersey at the Park-Rec. Office on Thursday, November 4, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. This program is sponsored by Deco Products Company and Dental Associates of Decarah, PC. Registration due Thursday, Oct 21.

Hoopsters (4th-6th grade basketball): This basketball program meets in the Carrie Lee Gym Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings beginning November 11 and running through December 14. Each day of this program will include a skill session followed by a short scrimmage. Participants will be divided into groups based on grade level and each participant will be assigned to attend six evening sessions. Please note, this program is held in Decorah Community School District Facilities and will follow Decorah Community School District mask requirements. Participants pick up their schedule and jersey at the Park-Rec. Office on Thursday, November 4, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. This program is sponsored by Oneota Valley Family Eye Care. Registration due Thursday, Oct 21.

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 3. HS volleyball team rostered players will not be allowed to play until their season is over. In Women’s League, HS players are only allowed in “A” League. Registration is due Friday, October 22.

Adult Coed Volleyball: Matches are played in the evenings in the Carrie Lee Elementary Gym. League play is Sundays starting November 7. HS volleyball team rostered players will not be allowed to play until their season is over. Registration due Friday, Oct 22.

Decorah Parks and Recreation fall program begins Monday, August 16. Registration can be completed online or in the Park-Rec Office. 

The following programs will be offered by Decorah Parks & Recreation in September and October. A complete list of programs and our registration form can also be viewed in our fall brochure.

Flag Football is open to students in 1st thru 6th grade. This program is held Saturday mornings, September 11 thru October 16, at Will Baker Athletic Fields.  Game mornings will consist of a short practice followed by a game.  Games will not be rescheduled if cancelled due to weather. Registered players should pick up their shirts and schedules in the Park-Rec Office Thursday, September 9, 8am-5pm. Registration due Thursday, August 26.

Spikesters Volleyball is open to students in 3rd thru 6th grade. This program meets in the Carrie Lee Elementary Gym on Saturday mornings,  September 11 thru October 16.  Skills are taught weekly and then put to use in game-like situations.  Shirts and schedules will be available for pick up in the Park-Rec Office, 8:00am to 5:00pm Thursday, September 9. Registration due Thursday, August 26.

Adult Coed Slowpitch Softball: League play is Wednesday evenings beginning September 8 and running thru late October.  Games are played at Diamond #2 (near the Tennis Courts).  Teams consist of at least 5 male and 5 female players, with a roster maximum of 20.  Teams are responsible for umping games; 12-inch game balls are supplied. Official roster forms may be downloaded from our website or picked up at the Park-Rec. Office.  Schedules will be emailed to captains. Games balls will be available in the office on Tuesday, September 7. Registration due Friday, August 27.

Game Plan is open to students in 1st & 2nd grades. This program meets right after school and will include a variety of activities including sports and yard games! This program meets Thursdays, October 7 thru 28, 3:15-4:00pm. Students will meet in the John Cline gym and walk over to the green space in the outfield of Diamond #2.  Maximum of 20 participants. Registration due Friday, October 1.

TOUCH-A-TRUCK – A fun, free, open house event for the whole family. No need to register, just show up! Join us in the parking lot behind the Decorah Fire Department on Saturday, October 9, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.  Kids will have the opportunity to explore their favorite vehicles including police, fire and emergency vehicles, construction equipment, and city maintenance vehicles.  This event is co-hosted with the Decorah Fire Department in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week, and includes a free hot dog lunch.

Decorah’s Get-2-Gether Committee and Decorah Parks and Recreation are hosting a free Summer Celebration for adults with special needs Wednesday, August 18 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Whalen Cabin near Phelps Park.

Adults with special needs are invited for an evening of live music by The Other Guys, games, bingo, Mabes Pizza and Culver’s Custard. Volunteers will be provided by the Luther College Soccer Teams.

Sponsors and community donations allow G2G volunteers to offer these events at no cost to participants.

Participants should register for this event by Friday, August 13, to allow volunteers to plan accordingly. Registration can be completed online at www.get2g.com or by contacting the Decorah’s Parks and Recreation office, (563) 382-4158

Decorah Parks & Recreation is hosting a Gnomes in the Parks Scavenger Hunt over Nordic Fest!

Pick up the Scavenger Hunt form at the Decoarh Area Chamber of Commerce or download the pdf version to participate.

Visit Decorah’s parks and natural areas listed on the Scavenger Hunt form. Use the clues to find gnomes in each of the areas and look on the back of the gnomes for the word to fill in the blank next to the clue. Once you have finished your Scavenger Hunt and completed all or some of the clues, return the form to the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce to be entered in a drawing for your chance to win a prize!

Please note, gnomes should not be removed from their locations in the parks.

Fair Fun Run Results

The 29^th annual Decorah Parks and Recreation Fair Fun Run sponsored by Deco Products Company, Gundersen Health System, Oneota Valley Family Eye Care, Prairie Lakes Church, Stanley Engineered Fastening, and the Family Table, was held on Saturday, July 17^th with 90 people registering. The overall male champion in the 3-mile run was Chance Adam of Calmar with a time of 17:56.0. The overall female champion was Brynn Storhoff of Decorah with a time of 21:50.0.  Kids 12 and under were also able to participate in a ¾ mile run.  The overall male champion of the kid’s race was Abram Cummings of Decorah with a time of 4:28.0; the overall female champion was Andi Dibble of Decorah with a time of 5:28.1.  Medals were awarded to 1^st through 3^rd place finishers in each division.

Kids Race (3/4 mile)

Male 6 & under: Felipe Hernandez, Decorah (6:37.1), Abel Baker, Decorah (6:45.3), Putnam Dibble, Decorah (10:01.4)

Male 7-8: Eli Lyon, Decorah (4:45.0), Judah Mutsune, Decorah (4:58.2), Ossie Nordschow, Decorah (5:00.1)

Male 9-10: Abram Cummings, Decorah (4:28.0), Oskar Simon, Decorah (4:40.5), Brecklin Dodd, Decorah (4:40.9)

Male 11-12: Carlton Norschow, Decorah (5:04.0), Logan Nalean-Carlson, Decorah (5:18.3), Brooks Dodd, Decorah (5:54.7)

Female 6 & under:  Ada Lyon, Decorah (6:19.2), No 2^nd or 3^rd place

Female 7-8:  Andi Dibble, Decorah (5:28.8), Petra Simon, Decorah (6:16.2), Jaylah Dodd, Decorah (6:56.1)

Female 9-10:  Lydia Fankhauser, Decorah (7:57.0), no 2^nd or 3^rd place

Female 11-12:  Rachel Weis, Decorah (5:47.4), no 2^nd or 3^rd place

3-Mile Run

Male 14 & under: Oak Pasche, Decorah (20:21.1), Kyle Pattison, Decorah (21:32.6), Carson Bohner, Decorah (21:33.0)

Male 15-19: Chance Adam, Calmar (17:56.0), Henry Weis, Decorah (17:57.2), Travis Nordheim, Decorah (20:35.6)

Male 20-29:  Peter Kephart, Eau Claire, WI (21:02.8), Zach Steffans, Postville (22:50.3), James Mulvihill. Decorah (26:40.0)

Male 30-39:  Justin Scardina, Decorah (21:38.0), Ben Stenseth, Calmar (37:47.0), Kyle Dahl, Decorah (50:48.1)

Male 40-49:  Michael Casterton, Decorah (21:54.6), no 2^nd or 3^rd place

Male 50 & over: Jim See, Decorah (22:27.1), Scott Hervey, Decorah (22:51.6), Tom Shroyer (23:11.0)

Female 14 & under: Deborah Hougen, Decorah (22:36.0), Anastasia Simon, Decorah (22:43.2), Clara Hjelle, Decorah (22:43.4)

Female 15-19:  Brynn Storhoff, Decorah (21:50.1), No 2^nd or 3^rd place

Female 20-29: Elizabeth Uhlenhake, Ossian (27:56.0), Alice Kephart, Eau Claire, WI (28:16.1), Clare Gullekson, Minneapolis, MN (35:01.0)

Female 30-39: Amber Uhlenhake, Ossian (22:24.2), Megan Lyon, Decorah (23:21.6), Stacy Miner, Postville (25:31.0)

Female 40-49:  Amy Robinson, Decorah (24:05.0), Kristin Fankhauser, Decorah (30:42.3), Gwen Strand, Decorah (34:47.0)

Female 50 & over:  Linda Hougen, Decorah (28:26.0), Beth Pesavento, Lemont, IL (26:07.2), no 3^rd place

The Fair Fun Run will be held Saturday, July 17. This family friendly event includes a 3/4 mile kids race for children ages 12 and under, and a 3-mle race for older children and adults. Each participant is eligible for a drawing prize distributed during the awards ceremony (must be present to win).  Refreshments are provided.  Awards are given to 1st-3rd place in each age division.

Registration can be completed online or by returning a paper registration form to the Park-Rec Office. Entry fee is $10 with a t-shirt and $5 without a t-shirt. Registration must be completed by Sunday, July 4 to receive a shirt.

Packet up will be held and late registration will be taken 7:00-7:30am at the intersection of E Water St. and Sumner St the day of the event . The 3/4 mile run starts at 8:00 am; 3 mile at 8:30 from the fairgrounds.  The awards ceremony will be held in the Fontanelle Shelter near the Cattleman’s Building on the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds after the last participant finishes (approximately 9:30 am)

This event is made possible with the support of the Winneshiek County Fair Board and these sponsors:   Deco Products Company, Gundersen Health System, Oneota Valley Family Eye Care, Prairie Lakes Church, Stanley Engineered Fastening, and The Family Table.

Decorah Parks and Recreation is partnering with local yoga instructors to offer Free Yoga in the Park Saturdays, June 5 – August, 9-10am 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.

June 5: Laree Schouweiler with Driftless Yoga Festival

June 12: Mikah Jaschke with The Yoga Studio

June 19: No Yoga in the Park due to The Driftless Yoga Festival

June 26: Bethany Schroyer

July 3: No Yoga due to 4th of July weekend

July 10: Mikah Jaschke with The Yoga Studio

July 17: Olivia Schnur

July 24: No Yoga in the Park due to Nordic Fest

July 31:

August 7: Bethany Schroyer

August 14: Libby Abbas

The registration deadline for Decorah Parks & Recreation baseball and softball programs and reduced rate pool passes is Friday, May 28.

Registration can be completed and pool passes can be purchased online or in the Park-Rec Office.

Blake Moen begins his position as Superintendent of Recreation and Aquatics with Decorah Parks and Recreation May 4, 2021. Blake is a Decorah High School and Luther College graduate who will oversee the Decorah Municipal Pool and recreational programming. Blake joins the staff just in time for summer registration which began May 3, 2021.