Recreation

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!

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.

November 4, 2020 – News Release:  Turkey Shoot Results
76 people participated in the 38^th 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 – 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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.