Preliminary plans to beautify the area along the Maquoketa River were presented by University of Iowa engineering students at the April 27 meeting of the Manchester City Council.

Working in partnership with the Manchester Vitality Endowment (MVE) committee, the students went through the process of developing renderings as part of their schooling.

“It has been a vision from Manchester Vitality… since our inception to try and do something with this eyesore that we have coming over the bridge,” Julie Frick with MVE said.

The area under study was what was called the “Riverbank Parks,” or approximately 2.25 acres at North River Street and West Main Street and .25 acres at West Marion Street and South First Street.

The North River Street site is currently utilized for the farmers market in warmer months and for removed snow in the winter. The plan would create a total of 40 parking spots, 26 for customers and 14 vendor spots, including Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant spots, and a five-foot walking path.

The plan would also seek to create new recreation opportunities in the area, including increased trail connectivity and green space to the north that in the winter, could continue to be used for snow storage. The plans also include a 1,056 square foot pavilion on the south part of the area, mimicking the canopy at Shelly Park. Recreation areas would be created for small children, older children and a fitness area for adults. With conventional parks already in town, the goal would be to offer something different, described as “nature-based risk play alternatives.” For younger children, that would be log or mushroom steppers to encourage balance and climbing, a large rock-like climbing apparatus for older children and exercise equipment utilizing body weight for adults. The park would feature a rubber surface. The plans also suggest permanent concrete corn hole boards.

The West Marion Street area is currently used as a fishing spot and overlook. The goal of the renovation would be to make it a place where people could go, relax and enjoy the natural view. That means fixing the current conditions, described as “unsafe, unappealing” and providing limited accessibility to the area, with stairs in disrepair, unstable footing and a lack of a path. The goal of the renovation would be to utilize the natural limestone by adding limestone stairs and blocks throughout for people to sit on.

The plans are phased, which means the project can be tackled as time and funds allow, Frick said. They just wanted to unveil the plans and that there was no current ask from the city, other than a willingness to be able to pen a letter of support should it be needed for future grants.

As a first step, city officials were impressed.

“It’s been fantastic,” Council Member Diane Hammell said of the process, noting she’s been involved since before joining the council. “It gives us ideas, and the phasability is exciting.”

“I really love the design,” Mayor Connie Behnken added. “It really ties in with the aesthetics of what our current facilities are.”