Initial plans for Forest Grove Park unveiled

Quad-City families may get their first introduction to Bettendorf's long-awaited Forest Grove Park this fall.

Bettendorf park board members got a detailed look at the project's preliminary phase of work Wednesday night as Scott Crawford, senior partner and landscape architect with RDG Planning & Design of Des Moines, presented the plans.

The $1.4 million first phase of the project will be completed in two stages, and will develop what Crawford referred to as the community corner of the park, that will serve as a neighborhood park for adjacent subdivisions.

It will include 25 parking stalls, an open-air shelter that will seat up to 20 people, a playground for children ages 2-10, a half-court basketball court and a circular path that surrounds the southeast corner of the park and eventually will connect with the rest of the park's trail system.

This will be the gateway into the whole park from the south edge, said Crawford, who began designing the space in 2011.

While Crawford said he does not think the first phase of work will attract regional attention, overall plans for the 100-acre park will create something that the Quad-City community does not yet have.

Ideas for the park include a large greenspace, an adventure course, an amphitheater, a community building, an enclosed shelter, restoration of Spencer Creek and a winter plaza with opportunities for cold-weather sports.

The park, which Bettendorf Mayor Bob Gallagher has referred to as a wow project, will cost up to $20 million and will be completed in stages with the assistance of grant funding, Steve Grimes, the citys parks and recreation director, said.

Between 2016 and 2021, the city plans to borrow $2.1 million in bonds for work on the park.

A future elementary school in the Pleasant Valley Community School District is planned to be built adjacent to the park.

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Initial plans for Forest Grove Park unveiled