An indoor Pavilion with rooftop deck and Belle’s Play Garden highlight this second phase Council Bluffs facility – and we helped fund it. Young visitors also enjoy the park’s interactive water play features, designed to reflect the Missouri River. Small concerts and events are popular on the Tilted Lawn. Blending seamlessly with Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park, Phase II provides an intimate counterpoint to the original park’s large scale spaces.
The River’s Edge Pavilion, with its rooftop deck and its adjacent Water Wall, provides a civic element to the space and allows public, year-around use of Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park. The Pavilion’s indoor space accommodates 50-60 people and has proven popular for public rentals. It’s equipped with a catering kitchen, restrooms and AV capabilities. The Pavilion’s public rooftop, also available for rent, offers breathtaking views of the park, the Missouri River and Omaha’s skyline.
The project’s design anticipated future park elements might be added – and they have! In 2021, Tom Friedman’s Looking Up, a 33-foor tall silver statue peering into the sky, found a home there. And, in 2022, Belles’ Play Garden was added. With its colorful spaces and a bright yellow pelican, Belles’ is truly one-of-a-kind attraction.
Project Partners: The City of Council Bluffs and the Iowa West Foundation
Estimated Financial Support: Back to the River – $100,000
Estimated Total Project Cost: $8,000,000
Year: 2017
