Clinton, Iowa - What's New

Iowa Great Places

Iowa Great Places is a program created by Gov. Tom Vilsack that calls on state agencies to partner with Iowans in a new way by combining state resources with local assets to make Iowa’s communities, neighborhoods, districts and regions great places where people want to live, work and raise a family.

Clinton was chosen as an Iowa Great Place in 2005. Many Great Places projects are underway, and more are still to come!

Disc Golf Course

Designed by members of the Quad City Disc Golf Association, the Eagle Point Course will be an 18-hole professional level course that will utilize and fit into the existing space of Eagle Point Park. Men, women, and children of all ages enjoy disc golf, which can be played all year long and in many types of weather conditions, including snow. Since our course will be located in Eagle Point Park, which is owned and operated by the City of Clinton, there will be no course admission fees, opening up the game to countless Iowa and Clinton residents who may not be able to afford many of today's other popular recreation activities.

Playgrounds

Along with the Disc Golf Course, a plan to renovate and upgrade the current bathroom facilities, and also renovation of the 1000 Steps, the playground project is part of the larger plan of enhancements to Eagle Point park, particularly in the northern end. The playground aspect of the project would involve the addition of a new state of the art playground structures in the park's north and south end, with recycled rubber composite fall material to be used as the surfacing.

Bridge Arches

Serving as the signature and most recognizable feature of the Clinton Iowa Great Places project, these decorative arches will act as a gateway into the state of Iowa as they welcome tourists and all those who cross from Illinois into Iowa via the North and South bridges. Continuing on the “Clinton on the Mississippi” theme previously established by the Iowa DOT and the city of Clinton on other transportation projects in the community, the arches will also continue the significant visual improvements that have occurred in the last several years in the Clinton transportation system.

Clinton Sawmill Heritage Experience

One of the proposed projects for the

Clinton Great Places initiative includes a

museum dedicated to the cities' history

as a lumber town, with the intention of

ultimately creating a complete heritage

experience with both informative and

interactive exhibits. The first initial

phase of the project will involve construction of the

Sawmill Museum Pavilion, which will gradually broaden

in size and scope to become a compelling attraction and

linkage to the heritage of the area and to the real and

true story of the lumbering industry.

Public Beach

With plans to add a public beach in the Willow Islands Harbor area that will include a bathhouse and concession structures, this project will help to create a safe-out-of-the-current location for swimming in the river.

North River Drive

With the goal of creating one route with outstanding river views connecting to the North end of Clinton, this project would involve an extension of North River Drive to connect with Main Avenue. The road will “follow the river,” increasing visibility and access to the river in Clinton's Lyon's District while also serving as a link between Clinton's North and South riverfront areas.

Thousand Steps Restoration and Campsite Development

As part of a WPA construction project in the 1930's, the 1000 steps are a treasured and historically significant Eagle Point Park attraction. At one time the limestone steps provided a naturally constructed stone stairway leading down the bluff toward the river, but with the natural wear of 70+ years, the steps are in great need of repair and restoration. With some work already having been completed, the first phase of work will focus specifically on clearing and maintenance of the 1000 Steps Bridge and lookout area. Campsite development will initially focus on clearing of designated areas to serve as primitive camping sites, which will include a fire ring but no electricity or water.

Public Art & Sculpture

A plan involving the placement of public art sculptures throughout the city, including a call for entries to local Iowa artists with the entire community being given the chance to give input on final selection of sculptures will comprise the initial phase of this project.