Flooding June 2008

Sadly, we were just smashed by yet another 2008 flood, this one in mid-June; the Cedar River crested at a record level of 31.1', far higher than had ever been seen before. Downtown Cedar Rapids and many neighborhoods, particularly on the west side of the river, were largely destroyed. In the grand scheme, of course, this is only a park. Still, it's OUR park, and it's very sad to see it this way.

These are how the river levels affect the park (thanks Steve!):

  • 12 foot- flood stage, river not in park yet
  • 13 foot- river entering park at low points in main and small dog yards
  • 14 foot- river level rising in main and small yards, getting close to parking lot
  • 15 foot- river level rising in main and small yards, entering parking lot area and entry area
  • 16 foot- parking lot, entry area, alley area, main and small yards covered, water enters shed and training yard
  • 17 foot- 3 feet of water in entry area - main, small, and training yards covered, Cedar Bend Lane covered


Here is a spreadsheet created by Cindy with data on the flood; we hope this will help us prepare and know what to expect in future years.

This is the first detailed site report from Ken & Kelly Ennis, among the first Board members to go out to check on the park's status after the crest (which happened Friday 6/13/08); this report is from Thursday 6/19/08: Well, Ken and I ventured out to the park tonight. OH MY! WHAT A MESS !! AND WHAT A STENCH!! We have a cabin from next door in the parking lot fence line by the rugby field. The porta-potty is nowhere in sight. The platform for the dumpster is toast. The shed is scattered in the field next door and along the next two accompanying fields. One of our new white chairs is in the fence line by the S curve toward Highway 30. The shelves can be salvaged if we can find someone with a pick-up who can go get them from the farmer's field and take them back to the park. Found two garbage can lids but no cans! One of the yellow posts that held the garbage cans is in the fence line by where the porta potty used to be. The main sign in the parking lot has been bent over and the fence is on top of it!! The kiosk is gone! We may find it in the fence line by the parking lot because there is a lot of debris there. Ken thought it could also be just bent over, because we have a mini- sand dune by the fire hydrant in the main entry area. We climbed over the fence line to the small dog area and we have a folding table in the fence going into the large area. It looks like both pavilions are still standing!! We think the playground equipment is still there but couldn't tell for sure because the water is still rushing through the park. The grass is dead wherever the water was. All the fence lines running parallel to the road are down. It is going to be a good couple of days before we can even think about going in and trying to start to clear the items out of the fence. This is going to be a big job. I'm afraid we will be lucky if the park is open completely by the end of summer with as much damage as is there. Need to let the porta-potty place know their john is down river somewhere. Didn't see it in the field next door, but it might still show up!! --Kelly
Addendum: Colleen & Troy Martens reported later that same day that they'd found the porta-potty -- it is in a tree at the farm across the road.

Thanks to Colleen & Troy Martens, and Ken & Kelly Ennis for sharing flood pics from THIS flood! Can we be DONE now?

Select thumbnails to view photos.


Gallery 1



Gallery 2




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