Big Lake Park renovation

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:14 pm

A master plan for improvements to Big Lake, a recreational area in northern Council Bluffs, is being developed; and the City Council Monday night will be asked to give the go-ahead for state funding now for better public access.

Specifically, the Parks Department is seeking a $200,000 Resource Enhancement and Protection grant . . .

"It's a big nature area north of the picnic grounds and ball fields," said John Batt, associate parks director. . .

The money would be used for new walkways, expanded parking and an access point where people can put their small, non-motorized boats in the water, he said. . . The money would also be used for shoreline restoration to stabilize the banks of the west pond, which are subjected to wind and water erosion.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:26 pm

Is this "big lake" in the bottom right of this photo:

Post by **Coyote** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 3:30 pm

Big Lake is what you pass on the way up to the Lewis & Clark monument.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 3:38 pm

Coyote wrote:Big Lake is what you pass on the way up to the Lewis & Clark monument.

I was on the road you can see just to the left of the tracks?

Post by **Coyote** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 7:57 pm

Brad, you must have been on N 8th St. just even with Big Lake (here in Blue).

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 3:02 pm

Actually, the Big Lake talked about in the article is the larger body of shallow water that's on the north side of Big Lake Road, the body of water in blue is part of the Big Lake Park, but not actually Big Lake.

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:36 pm

Council approves park improvement projects

There are some big plans to improve Big Lake Park, a recreational-natural wildlife area in northern Council Bluffs.

"There are three lakes in Big Lake, and the north lake has little or no access," said Parks Director Ronald Hopp. "So our desire is to improve access, maybe with a boardwalk and non-motorized boat access for canoes or kayaks."

The City Council Monday night approved a resolution authorizing Mayor Tom Hanafan to enter into an agreement with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to accept a $200,000 state grant for work that would include a canoe launch into the north lake, an elevated boardwalk and boardwalk overlook, waterfowl viewing areas, a rain garden, native tree plantings and native grass and wildflower seeding. . .

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 12:45 pm

Council OK’s Big Lake Park improvements

The Council Bluffs City Council Monday approved plans for improvement to Big Lake Park.

The park features three lakes, two of them being Big Lake and West Lake.

At Big Lake, plans call for an elevated boardwalk and a series of paved trails that will allow the public to visit portions of the north park area no now easily accessible, according to Parks Director Larry Foster.

Plans also call for construction of an elevated observation deck that would provide better views across the lake and a new paved parking lot to better serve visitors.

Improvements at West Lake will involve a completely new shoreline to eliminate erosion. Some of it will feature a rock retaining wall, while the remainder will feature a more natural scene with aquatic plants to better help fish spawn and populate.

Construction of a new public fishing peninsula with paved, handicapped access is also planned.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:12 pm

I still can't believe how many people are over there fishing every time I go by. Â I am surprised there are very many fish in such a small lake with so many people fishing it.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 8:50 pm

i agree. Â However, i think it's stocked by the DNR?

Post by **Brad** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 11:10 am

Coming to Big Lake: Keeper-size trout

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120308/N ... size-trout

Omaha World-Herald wrote:COUNCIL BLUFFS — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will stock the west lake at Big Lake Park with 1,000 keeper-size trout Friday as part of its urban trout program.

The program is an effort to introduce trout fishing to more anglers, according to the department. The cool-weather stocking provides easy-access to trout fishing in areas that cannot support trout during the summer months.

"The idea is to continue to bring new people out, introduce them to the sport of fishing," said Bryan Hayes, fisheries biologist with the DNR. "We want enthusiasm and interest to remain high."