The City’s downtown master plan identified two blocks of declining properties for a future recreational facility. Previous uses in the area such as a bulk oil storage facility, railroad operations, automotive service and repair shops, and several leaking underground storage tanks raised the potential for adverse environmental conditions. Moreover, severe flooding in 2008 left many of the commercial properties damaged, underutilized, and/or vacant. The City used its Assessment Grants to investigate and clear the site for re-use.
Project Funding Sources
$5,000,000
Black Hawk County Gaming Association
$4,000,000
McElroy Trust
$3,000,000
Deere and Company (John Deere)
$2,000,000
Young Family Foundation
$2,000,000
Estate of Carlton and Thelma Winter
$750,000
Vision Iowa
$30,000
EPA Brownfields Assessment Grants (multiple Phase I and II ESAs)
Project Timeline
11.2012 | ARTICLE
City secures $750,000 Vision Iowa grant for Cedar Valley SportsPlex.
10.2013 | ARTICLE
City purchases brownfields properties for future parking.
01.2014 | ARTICLE
Cedar Valley SportsPlex set to open.
06.2014 | ARTICLE
City acquires additional former brownfields properties for future parking.
01.2015 | ARTICLE
Cedar Valley SportsPlex celebrates one-year anniversary.
Project Success Story
The City broke ground on the $27.5 million “Cedar Valley SportsPlex” in April 2012. The 130,000 square-foot facility features a large synthetic turf for soccer and baseball, pool, a two-court gymnasium space, locker facilities, multi-purpose meeting space, child care, kid’s gym, fitness studios, golf practice area, weights and cardio workout area, a four lane running track, and offices for the Waterloo Leisure Services Division. The Cedar Valley SportsPlex opened to the public in early 2014. The investment created 200 temporary construction jobs, 3 new full-time jobs, and 75 new part-time jobs.