In addition to being an exciting place to work and play, the College Hill neighborhood is also an extraordinary place to live.

Located adjacent to the picturesque University of Northern Iowa campus, the College Hill neighborhood offers a unique blend of residents that includes families, students, university personnel and alumni, retirees, and other members of the community. The neighborhood features both historic and contemporary architectural housing styles, and is highly walkable with tree-lined streets and many bike lanes. Residents appreciate the close proximity to the university, the vibrant College Hill Arts and Entertainment district, Seerley Park, the Hearst Center for the Arts, UNI’s biological preserve, and the city’s award-winning trail system.

Residents and landlords in the area also have the advantage of the College Hill Urban Revitalization Plan (CHURP), which offers partial property tax abatement and exemptions on residential property improvements within the College Hill Overlay District that result in at least a 10% increase to the value of the property, and can also be applied to commercial property if the commercial property consists of 3 or more separate living quarters with at least 75% of the space used for residential purposes (buildings only). Applications are available through the City of Cedar Falls’ Community Development Department and on cedarfalls.com.

Between the easy access to numerous dining and entertainment options, the thriving art scene, and the prime location in the beautiful city of Cedar Falls, the College Hill Neighborhood is an area with something for everyone. Of all of the roles College Hill holds the one perhaps most treasured by those who live here is its role as a place to call home.

Seerley Park has always been the College Hill Partnership’s neighborhood park. We have hosted countless events there over the years, including regular Saturday get-togethers, Halloween and holiday tree lighting events for children and families, and programs such as our popular “Jazz in the Park” event.

Created in 1893, the 2.3-acre Park is the second oldest park in Cedar Falls. The last renovation to the park was completed in the 1970s, a time when accessibility was, unfortunately, not considered. Children and adults with mobility issues find it next to impossible to access the Park’s playground and shelter. The only access is the somewhat steep diagonal sidewalk—and then across stretches of grass to the playground or shelter.

With this renovation, we would add additional sidewalks that would create more suitable access to both the playground and shelter for children and adults in wheelchairs, or using walkers, braces or dealing with visual challenges. Along with easier access, stable surfaces and smooth (ramp) transitions would be added so all children can “play together” and “stay together” on safe, new ADA compliant playground equipment. The new playground surface would be a playground
grass safety surface which requires subdrainage, a modified subbase and pad. We would be able to add a fence around the playground for added safety and peace of mind for parents.

The renovation also includes a new, multipurpose park shelter, with amenities for picnics, music performances, and other events, and an accessible design that fits with the historical nature of the park.

Currently the City of Cedar Falls’ Capital Improvement Plan has identified the “Play Together, Stay Together Seerley Park Renovation” as a project for 2024 and 2025, but only if the College Hill Partnership, serving as a community partner, can raise $118,000 of the estimated $474,451 total project cost.

The “Stay Together, Play Together” project would bring a half-century upgrade to Seerley Park to make its playground and shelter ADA compliant and accessible for all Cedar Valley children and a multipurpose park shelter for everyone to enjoy.

You can help make this essential park renovation possible. Make a tax-deductible one-time or recurring gift to the College Hill Partnership, at the account with the Cedar Falls Community Foundation: cfcf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1429

Have a code enforcement issue to report? Contact City of Cedar Falls, Code Enforcement, at (319) 268-5186.

Or head to https://www.cf1stop.com/IncidDetail.aspx and report on the online form.