North Ridge Park — Attraction in Coralville

This trail has potential ... if it could make up its mind when it ended in North Liberty. Where Google Maps says it ends is where it should officially end BUT not if you go by its posted trail maps. Don't do as I did and follow those. From the end of where Google Maps says it ends (a shabby parking lot) and somewhere someplace where the trail map says it end is just a double-wide sidewalk that goes on and on. Going north of the parking lot (poorly connected with a horrible connecting sidewalk path), there are no more benches, trash cans, picnic tables or doggy bag stations. Fine for bicyclists but not hikers.

Talking of the "proper" trail (the one Google Maps shows you), it is an average suburban paved trail. Though hidden behind shrubbery, it follows on the left side (if heading north) train tracks. Great if you live west of it. Not so great if you live east as there are few cross-over points and those that do exist are clearly made by locals and not local government or whoever runs this trail.

The trail is a mix of cement paths and blacktop paths. A nasty hill just after the start (starts in Coralville's North Ridge Park) and then level from then on. Unlike Clear Creek Trail (it main "competitor") there are plenty of benches for most of the trail. If you are new to walking for fitness, this trail is for you, not Clear Creek. Unfortunately (and like Clear Creek), it lacks any restrroms or even porta-potties along the way but maybe one. There is a HyVee about midway...

Beautiful renovated and well kept playground for kids of all ages. They have a tot playground with two slides and multiple climbing obstacles. They have a high slide with imaginative ways to climb to it. They also have a safe Merry go round that a wheelchair could access but beware no anchors included. There are two swing ziplines one that's a traditional swing and one with a 3-point harness that is semi-accessible to a disabled kiddo. They have two ping pong tables (bring your own supplies) and ample seating. There is one disability swing but you must roll over wood chips to get to it, I wish the city had finished using the accessible mulchless flooring throughout the playground to make it...

Excuse the photos. I don't have older ones. But they replaced an amazing little park with the equivalent of what looks like something you'd find in the backyard of a mental ward. All of the cool playground equipment was replaced by a few bars and a ping pong table. Also it's even smaller now for some reason.

Where kids used to play all the time you might see a small group once a day from a tired mom who probably saw the old photos and thought it might be fun to go. I can assure you, it is not.

They also cut down a handful of trees that makes the scenery way less beautiful to look at.

The only thing it has going for it is its still technically a park...but what...