Lake Manawa — Attraction in Council Bluffs

Minutes from Omaha you can find a playground designed and built by volunteers of the community. The largest playground for miles offers the best in modern materials, safe and durable with several activities for each age range. Fenced in completely it allows parents a chance to relax knowing little ones won't run off. As I watched my grandfather Willard Fry and members from the fish and game club originally construct this playground , I was worried it would have changed when rebuilt just not long ago. Thankfully the concepts and designs are remarkably duplicated with additional fun things now included. Even if you don't have children the park is a sight to see. Located in the fields not far from the beach it offers several interesting things for anyone. In the summer months bring bug spray and sun block , you might want to stay longer then expected. Sheltered tables and restrooms allow perfect places for gatherings...

I have been boating my whole life and have never been so unnecessarily harassed or targeted by the DNR or any other law enforcement agency! It got so bad that the 20 yr old kids they gave a boat and a badge to likely missed out on 30-40 more tickets while watching us with binoculars for over 3 hours while we were docked, and the harassment continued until we got our boat out of the water. We were not drinking excessively or acting foolish or unsafe, we were spending a beautiful day with our children and another family and their children. When they couldn’t get us they subsequently targeted the second boat in our group. I’ll be keeping my money in Nebraska...

If you like a lot of people then this is the place for you. Crowds are the rule, not the exception. The lake is usually crowded and fishing can be considered only fair at best. Every once in awhile you might catch a good one but it's a better place to test your boat than to expect to catch fish. Ecoli present in water presently do swimming is not recommended. Parks are clean until the crowds don't throw away trash. A nice place for family outings or picnics but be ready to clean up...