Eagle Park Project Update

The purpose of this project is to make Eagle Park an area where people can interact with nature in a way that educates and preserves the natural habitat of the species who live there.

The first phase of this project will include:

• Installing an 8' crushed limestone walking trail throughout Eagle Park. Establish a Mud Creek access point. 
• Installing three solar-powered charging benches along the walking path.
• Establish native planting area.
• Establish a butterfly garden.
• Planting 50 trees. 
• Installing wayfinding and interpretative signage.

The butterfly garden area will help to provide a habitat area for butterflies and other insects. Butterflies act as pollinators and are also a food source for other animals of the food chain.

The plantings included as part of the native planting area will include a variety of species best suited to grow in Iowa. In addition to adding a visual component to Eagle Park, these plantings will help to promote biodiversity and will help to absorb and slow stormwater run-off. This native planting area will help to prevent habitat fragmentation and greenway corridor disruption.

The project includes stormwater treatment cells, which are a best management practice and designed to capture and treat the first flush of runoff from impermeable surfaces. These bioretention cells target the removal of a wide range of pollutants, including sediments, metals, hydrocarbons, and floatable litter.

The benches being installed include solar-powered charging stations for users of Eagle Park to enjoy.

The geogrid system being installed as part of the walking trail will help to act like a filter by allowing water to move through the soil while retaining the soil particles. This geogrid will help to reduce soil erosion caused by rainfall.

At 39 acres, Eagle Park is the second largest park in the community. Eagle Park was established back in 2006.

Once the Eagle Park improvements are made, residents of these nearby neighborhoods will be able to walk to and through Eagle Park. Eagle Park won’t serve just those residents in the immediate area. Eagle Park is already connected into the park and trail system of the community. The proposed Eagle Park improvements will provide for increased quality of life opportunities for residents and visitors of Bondurant. The proposed soft trails will help to activate Eagle Park by providing a safe and enjoyable path through the project area. The path being installed will help to promote active living. The proposed Mud Creek access point will bring users of the park down to the creek. Users of Eagle Park may gain an appreciation of the area’s natural amenities. According to Playworld, living near a park can help to boost property values anywhere between 8%- 20%.

The project brings people together and closer to nature. It further facilitates users’ ability to interact with the creek. People interacting with the creek and using the soft trails in Eagle Park will help foster an appreciation for the flora and fauna of the area and hopefully, a greater appreciation for nature and conservation. With Bondurant’s fast-paced population growth, this project provides a great opportunity to be an ‘outdoor classroom’, with the appropriate signage and the access point to get into the creek.

The soft trails provide an opportunity for people in wheel chairs to meander through Eagle Park; an opportunity which does not currently exist.

Eagle Park is highlighted in yellow in the image below.

Keep track of the progress of this project here: https://www.cityofbondurant.com/projects