Quality of Life
As the Crown Jewel of the I-380 Metro Corridor, Hiawatha offers small town atmosphere with big city amenities. Hiawatha's quality of life encompasses all of the enhancements of the Metro area. With a varied mix that ranges from shopping locations to cultural opportunities, Hiawatha provides the best of community and business, all within a very short drive.
Nature Trails
Cedar Valley Nature Trail
Located on Boyson Road in Hiawatha is a trailhead for the Cedar Valley Nature Trail. The trailhead is furnished with picnic tables, restrooms, maps and information about the trail, and parking. The main trail is a continuous path just under 52 miles (84 km) long, running northwest from Hiawatha to Evansdale, Iowa with the first 4 miles (6.4 km) going north from Hiawatha paved with asphalt. The first 16 miles (26 km) going south from Evansdale is also paved with asphalt, the remaining trail is crushed and packed limestone. The trail has wildflowers and pockets of native remnant prairie grasses that have been enlarged through the process of burning surrounding brush and non-native plants. The trail is also known to have abundant wildlife and birds to observe.
Other trails
A connecting segment of trail continues south from the Cedar Valley Nature trailhead through Hiawatha to connect with the Cedar River trail, a 12.6 mile (20.3 km) trail in neighboring Cedar Rapids. Hiawatha also maintains smaller unconnected looped walking trails at all three City parks.
Farmers Market
The Hiawatha Farmers Market is located in the 10th Ave parking lot of Guthridge Park in Hiawatha. The market opens beginning Mid-April and runs through the end of October on Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (local time). Depending on the day, 25 or more entrepreneurs from the area set up their own displays and sell home grown and home made products. These include (but are not limited to) fresh vegetables, fruits, and flowers, an assortment of baked products, preserved food products, arts, and crafts.
Cedar Rapids Farmers Market has become one of the largest open-air markets in the Midwest, with as many as 15,000 patrons visiting each market. More than 200 local Iowa vendors offer fresh produce, a variety of baked goods, artisan gifts, and meats and dairy products. Rain or shine during the months of June through September, patrons can enjoy a big-as-your-face cinnamon roll and sample local Iowa wine while catching up with friends and neighbors. Live music, dancers and street performances round out this eclectic Cedar Rapids original. The downtown market runs along 3rd Ave and 4th Ave, from 2nd St to 5th St, in Cedar Rapids, on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. until noon. Other Markets are located at Noelridge Greenhouse parking lot on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and Green Square on Thursdays from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Marion Farmers Market offers a wide variety of locally grown produce, fresh baked goods, flowers, and homemade crafts. Market is located at 3375 7th Ave in Marion and opens in May, running through the end of September. Markets are open on Wednesdays from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Shopping
Lindale Mall - Everyone loves a visit here, where shopping is tops and fun is everywhere. Get inspired by great fashion at your favorite specialty shops. Get it all at their stylish department stores. Get going with a steaming latte for you and a cookie for your guy in the stroller. Get the wiggles out in their creative play area. And, best of all, get everything accomplished in one easy trip. Lindale Mall is located at 4444 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids and is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sundays from Noon to 6:00 p.m.
Westdale Mall - In addition to shopping, entertainment and dining, Westdale Mall is home to several city, county and government agencies as well as the Cedar Rapids Public Library. Westdale Mall is located at 2600 Edgewood Rd SW, Cedar Rapids and is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sundays from Noon to 6:00 p.m.
Dining
The Metro area offers a plethora of cultural dining experiences, from American home-style cuisine to authentic Mediterranean, with the rich spices of Mexican restaurants, and exotic aromas of Asian fare all close by.
Schools
The Cedar Rapids Community School District has the second largest enrollment in the State of Iowa. The district's AK through grade 12 grade program currently serves 15,975 students. The educational program of the Cedar Rapids Schools is designed to provide excellence for all students, and is based on a guiding philosophy of continuous improvement. Hiawatha residents have access to three elementary schools, a middle school, a high school and a variety of local colleges and universities.
Hiawatha Elementary School is located at 603 Emmons St, Hiawatha and offers classes to grades K - 5.
Nixon Elementary School is located at 200 Nixon Dr, Hiawatha and offers classes to grades K - 5.
Viola Gibson Elementary School is located at 6101 Gibson Dr NE, Cedar Rapids and offers classes to grades K - 5.
Harding Middle School is located at 4801 Golf St NE, Cedar Rapids and offers classes to grades 6 - 8.
Kennedy High School is located at 4545 Wenig Rd NE, Cedar Rapids and offers classes to grades 9 - 12.
Colleges and Universities:
Coe College
Kaplan University
Kirkwood Community College
Mt. Mercy University
University of Iowa Satellite
Parks
Guthridge Park is located at 704 Emmons St, Hiawatha, between 7th Ave and 10th Ave, across from the Hiawatha Elementary School. Park amenities include: 2 Pavilions for rent with charcoal grills and easily accessed restrooms, Splashpad, 3 lighted softball diamonds, 2 lighted basketball courts, 2 sand volleyball courts, 2 lighted tennis courts, several playground areas, concession stand during baseball games, outdoor learning classroom, .8 mile paved walking trail, 2 horseshoe pits.
Tucker Park is located at 101 B Ave, Hiawatha, backing up against St. Andrews Golf Course. Park amenities include: 2 Pavilions for rent with charcoal grills and easily accessed restrooms, Splashpad, playground areas and .3 mile walking trail.
Fay M. Clark Memorial Park is located at 1200 N 18th Ave, Hiawatha. Park amenities include: 1 Pavilion for rent with charcoal grill and attached restrooms, playground equipment, an 18-hole disc golf course and a 1.1K paved trail.
Sports/Recreation
Gymnastics
C.R.A.G. Gymnastics provides a unique opportunity to help young people develop physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially through the sport of gymnastics. They are located at 925 Boyson Ct, Hiawatha.
Soccer
Sport Zone is located at 1100 N 18th Ave, Hiawatha, right next to the Fay M. Clark Memorial Park. Sport Zone offers Soccer, Basketball, Baseball & Softball Batting Cages, Volleyball and facility rentals for corporate outings and birthday parties.
Golf Courses
Time on the links can provide golfers of every level, the self competition and peace of spending time enjoying a Midwest summer. The Metro area offers eleven golf courses to choose from:
Jones Park Golf Course
Airport National Golf Complex
Meadowridge Golf Course
Ellis Park Golf Course
Elmcrest Golf Course
Cedar Rapids Golf Course
Twin Pines Golf Course
St. Andrews Golf Course
Donald K. Gardner Memorial Golf Course
Olde Indian Creek Golf Course
Hunters Ridge Golf Course
Baseball Clubs
The Metro area boasts their own AAA Baseball team, a class A affiliate of the Loss Angeles Angels. The Cedar Rapids Kernels mission is to provide affordable, fan-friendly, high-quality entertainment at a first-class facility. Check out their schedule and be ready to settle in for some summer fun with a ballgame!
Hockey
Maybe the thrill of the puck streaking across the ice is more your style. The Metro area's own Cedar Rapids Rough Riders can quench your appetite for hockey. check out their website for scheduling, ticket information and directions to "The Stable".
Arts & Culture
For those seeking to stimulate their artistic side or just to enjoy the Midwest area's cultural diversity, the Metro area offers a vast array of cultural attractions and an abundance of museums, live music, festivals, theatre and entertainment options. The vibrant and accessible art scene enriches the area and makes the Metro area a wonderful place to live and visit.
Theatre Cedar Rapids
Among the region's largest and longest-operating community theatres, Theatre Cedar Rapids is located in the Iowa Theater Building in the heart of downtown Cedar Rapids. Founded by regionalist artist Grant Wood, TCR is a nationally-recognized nonprofit community theatre embarking on its 79th season of quality local programs that reach more than 55,000 eastern Iowans of all ages. Take a look at their website for this year's lineup, ticket information and directions to the theatre.
Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre
Bringing Professional Opera to Eastern Iowa. Since 1998, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre has been committed to bringing high quality, professional opera productions to eastern Iowa. The Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre presents two to three operas each season as well as several special events. American artists and international artists are featured singers in their productions. Make sure to check out their amazing upcoming performances or buy your tickets today. Whether you are a newcomer to the wonderful multimedia art form that is opera, or a seasoned patron, we invite you to join us and Experience the AhhhHHH!
Orchestra Iowa
Founded in April 1921, Orchestra Iowa is one of the oldest symphony orchestras in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River. Its 82 professional musicians perform more than 120 public performances throughout Eastern Iowa each year, many of which can be heard on Iowa Public Radio and seen on Iowa Public Television. Visit their website for upcoming concerts and events and to purchase your tickets.
Indian Creek Nature Center
Get away from it all anytime at the Indian Creek Nature Center in Cedar Rapids. Whether during the bright green of spring, lush bloom of summer, autumn's brilliance or the stark, crisp beauty of winter, the Indian Creek Nature Center welcomes you to reconnect with all that nature has to offer.
Explore over 200 acres and 4 miles of trails. Be inspired by changing vistas, splashing streams and up-close wildlife at every turn.
Cultivate your child's curiosity about the wonders of industrious honey bees and wiggly backyard bugs.
Learn how you can grow your own food, conserve precious resources and tread more gently on the earth.
Engage with others in preserving and restoring Iowa's waterways and native habitats.
Stop by their website to see their hours of operation and find out about upcoming events.
Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center
Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center is a retreat and conference center focused on ecology and spirituality. It is nestled in a natural setting of 70 acres of prairie and woodland in Hiawatha. The vision of Prairiewoods is of people everywhere, awakened in consciousness and energized by the loving, creative Spirit of the Universe into a community, moving together into wisdom, compassion and the fullness of life. Offering services that include Ecospirituality, Holistic Massage, Reflexology, Healing Touch, Foot Spa Treatment, Paraffin Bath, Directed/Private and Group Retreat Packages and additional programming. The Center has 70 acres of quiet nature with walking trails, an outdoor labyrinth, a lending library with an extensive collection on the environment and a peaceful meditation room. the Center is located at 120 E Boyson Rd in Hiawatha and you can visit their website as well.
Movie Theaters
Sometimes it's great to relax in front of a big screen, popcorn in hand and be entertained by your favorite actors. Whether you enjoy comedy, suspense, drama or want to spend some time laughing with your children, the Metro area offers three theaters with many movies to choose from. Visit their websites for a listing of movies, show times and ticket prices.
Carmike Cinemas
Collins Road Theatres
Wehrenberg Galaxy 16 Cine
Museums
The Metro area is a huge melting pot of history. The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, Brucemore, The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, The African American Museum of Iowa, and The Carl and Mary Koehler History Center have volumes of historical treasures that surprise and educate all audiences.
The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
Brucemore
The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
The African American Museum of Iowa
The Carl and Mary Koehler History Center
Concerts in the Park
The Hiawatha Parks and Recreation Department has scheduled a series of concerts in the month of August on Friday nights to provide entertainment and enjoyment for the community. Bring your coolers and lawn chairs and enjoy the music with family and friends at Hiawatha's Concerts in the Park, in Guthridge Park. Concerts begin at 6:00 p.m. and end at 9:00 p.m.
2012 Schedule and Lineup of Concerts
August 3, 2012 Kevin Burt and the Blues Instigators
August 10, 2012 Two Buck Chuck
August 17, 2012 Adobanga
August 24, 2012 Crazy Delicious
Libraries
Hiawatha Public Library
The Vision of the Hiawatha Public Library is to provide the members of its community with access to information, which can improve their minds, broaden their lives, and fulfill their cultural, civic, intellectual, educational, and recreational needs. The Hiawatha Public Library offers programming for Adults, Children and Teens. Visit the Hiawatha Public Library at 150 W Willman St, Hiawatha or check out their website.
Cedar Rapids Public Library
The Vision of the Cedar Rapids Public Library is to impact our community and transform its quality of life through education, civic engagement, the arts, and entertainment. With programming for Children and Teens, the Cedar Rapids Public Library works to fulfill their vision statement. Locations include 2600 Edgewood Rd SW in Cedar Rapids and 221 3rd St SE in Cedar Rapids. Visit their website for hours of operation and their programming information.
Marion Public Library
The Marion Public Library is located at 1095 Sixth Ave in Marion. Programming for Children and Teens include story time, toddler time, children's reading programs and teen reading programs. Stop by and enjoy this facility and check out their website for hours of operation and directions.
