Sioux City’s popular winter recreation destination adds summer tubing | Nebraska News

By Jeffery R. Callaham On May 14, 2022

DOLLY A. BUTZ Sioux City, Iowa Journal

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Cone Park’s 700-foot main hill no longer needs to be covered in snow for visitors to tubing down it.

In mid-June, two lanes of a plastic-like surface will be installed on the hill to launch new summer offerings, designed to make the park a year-round destination for family fun.

Guests race down the hill on inner tubes at Cone Park in 2021.

Sioux City Journal file photo

The city has a contract with Neveplast USA for the summer piping equipment, which is shipped from Italy.

“With winter use at Cone Park being more popular than ever, we’re excited to now have a summer option and bring the excitement more year-round than just the winter months,” said Matt Salvatore , director of parks and recreation of Sioux City. “I hope it will be a great attraction for people to enjoy Cone Park in winter and summer.”

Summer tubing at the park will be similar to winter tubing, adhering to high safety standards with a reliable braking system to smoothly slow users to a stop. The summer slide will be offered in 2 1/2 hour sessions, with 85 participants per session throughout the summer.

A mountain bike trail system is expected to begin construction at Cone Park in 2023.

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The $2 million bike lane project will include jumps and berms, as well as a pump track. Walkers, hikers and runners will be able to use the single-use trails. The Chesterman Foundation donated $1 million for the project.

During the winter, Cone Park offers a main hill and Blue Bunny Hill, a shorter hill designed for people of all ages, for snow tubing during the winter. Visitors can also skate at the park’s 5,400 square foot refrigerated rink and warm up around the fire pit and in the park’s day pavilion.

Chesterman on bike — Jay Chesterman rides a mountain bike. In early 2021, the Sioux City Parks and Recreation Department began working with Jay Chesterman and members of the mountain biking community to develop a trail plan between Cone and Sertoma Parks.

Courtesy picture

When summer comes, the skating rink is converted into a free public paddling pool and the day pavilion remains rentable. The wading pool is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. The park also has a two-mile trail loop, which connects Sertoma Park to the east.

Cone Park received the “Outstanding Attraction” award from the Iowa Bureau of Tourism and the Iowa Travel Federation in 2019. During the park’s fifth winter season, 19,897 tickets were sold.

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