Bettendorf’s Lincoln Park to Celebrate New Playground and Other Upgrades on Thursday, May 28

May 26, 2026 - It's time to celebrate nearly a year of upgrades at one of Bettendorf's oldest parks!

On Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 5 p.m., the City of Bettendorf will hold a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Lincoln Park (951 27^th Street), where a brand-new $155,794 state-of-the-art playground system was installed in November 2025, and a new shade structure was installed in May 2026. These upgrades were voted on by parkgoers during a Community Input Event in 2025 (see information below). The community is invited to attend and be the first to enjoy these new amenities, along with free cookies and lemonade (while supplies last).

"This ribbon cutting will mark the next step in Lincoln Park's journey from a former school to a playground and splash pad, and now renovations the community has selected that will last for decades to come," said John Byrnes, Parks & Recreation Director. "Neighborhood parks continue to be vital amenities for our communities to gather, relax, and play. Lincoln Park will now be another desirable location to contribute to the quality of life in Bettendorf!"

November 25, 2025 - The new playground at Lincoln Park is complete! Crews worked all day - and even into the night - to install this state-of-the-art playground system in less than a week, replacing the old playground that was more than 25 years old.

This is the first phase of the Lincoln Park Renovation Project. The second phase includes work on the parking lot and the installation of a shade structure. We'll hold a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in spring 2026 to celebrate! Be sure to visit www.bettendorf.org/LivenUpLincoln to sign up and get updates.

October 17, 2025 - The City of Bettendorf's Parks & Recreation Department is excited to reveal the final designs and tentative timelines of three upcoming park renovation projects.

On September 16, 2025, City Council approved the purchase orders for playground and amenity upgrades at Lincoln, Friendship, and Edgewood Parks following three separate Community Input Events where residents had the opportunity to vote on their favorite park features and submit their own ideas on what improvements they'd like to see in their neighborhood parks.

"This process was so enjoyable for City Staff because of the overwhelming turnout at each of our Community Input Events," said John Byrnes, Parks & Recreation Director. "Building the next generation of neighborhood parks based on what park-goers prioritize creates an incredible sense of community and pride in our park system."

Lincoln Park features a popular splash pad and has recently added a new bathroom. After a Community Input Event on July 17, 2025, a bigger, modern playground emerged as one of the top choices of park-goers.

City Council approved a purchase order to GameTime for new playground equipment and a shade sail. The $155,794 state-of-the-art playground system will replace the existing playground, which is estimated to be more than 25 years old.

"This modern playground will tower over the old playground it is replacing as kids climb to the sky, up the 21' overlook to a spiraling slide," said Byrnes. "Younger kids will find climbing challenges and lower platforms and slides to play on, and, by popular demand, we are updating the swing set as well."

This renovation project is expected to begin Monday, October 20, 2025 with demolition of the existing playground. The new playground is scheduled to be installed the week of November 17, 2025, and be completed by November 28, weather permitting. Follow the progress at Lincoln Park! The rest of Lincoln Park will remain open as construction occurs in the playground area.

July 2, 2025 - The City of Bettendorf's Parks & Recreation Department is inviting the community to give their input on what upgrades or additions should be made at Lincoln Park.

Lincoln Park (951 27^th Street) features a popular splash pad and has recently added a new bathroom. The City has set a budget of $150,000 to replace the aging playground and further enhance this neighborhood park. Some ideas include a modern, traditional playground or a non-traditional playground, such as a bike pump track. You can see examples of these features on a special webpage created for this project.

"Neighborhood parks are essential to our community," said John Byrnes, Parks & Recreation Director. "On average, U.S. residents visit a local park and recreation facility 22 times a year - or nearly twice a month. Our goal is to invest in these neighborhood parks to get residents outside, active, social, and enjoying our beautiful city."

The Bettendorf Parks & Recreation Department is encouraging the community to share their thoughts on the improvements they'd like to see at Lincoln Park by attending a special event on Thursday, July 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be free food and an opportunity for park-goers of all ages to "make their mark" on their favorite park features as well as submit their own ideas.

"We want to hear from you, the users of Lincoln Park!" added Byrnes. "This is a chance for anyone from a five-year-old child to folks who have lived in the neighborhood for decades to show up and tell us what they want to see in their park. We can't wait to enhance and liven up Lincoln Park for the coming years, and this is a fantastic opportunity to hear directly from park-goers themselves."

Event Information:
Date: Thursday, July 17 - 5 to 7 p.m.
Location: Lincoln Park, 951 27^th Street
Parking: Due to the upcoming 27^th Street Reconstruction Project, please park along Erin Street and Thorn Street.