New Playground Being Installed at Bettendorf’s Friendship Park

February 9, 2026 - With warmer weather on the way, the City of Bettendorf's Parks & Recreation Department is excited to announce that the Friendship Park Renovation Project is getting underway the week of February 9, 2026!

Friendship Park features a shelter, sand volleyball court, and a large playground space. After a Community Input Event on August 14, 2025, a modern playground emerged as the top choice of park-goers.

On September 16, 2025, City Council approved a purchase order to GameTime for new playground equipment. The $171,027 state-of-the-art playground system replaces the old playground, which was estimated to be more than 20 years old and demolished in late 2025.

Installation begins the week of February 9, 2026 and is expected to be completed in the coming months, weather permitting. The rest of Friendship Park will remain open as construction occurs in the playground area.

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."

Friendship Park (5033 White Post Road)
Friendship Park features a shelter, sand volleyball court, and a large playground space. After a Community Input Event on August 14, 2025, a modern playground emerged as the top choice of park-goers.

City Council approved a purchase order to GameTime for new playground equipment. The $171,027 state-of-the-art playground system will replace the existing playground, which is estimated to be more than 20 years old.

"More than 170 people from around the Friendship Park neighborhood voted overwhelmingly for a playground that feature unique, modern equipment that will be more appealing and engaging to a wider age range of kids," said Byrnes. "I think the 360-degree climbing feature is probably the single most unique piece of playground equipment in the City of Bettendorf!"

This renovation project will potentially begin the week of November 17, 2025, weather permitting. Follow the progress at Friendship Park! The rest of Friendship Park will remain open as construction occurs in the playground area.

July 31, 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 Friendship Park.

Friendship Park (5033 White Post Road) features a shelter, sand volleyball court, and a large playground space. 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 with rubber surfacing, or a non-traditional playground, such as a small rock climbing wall. You can learn more by visiting 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 Friendship Park by attending a special event on Thursday, August 14 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 Friendship 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 refresh Friendship Park for the coming years, and this is a fantastic opportunity to hear directly from park-goers themselves."