Like many Iowans, officials in Council Bluffs are watching the water levels rise and begin to swallow landmarks. John Batt, the city’s assistant director of Park and Recreation, says water from the Missouri River is already flowing into Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park. “We basically have closed the road going into it to try to not have vehicle traffic in there,” Batt says. “We’re kind of watching it right now, but we haven’t officially closed the park.”
He says they’re taking other precautions, too, as the flooding worsens. “Some of the things that we’re doing is shutting off the road, we’ll be shutting off the power and all the water service in there,” Batt says. “Most of the park will be underwater by Sunday, I believe.”
Batt says they are also keeping a close eye on the city’s Big Lake Park where flooding has been a concern before.
By Karla James