Blues & BBQ marks the last event before the start of a major renovation project at Centennial Park

The annual North Liberty Blues & BBQ Festival will be the last event at Centennial Park before the start of a four-phase, $17.7 million renovation.

Located at 1565 St. Andrews Drive, construction on the park will begin Tuesday, July 16, for a project expected to last five years. The first phase, which includes construction of the 13,000-square-foot Centennial Center event space and a 2,700-square-foot amphitheater, is expected to last just over a year. The $7.2 million facility will anchor the reconfigured park, hosting Blues & BBQ as well as family reunions, weddings and other large gatherings.

The first phase also includes the construction of permanent bathrooms that can be used all year round.

Construction is expected to continue through the summer of 2025, meaning the annual Blues & BBQ Festival will not take place next year. “The Blues & BBQ Festival will actually be on hiatus next year,” said Jillian Miller, North Liberty’s assistant director of community relations. “Unfortunately, even though the center will be nearly complete and it will be an outdoor festival, there will still be some land disturbed from the end of the outdoor construction, and the grass will not grow in yet.”

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Create an attractive event space

The new event center will enhance existing programming while hopefully attracting new artists. Future programming is already being developed with the Englert Theatre, the Iowa City Community School District and Clear Creek Amana. The city has begun booking events for the Centennial Center through 2025-26, providing a more affordable venue for touring acts.

Once the Centennial Park project is complete, the outdoor space will include a splash pad, an open-air pavilion and a ceremonial garden, as well as wheelchair-accessible play equipment, a picnic area, restrooms and expanded parking areas.

“Twenty years ago, it was about finding the next manufacturer or the next big company that would come to more cities and create jobs. Today, people often choose where they want to live based on the quality of life in the community,” Miller said. “What’s important about Centennial Park being added to the list of amenities and entertainment in the corridor is that it’s fashionable. It’s going to contribute to that quality of life.”

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A decade of development and community engagement

The renovation of Centennial Park took more than 10 years. The city of North Liberty purchased the land west of the city when it was still largely undeveloped. In 2012, the master plan was created, and in 2013, the city added a playground and parking lot.

When completed, the renovated Centennial Park is expected to generate $11.5 million annually.

Last year, North Liberty launched the Next Stage capital campaign to help raise funds for the park. More than $2.3 million has been raised toward the $3.5 million goal. Other funding comes from a mix of city funds and state and federal grants.

The City of North Liberty also partnered with Field Day Brewing for the Centennial Park Pilsner. The brewery pledged to donate $50,000 from sales of the specially brewed draft, can or four-pack.

A park for a growing city

North Liberty officials are excited about the park’s potential and its impact on the community and Johnson County. They plan to continue offering free activities and a wide range of programs.

“We want this to be a park for people,” Miller said. “We’re going to balance its location close to neighborhoods and make it a carefully curated mix of diverse programs and price points so that everyone can find something at Centennial Park.”

Jessica Rish is an entertainment, food and business reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at: JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_

This article originally appeared on the Iowa City Press-Citizen: $17.7 million renovation of North Liberty’s Centennial Park begins