Council Bluffs Recreation Complex
Rate this placeNearby: Twin City Park North Shore Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
The Council Bluffs Recreation Complex is located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, which is just across the Missouri River from Omaha, Nebraska.
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Summary
The complex offers a variety of activities for visitors of all ages, including hiking, biking, fishing, picnicking, and more.
One of the key attractions at the Council Bluffs Recreation Complex is the Lake Manawa State Park, which offers a beach, boat rentals, and fishing opportunities. The complex also features soccer fields, baseball diamonds, and playgrounds for kids.
Visitors can also explore the nearby historic sites, including the Union Pacific Railroad Museum and the Western Historic Trails Center. In addition, Council Bluffs is home to several casinos, which offer a range of gaming options for adults.
One interesting fact about the Council Bluffs Recreation Complex is that it was originally built as a Works Progress Administration project during the Great Depression. The park officially opened in 1937 and has been a popular destination for locals and tourists alike ever since.
The best time of year to visit the Council Bluffs Recreation Complex is during the summer months when the weather is warm and sunny. Visitors can take advantage of the outdoor activities and enjoy the beautiful scenery. However, the park is open year-round, so visitors can also enjoy winter sports like ice fishing and ice skating during the colder months.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
|---|---|---|
Lake Manawa State Park
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Friendship City Park
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Camp Brewster
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Camp Logan Fontenelle
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Camp Wakonda
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Haworth City Park - Bellevue
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Twin City Park
North Shore Park
Malmare Park
Lauritzen Gardens
Manawa City Park