West Burlington Trailhead Park bioretention cell: $67,750 IDALS cost-share

West Burlington residents got a new look at the next step for stormwater improvements tied to the future West Burlington Trailhead Park this week, after Iowa Agriculture announced a state cost-share for an urban water quality practice.

On July 13, 2026, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) will provide $67,750 for the West Burlington Trailhead Park bioretention cell project.

Where the bioretention cell is planned

City materials describe the bioretention cell as part of the future Trailhead Park along the public trail corridor. The city’s administrator/project background documents place the trailhead area on the northeast quadrant of the intersection of Highway 34 and Gear Avenue.

What the bioretention cell is intended to do

IDALS says the bioretention cell will filter stormwater runoff from the park and nearby streets before it reaches Hawkeye Creek and ultimately the Mississippi River.

In plain terms, a bioretention cell is a landscaped stormwater feature designed to slow down runoff and treat it as water moves through the cell’s vegetation and growing medium, rather than letting runoff head downstream as quickly.

Nitrogen and phosphorus reduction targets

West Burlington’s 2026 resident newsletter frames the bioretention cell as “natural infrastructure” and says it is intended to capture and treat runoff with targets for nitrogen and phosphorus reductions.

The city also describes the bioretention cell as the first of its kind in West Burlington.

What residents and trail users may notice as summer 2026 approaches

The city’s materials say construction is expected to begin in summer 2026. That means nearby residents and trail users could see grading and stormwater-related features integrated into the trailhead area as work starts and ramps up.

While the exact day-by-day schedule will depend on permitting and construction sequencing, the key takeaway is to expect visible stormwater infrastructure work as part of the Trailhead Park rollout.

What to watch next

For the most practical updates, keep an eye on West Burlington’s Trailhead Park communications tied to the 2026 newsletter and the city’s posted administrator/project background materials, especially as the summer 2026 construction window gets closer.

Sources

• Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) news release — Secretary Naig announcement (Urban water quality projects, July 2026)
• West Burlington 2026 Newsletter (PDF) — Trailhead Park water quality/bioretention cell details