Riverside Park reopens today ahead of a busy week on riverfront

MUSCATINE, Iowa - After weeks of being inundated by the flood waters of the Mississippi River and a week of cleanup efforts, Riverside Park will reopen to the public at the end of the work day on Monday (July 29) according to the Muscatine Department of Public Works. That is good news for anxious anglers wanting to get back onto the river, and for the overnight stops for two river boats. And then there will be a Catfishing Tournament this weekend too.

The boat launch and parking lot downriver of the Iowa Avenue entrance to Riverside Park will be closed on Tuesday, July 30, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. due to the arrival of the American Melody, one of three cruise ships owned by the American Cruise Lines that will be stopping in Muscatine during the 2024 cruise season.

The American Melody will be arriving at approximately 3 p.m. on Monday, July 29, with passengers disembarking to explore Muscatine on Tuesday, July 30, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The ship is scheduled to depart Muscatine at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30. Once the ship heads upriver from their Muscatine port of call, the parking area will be opened up to the public.

Crews from the Parks and Recreation Department were busy Monday washing down the downriver boat launch area while crews from the Department of Public Works were continuing work to remove mud from the old boat launch area, and reinstall two boat ramps in the upriver boat launch area.

Most of the cleanup work will be completed this afternoon with the barricades being removed at the end of the work day.

The boat launch and parking lot downriver of the Iowa Avenue entrance to Riverside Park will also be closed on Saturday, August 3, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. due to the arrival of the American Serenade.

The parking lot will be closed on the respective days (Tuesday and Saturday) to allow American Cruise Line buses to pick up passengers as they depart the ship and visit several places in Muscatine, or just meander through the Downtown Muscatine area.

There will be plenty of action on the river as well this weekend with the Twisted Cat Catfishing Tournament taking place on Saturday. Competitors from across the country will be in Muscatine starting Friday and compete on the river Saturday. Closing festivities will be held just downriver of Pearl City Station.

The American Serenade will be arriving at approximately 10 p.m. on Friday, August 2, with passengers disembarking to explore Muscatine on Saturday, August 3, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The ship is scheduled to depart Muscatine at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 3. Once the ship leaves the parking area will be opened up to the public and Twisted Cat participants.

The upriver boat launch will remain open and be available for fishermen and others to launch and recover their watercraft. However, that launch and upriver parking area will be used Saturday for the Twisted Cat Outdoors Catfishing Tournament. This is the second straight year for the tournament in Muscatine.

The tournament opens with a dinner and informational meeting Friday at Pearl City Station. Due to the arrival of the American Serenade, launching activities for the tournament will be conducted in the upper boat launch area. A weigh-in area will be set up in the grassy area downriver of Pearl City Station where spectators can gather and enjoy many family-oriented activities.

For more information on the tournament, visit Twisted Cat Outdoors.

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