A bill that made it past this week’s first legislative funnel would bring more state funding support full-day preschool for children from low-income households.
The state has a voluntary preschool program for four-year-old’s that provides state funding for 10 hours of preschool per week. Next year, if passed, the bill would provide state funding to support 20 hours of preschool each week for children whose parents have a yearly income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level.
The City of Sioux city announced yesterday that Cone Park is closed for tubing the rest of the season, but the city is looking forward to an exciting spring and summer.
City Recreation Director John Byrnes said today at news conference that the city didn't the weather needed for winter sports.
“It was really warm early, it was hard to make snow, and then we got the coldest two weeks we’ve had in a long time, so that kind of obviously drove numbers down.”
That being said, Byrnes added that the few weekends Cone Park was open, they were sold out .
“I think it’s a really reassuring sign for everything to come. The financials don’t look as great, but this is a really positive sign that when we can be open, we’re full.”
Byrnes said he would like to see a focus on mountain biking and hiking in and around Cone Park; an area he says is uniquely made for biking.
“Ten and half miles of soft surface trails, a pump track, a skill jump line, a progressive jump line, something everyone from a first time rider all the way up to BMX pros. With a resort feel tied into to it. So Cone Park is going to be this unique setting.”
While the mountain biking and other features planned for Cone Park depend on the outcome of Saturday’s City Council budget meeting, Burns is planning for success.
“We’ll offer rentals, for mountain bike gear, so you don’t have your own bike you can come with us and rent that. We are hoping to have programming, events ongoing, recurring, almost like a youth sport.”
Byrnes says Cone Park should be open for Spring May 15th.
