River’s Edge Council Bluffs Continues to Evolve With New Developments

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What was once a bare stretch of land on the Iowa side of the Missouri River in Council Bluffs has undergone a remarkable transformation. River’s Edge, a thriving development, now occupies the space, and its story is still being written. 

Creating River’s Edge  

Over the years, the riverfront district has seen a wealth of developments and improvements, and the area has become an essential place for residents, businesses, office workers and community members who utilize River’s Edge to live, work and gather. 

“Our group brings partners together for projects in Council Bluffs and southwest Iowa, and River’s Edge has been a big part of our recent focus,” says Pete Tulipana, president and CEO of Southwest Iowa Nonprofit for Collective Impact (SINC), a nonprofit organization in Council Bluffs that has raised money for several River’s Edge developments. 

Early successes of the development project included building the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, which opened in 2008 and spans the Missouri River between Council Bluffs and Omaha, and Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park, which opened in 2013. River’s Edge Pavilion debuted in 2017, and the 4200 Office Building opened in 2019. 

“Today, our mission continues to be improving the quality of life in River’s Edge by providing more recreation and leisure opportunities,” Tulipana says. “That way, people can enjoy activities and attractions on our side of the Missouri River instead of having to go to the Omaha side.” 

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Continued Growth 

Apartments, townhomes and businesses also adorn River’s Edge and plans for more living spaces and small businesses are ongoing. 

“This is a great place to invest because there is much more land to be developed,” Tulipana says. “It’s going to become a destination place for Council Bluffs residents as well as people in southwest Iowa and Omaha.” 

Other recent openings in River’s Edge include the Belles’ Play Garden at Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park and the new Council Bluffs Community School District early learning center. Plans are in the works for a treetop walk through a wooded area. The walk will include a 138-foot-tall adventure tower with features like multilevel observation platforms, a climbing wall and a glide ride through the trees. 

“The walk will take visitors above the trees to enjoy views of scenic woodlands, the Missouri River and cityscapes,” Tulipana says. “There are also plans to build a long pier where residents can walk over the Missouri River, and another playground and a dog park are in the design stages. Many projects will be under construction in 2025 and 2026.” 

Sense of Community

While River’s Edge is open for all to enjoy, living there brings even more advantages, as residents have easy access to all the amenities and great views. 

One such resident is Kourtney Butler, a technology center support specialist with Council Bluffs Community School District. Butler was born and raised in Council Bluffs, graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 2018 and has lived at the Broadmoor apartments at River’s Edge for five years. 

“I love the connectivity of River’s Edge to the interstate,” she says. “I have a dog, so I enjoy the walkability of the area. I can also hear summertime concerts in the distance from my apartment, and I like the Mercy Thai Restaurant that is close to where I live.” 

Butler adds that there continues to be an influx of new people moving into River’s Edge apartments. Her neighbors include Creighton University students, young professionals and those up to 55 and older. 

“A nice sense of community has always been in River’s Edge,” she says. “As for the future, I hope the development eventually gets a community activity center that features group games like pickleball and other outdoor events, and I also look forward to someday having a dog park here.” 

The cool thing? Butler won’t have to wait long. There are plans in the works to build a dog park in River’s Edge in 2025 or 2026.