08/25/2026
The City of Dubuque has been awarded a $750,000 Jeffris Family Foundation Capital Campaign Challenge Grant for the preservation and restoration of the Alfred Caldwell-designed buildings and spaces at Eagle Point Park.
This grant will support the Dubuque City Council’s goal to preserve, restore, and strengthen these historic resources, and the park itself, so they may continue to serve future generations.
Dubuque’s 164-acre Eagle Point Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As part of the City’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan, adopted by the city council in February 2026, Eagle Point Park was designated as the only “regional” park of the city’s 61 parks, to distinguish its significance from other community parks, natural areas, and greenways.
The City estimates the overall project cost to restore the structures to be nearly $2 million. The Jeffris Family Foundation’s Challenge Grant model requires a two-to-one match, so the $750,000 grant requires $1.5 million in matching funds raised after the award. The City plans to conduct a multi-phase campaign engaging community members, partners, and volunteers to secure private philanthropic commitments and additional grants. The fundraising campaign is expected to take up to three years, and the project work is estimated to require additional years after completion of the campaign.
The successful Jeffris Family Foundation grant application follows the completion of a multi-year investigative and planning process and full historic structures report of the park. The City is also working with a consultant to make additional fundraising requests to support the project and reduce the use of property taxes. The City is also exploring revision of the Eagle Point Park National Historic Register Historic District nomination from local significance to national significance to better reflect the Alfred Caldwell’s nationally recognized design legacy. National designation may make the project eligible for additional preservation funding.
To address immediate maintenance and improvement needs at Eagle Point Park, the city council approved a current fiscal year budget of nearly $1 million dedicated to park projects. The city council also recently approved the addition of three new park maintenance staff positions with one dedicated to Eagle Point Park to supplement the existing full-time maintenance worker and seasonal maintenance workers assigned to Eagle Point Park. Several projects are currently underway or in the planning stages for the park.
WORK CURRENTLY UNDER WAY:
Tennis Court Renovations
• Estimated Cost: $302,000
• Planning is underway for crack sealing and resurfacing of the tennis courts. The City is exploring technical assistance through the United States Tennis Association (USTA), which provides expertise in tennis court assessments, renovation plans, and construction specifications. If USTA assistance is not available for this project, the City will proceed with its regular process for selecting a qualified engineering firm.
Eagle Point Park Master Plan
• Estimated Cost: $165,000
• The City is developing a request for proposals (RFP) for a plan that will help identify the park’s long-term needs and strategies for maintaining and improving the park. The RFP is targeted for release in mid-fall 2026.
Tree Trimming and Bluff Clearing
• Estimated Cost: $114,000
• The City is seeking a qualified contractor to complete additional bluff clearing. Some initial tree clearing has already been completed by the City Forestry team, while staff continues to identify potential contractors and learn from similar projects in other communities.
Terrace Room Roof Replacement
• Estimated Cost: $40,000
• Both roofs sustained damage and require structural work. Because the buildings are historically significant, additional preservation review is required. The timeline for these projects is still being determined.
UPCOMING PROJECTS
The following projects are targeted for completion while Eagle Point Park is closed for the 2026/2027off-season:
Shiras Pavilion Renovation
• Estimated Cost: $97,000
• Address structural issues and improve features of the building.
Stonework and Tuckpointing
• Estimated Cost: $91,000
• Complete masonry repairs at several facilities and structures throughout the park. The work is being combined into a single project, with the goal of selecting one contractor. Timing may be affected by the City's pursuit of a Jeffris Family Foundation grant for additional historic structure improvements.
Sidewalk Repairs
• Estimated Cost: $83,000
• Repair several sections of sidewalk throughout the park as part of a single project.
Log Cabin
• Estimated Cost: $71,000
• Research to fully identify the scope of needed structural and other improvements will take place during the off-season while the park is closed.
Updates on project progress will be posted to cityofdubuque.org/eaglepointpark. Community members interested in volunteering their time to support these efforts are encouraged to contact Friends of Dubuque Parks at friendsofdbqparks.com. Those interested in donating funds are encouraged to contact the City of Dubuque Planning Services Department at 563.589.4387 for additional information.
