City of Clear Lake, Iowa

06/05/2026

🚧 ROAD CLOSURE ALERT 🚧
Please be advised that N Shore Drive will be closed to through traffic from Highland Dr to 18th St W. Road Closure signs are posted at these locations and local traffic only is allowed in the construction area. It is anticipated that the roadway will be reopened Saturday afternoon. ⚠️ Please follow the detour route outlined on the attached map. Please allow extra time and drive safely around the work zone. Thank you for your patience and cooperation!

06/04/2026

🕰️✨ ✨🕰️

Let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit some cherished moments from our community's history! Each week, on Thursday, we are going to "throw it back" and share a piece of our community history with you.

Relaxing on the shores of the lake has always been one way to enjoy the waters of Clear Lake. Through the decades, large buildings like the Outing Club were built on the shore of the lake to provide nice places to spend a weekend. Both the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts built their summer camps on the shores of Clear Lake. Camps were constructed by several churches including the Methodist Camp and the Regular Baptist Camp as well.

Our throwback image for this week is a photo circa 1882 depicting "Camp Sirrine". It was located on S Shore next to the outlet. James Sirrine came to Clear Lake in 1853 and purchased six 40-acre tracts primarily in Section 13 at the far east end of Clear Lake (what is now Lake Township). Thinking of our landmarks today this would have been from the Outlet, south along our current S Shore Dr to the area where Clear Lake Boats is located. Camp Sirrine was primarily in the area from the Outlet to the location of the old Shady Beach/Tourist Park on S Shore Dr.

Our campers in the photo seem to have plenty of chairs and what appears to be a feather bed for their campsite. Lou Henry Hoover, wife of future U.S. President Herbert Hoover from West Branch, Iowa, tented at Camp Sirrine in the 1880s. Her family traveled 90 miles in a three-seat carriage from their home in Boone to spend time on the shores of Clear Lake, Iowa. The photographer of this photo is unknown, but the timing is right for what Lou Henry might have seen on her summer visit.

Summer is here and so is the beauty of our lake. Clear Lake has always been a special spot for thousands through the centuries.

06/04/2026

Some friendly reminders from the Clear Lake Police Department regarding Thursdays on Main street closures. 😄😄

Reminder for those attending Thursdays on Main, please do not block the roads with chairs or blankets until the area is completely closed. Vendors and event staff need access to setup for you. The event begins at 6pm and live music begins at 7pm so there is plenty of time to find your spot.

06/01/2026

🚧 ROAD CLOSURE NOTICE 🚧

Beginning tomorrow morning, the roads highlighted in yellow on the attached map will be closed to through traffic and will be local access only.

⚠️ Please plan ahead and allow extra travel time.
➡️ Follow all posted detour routes and traffic control signs.
🚗 Residents and businesses within the closure area will remain accessible.
👷 For everyone's safety, please use caution when traveling near the work zone and watch for workers and equipment.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation as this work is completed. Thank you for helping keep our community safe!

06/01/2026

Attention, everyone! Our regular council meeting of Monday, June 1st, will begin at 5:30! 🎉 If you want to stay in the loop with what's happening in our community, make sure to tune in at 5:30 to the livestream by clicking on the link below. https://www.cityofclearlake.com/newsview.aspx?nid=5953

06/01/2026

🌞 Summer is here in Clear Lake!

School is out, Thursdays on Main is underway, Fresh on Fridays begins this week, the splash pads are open, and there's a new StoryWalk® to enjoy!

📖 This month's featured story at the Outlet Recreation Complex is Harlem Grown: How One Big Idea Transformed a Neighborhood by Tony Hillery. Follow the inspiring true story of how a vacant lot became a thriving community farm through teamwork, determination, and healthy living.

🚶‍♀️ Enjoy the story while walking the ½-mile paved trail around the ORC. The StoryWalk® will be on display throughout June, with a new title arriving in July.

Happy reading and happy summer, Clear Lakers!

👋Hello, Summer!
School is out, Thursdays on Main is back, Fresh on Fridays starts this week, the splash pads are open, and there is a new story up to read!

📖A new StoryWalk® went up at the City of Clear Lake Parks & Recreation Department Outlet Recreation Complex this morning!

🥕"Harlem Grown: How One Big Idea Transformed a Neighborhood" by Tony Hillery
Harlem Grown tells the inspiring true story of how one man made a big difference in a neighborhood. After seeing how restless they were and their lack of healthy food options, Tony Hillery invited students from an underfunded school to turn a vacant lot into a beautiful and functional farm. By getting their hands dirty, these kids turned an abandoned space into something beautiful and useful while learning about healthy, sustainable eating and collaboration.

🌞Enjoy the story as you stroll the 1/2 mile paved trail around the ORC. We recommend parking at the south lot (just East of S 15th street on S 12th Ave) to start your trek.
This story will remain up for the month of June. Look for a new title to appear the first week of July!

The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition (VBPC) and the Kellogg Hubbard Library.

05/29/2026

🎉🎉 Congratulations to our friends at the Clear Lake, Iowa Chamber of Commerce on the Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening of their new Welcome Center. We are thankful for the great partnership we have with our Chamber and their team and are proud to be a supporter of this project.

05/28/2026

🎶🌮 Thursdays on Main kicks off TONIGHT and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome everyone downtown for another great summer season! ☀️🎉

For event details and updates, be sure to check out the Clear Lake, Iowa page.

🚧 Please note:
Road closures will begin around 4:30 PM this afternoon. All vehicles must be moved from the yellow and red highlighted areas shown on the event map prior to closures.

Vehicles parked within the road closure area may be subject to citation and/or impoundment.

Please remember to obey all posted traffic signs and barricades — Road Closed means ROAD CLOSED to all vehicle traffic.

Thank you for your cooperation, and we’ll see you downtown tonight!

Thursdays On Main kicks off tonight and we couldn't be more excited!!! For more information check out the Clear Lake, Iowa page.

Roads will start to close around 430 PM this afternoon. All vehicles need to be moved out of the yellow and red highlighted areas on the map.

Do not park within the road closure area or your vehicle may be subject to a citation or impoundment.

Remember to obey all traffic signs, Road Closed means ROAD IS CLOSED to all vehicle traffic.

05/28/2026

🕰️✨ ✨🕰️
Let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit some cherished moments from our community's history! Each week, on Thursday, we are going to "throw it back" and share a piece of our community history with you.

"He flies through the air, with the greatest of ease - that daring young man on the flying trapeze." This week let's look back at the era and rise of the "Daredevil". The circus was a big part of American life beginning in the early 1790s and the dominating acts focused on trick horseback riding, clowns, and even a tightrope walker from time to time. President George Washington would attend to watch the equestrian events. "The Greatest Show on Earth" of P.T. Barnum changed the look of the circus in 1871 and became synonymous with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. (A marvelous museum dedicated to American circus is located in Baraboo, WI.)

The circus led to the rise of daredevil acts where people were treated to amazing acts where each performer tried to captivate audiences with outlandish and death-defying acts. The goal was to lure large crowds and thrill them with amazing stunts. These included any stunt involved with Niagara Falls including riding over the falls in a barrel to crossing the falls via a high wire. Leona Dare became famous because of her "iron jaw". She was known for suspending herself by her teeth from a hot-air balloon, lifting her husband and partner into the sky, mesmerizing crowds of people.

Clear Lake was treated to an amazing daredevil act in 1881. The event was captured in a photo by a local photographer Oliver Slocum. "Professor D.J. Dare" was a 19th-century acrobat, aeronaut, and tightrope walker known for performing daring high-wire and trapeze stunts. Our photo this week shows the high wire suspended from two building across Main in downtown Clear Lake. One can see "Professors Dare's" trapeze hanging from the wire and "Professor Dave" performing his famous, death-defying handstand on the high wire. "Professor Dare" also took his act to Mason City. Sadly, "Professor Dare's" glory was very short-lived. While giving a performance in Long Island, NY in 1882, he suffered a fatal fall. The "dare circus" acts were grand but dangerous events for people to watch in awe. Clear Lake was a community which enjoyed the thrill of the "Daredevil".

05/27/2026

🏊‍♀️ Aquatic Center Weekend Hours 🏊‍♂️

The Clear Lake Aquatic Center will be open:

Friday: 1 PM – 5 PM
Saturday: 1 PM – 5 PM
Sunday: 1 PM – 5 PM

Please be sure to follow the City of Clear Lake Aquatic Center page for updates.

☀️🏊‍♀️ Clear Lake Aquatic Center Update 🏊‍♂️☀️

The Aquatic Center hours for this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM.

As we kick off the season, we want to remind everyone that there may be occasions when the pool needs to close early or may not open as scheduled. Possible reasons include:
• Weather conditions, including thunderstorms or cold temperatures
• Low attendance
• Mechanical or water quality/clarity issues
• Safety concerns or emergency situations

Please also note our Aquatic Center closure policy:
If guests have paid a daily admission fee and the facility closes before they have been at the pool for 3 hours, they will receive a pass to return another day. No refunds will be issued.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all guests. Please continue to watch our page for the latest updates and announcements.

Thank you, and we look forward to seeing everyone at the pool this weekend! 💦😎