Project Updates

Water is — and always has been — a source of vitality. In Iowa, our local rivers, streams, and creeks provide the water that eventually flows from the tap in our homes. Like any other natural resource, water deserves to be protected and stewarded, and it’s up to us to work together to keep this [...]

On April 27, 2023, ICON Water Trails and its partners broke ground on the future Scott Avenue site, Principal Point. The event was the culmination of a significant milestone in the lifeline of the project and allowed ICON and its stakeholders to celebrate the commencement of its future downtown run. About Principal Point Because it [...]

As ICON's project manager, it's my responsibility to oversee ICON's current downtown projects. These consist of the dam mitigations at Scott Avenue and Fleur Drive and the regional park improvements at Birdland Marina, Prospect Park, and Harriet Street. ICON's downtown run has a major milestone ahead as we prepare to break ground on the Scott [...]

On January 23, the Great Outdoors Foundation announced that the City of Urbandale was selected as the second grantee of the MidAmerican Energy Company Regional Fund, a $5 million endowment invested in ICON Water Trails. The grant will be used to enhance Walker Johnston Park, including adding access to North Walnut Creek, an amenity outlined in the [...]

Last year was filled with a number of accomplishments and milestones for ICON Water Trails. This transformational quality-of-life initiative is already making waves in our community with 14 access points open and accessible. We’re thrilled with what we’ve been able to accomplish, but we’re even more excited for what’s ahead. See below for a holistic [...]

Over the last few years, I have had the honor of participating as staff for Iowa Project AWARE. I sift through all of the trash that volunteers find in the river — glass, plastic, metal, tires and the odd assortment of unusual items. I also have the pleasure of chatting with volunteers at the end [...]

On March 22, 2022, the Great Outdoors Foundation announced that the City of Bondurant was selected as the first grantee of the MidAmerican Energy Company Regional Fund, a $5 million endowment invested in ICON Water Trails. The grant will be used to enhance Eagle Park, including adding access to Mud Creek, an amenity outlined in the [...]

For all of ICON’s existence, its downtown run has only been hypothetical. While many regional sites already exist and are ready for recreators, the vision for the rivers at the heart of Des Moines has yet to be fully realized. With groundbreaking at several locations on the horizon and an expedited timeline for another key [...]

As we enter into the first full year of ICON Water Trails’ existence, it only seems appropriate to reflect on all that was accomplished in 2021. This project, which started as the bold dream of a few, has developed into a regional movement for conservation, safety and quality of life. With plenty of major benchmarks [...]

As 2021 comes to a close, many individuals and families are considering what organizations to support with their year-end giving. There are hundreds of fantastic causes that you can invest in, and of course, one of those is ICON Water Trails. Whether you’re passionate about safeguarding our natural resources or improving safety for outdoor recreators, [...]