February 28, 2022
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…
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November 29, 2021
Fishing is a fun activity that the entire family can enjoy together, from kids to grandparents. It’s a wonderful way to get back to what’s important. Participation in fishing also helps fund fishery management so our lakes and rivers have robust fisheries. The Des Moines River in Downtown Des Moines…
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August 31, 2021
As we re-imagine our relationship to our creeks and rivers through ICON, so too will we reimagine the role of the arts in our community. In 2020 the National Endowment for the Arts awarded a grant to our region for Shoreline Signals. Shoreline Signals will use public…
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June 30, 2021
As a certified canoe and kayak instructor for the Iowa DNR, I have seen it all. People buy their first boat and head to the river before understanding the environment they are about to enter and without the skills they need to remain safe and anxiety-free. Here are “Todd’s Top…
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June 8, 2021
Late last month, skateboarders from around the world dropped into Lauridsen Skatepark for the Dew Tour. It was a long-awaited weekend for both Dew Tour athletes and everyone that played a part in making the new Lauridsen Skatepark a reality. Athletes from 38 countries flocked to Des Moines…
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April 27, 2021
As I rowed down the river, I stopped to watch a deer run along the shore. There was something majestic about it, not that I had never seen a deer before, but that I’d never viewed one from this perspective. This was my first time sculling on the river with…
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March 17, 2021
When I was asked to write a little piece about outdoor activities that I enjoy, at first, I wondered what I would write about? It took about two seconds for me to realize I could talk about the great outdoors all day…if allowed. Being a wildlife photographer, I…
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February 16, 2021
I have been canoeing and kayaking since high school and have lived in the Des Moines area since the summer of 1994 but had never had an opportunity to be on the Des Moines River until 2016 when I became a member of Des Moines Rowing (DMR). I learned…
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December 14, 2020
2020 has been the year for the outdoors. It has been a refuge and provided solitude as we have endured a year of challenge. It has been our friend and offered comfort in times of need and allowed us to take a breath while we think about the heaviness of…
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November 17, 2020
I was riding my bike south on the Neal Smith Trail to the Downtown Farmer’s Market when I looked over at the river and saw a single sculler rowing upstream. I want to do that, I thought. So, I contacted Des Moines Rowing and they taught me how to…
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