February 28, 2023
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…
Read more
January 30, 2023
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…
Read more
April 22, 2022
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…
Read more
March 31, 2022
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…
Read more
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…
Read more
October 21, 2021
Our partners at the Great Outdoors Foundation are hosting the first-ever Wild Prairie Showdown, a pseudo pageant featuring four everyday advocates competing to raise funds, awareness and support for conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives throughout Central Iowa. We sat down with Joey Taylor-Moon, Vice President of Marketing…
Read more
September 29, 2021
Years ago, when the Greater Des Moines Water Trails and Greenways Master Plan was adopted and ICON was officially set in motion, the group of masterminds leading the charge knew there had to be a strategy behind the progression of the project. Between dangerous low heads dams, a robust business…
Read more
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…
Read more
July 30, 2021
What you need to talk about is how you’re bringing together a confluence of different cultures. – BIPOC Interviewee Des Moines is not only the confluence of two rivers but also the confluence of different people, cultures, identities, and lifestyles. While creating a unified and connected water trail system…
Read more
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…
Read more