News

Donation to create MidAmerican Energy Regional Fund for Jurisdictional Grants DES MOINES, IA (July 22, 2021) – Iowa Confluence Water Trails is pleased to announce the creation of the MidAmerican Energy Regional Fund, made possible by a $5 million gift from MidAmerican Energy. The donation, held by the Great Outdoors Foundation, is a restricted fund [...]

The Central Iowa Water Trails project has a new brand, and a new director, as it takes its next step forward in realizing its goals of improving more than 150 miles of Central Iowa’s waterways. During a celebration Tuesday at the River Center in downtown Des Moines, it was announced that the project will be [...]

The effort to transform central Iowa's waterways into a recreational amenity for kayaking, fishing and surfing has a new name — Iowa Confluence Water Trails, or ICON for short. The Tuesday brand announcement for what was previously known as Central Iowa Water Trails coincides with the launch of a fundraising campaign to meet the group's [...]

Iowa Confluence Water Trails Names Director, Launches Grassroots Campaign DES MOINES, IA (July 13, 2021) – The Central Iowa Water Trails Consortium including Capital Crossroads, Catch Des Moines, the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, Des Moines Area MPO, Greater Des Moines Partnership and the Great Outdoors Foundation, is pleased to announce the launch of [...]

The Central Iowa Water Trails project took another step forward today with the city of Des Moines’ Urban Design Review Board giving its final approval for the design of the Scott Avenue bridge portion of the project. The Scott Avenue bridge section is the largest of the first phase of the initiative, and is intended [...]

Gift to be invested in water quality initiatives across 36 proposed Central Iowa Water Trails amenities DES MOINES, IA (June 15, 2021) – The Great Outdoors Foundation, fiscal agent of the Central Iowa Water Trails Consortium, which includes leadership from Capital Crossroads, Catch Des Moines, the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, Des Moines Area [...]

DES MOINES, IA (May 11, 2021) – The Great Outdoors Foundation, fiscal agent of the Central Iowa Water Trails Consortium, is pleased to announce a $1 million commitment from the Athene Charitable Foundation. This pledge puts the total funding raised privately for the project at just under $25 million. The Central Iowa Water Trails Consortium [...]

DES MOINES, IA (August 3, 2021) – Iowa Confluence Water Trails is pleased to announce a $3 million gift from the Nationwide Foundation. With $25 million raised, the project is nearly three-quarters of the way to its private fundraising goal. This $3 million commitment from the Nationwide Foundation represents its largest gift ever to the [...]

The Des Moines City Council will vote March 22 whether to adopt a $54 million master plan for the north side's Birdland Park, 2100 Saylor Road, that would transform what increasingly has become a deteriorated area. The plan, created along with stakeholders such as the restaurant's owners, the rowing club, the Oak Park neighborhood association [...]

A plan to transform the Des Moines River into a downtown recreational amenity for kayakers, paddlers and even surfers gained more approvals Wednesday, bringing the Central Iowa Water Trails project one step closer to fruition. The Des Moines Zoning Board of Adjustment on Wednesday approved conditional use permits for three river access points at Prospect Park, [...]