April 22, 2022
Efforts to create whitewater rafting, zip lining and other amusements along the downtown riverfront suffered a setback recently when the sole bid for an initial phase of work was $73 million, nearly double the estimated cost of $39 million. As a result, supporters who have compiled private and public commitments…
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April 11, 2022
Officials behind the ICON Water Trails initiative will be meeting to forge a path forward after saying they will reject the sole bid received for projects funded in part by a federal BUILD grant.The $125 million initiative is being…
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April 8, 2022
The race is on to get a bid for the first downtown pieces of the Iowa Confluence Water Trails project whittled down before a deadline to spend federal funds allocated for the project. Project organizers received a $73 million bid from United Contractors and Reilly Construction Co. for a package of four…
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March 22, 2022
The city of Bondurant has been awarded a $125,000 grant to make improvements to Eagle Park as part of the ICON Water Trails initiative that includes more than 80 projects connecting 150 miles of waterways in Central Iowa. It’s the first grant awarded from the MidAmerican…
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March 22, 2022
DES MOINES, IA (March 22, 2022) – The Great Outdoors Foundation is pleased to announce that the MidAmerican Energy Regional Fund, a $5 million investment in ICON Water Trails, has awarded its first $125,000 grant to the City of Bondurant. The investment will be used to enhance Eagle Park, including…
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March 18, 2022
When grants from the ICON Water Trails $5 million MidAmerican Regional Fund are announced this month it will mark the next phase of development of projects that connect more than 80 sites along 150 miles of rivers and creeks in Central Iowa. The $125 million initiative…
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January 28, 2022
A central Iowa water trails group’s efforts to build a $125 million recreational mecca for kayaking, fishing and surfing got a big boost Friday as Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the state would provide up to $15 million for the project. The Iowa Confluence Water Trails, …
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January 28, 2022
Iowa Confluence Water Trails has been awarded $15 million through the state’s Water Infrastructure Fund for improvements on the Raccoon River along Fleur Drive. According to the announcement, the funding was part of a larger allocation of $38 million that included assistance to two…
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November 18, 2021
DES MOINES, IA (Nov. 18, 2021) – The Great Outdoors Foundation is pleased to announce a $500,000 investment from Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield that will activate an accessible canoe and kayak launch as part of the improvements of ICON Water Trails at Birdland Marina. ICON’s initiatives at Birdland…
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November 16, 2021
DES MOINES, IA (Nov. 16, 2021) – Iowa Confluence Water Trails — ICON for short — has launched a new website showcasing the regional initiative. The site now highlights ICON’s completed and planned improvements spanning nearly a dozen Central Iowa municipalities and nine different waterways. It can be viewed…
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