News

DES MOINES, IA (April 9, 2024) – ICON Water Trails, in partnership with Bravo Greater Des Moines and the Polk County Board of Supervisors, is pleased to announce that “Hello, River,” an interactive art installation connecting culture and conservation, has been selected to fulfill a $125,000 National Endowment for the Arts “Our Town” grant, originally [...]

With just 15 regional sites open, the Iowa Confluence Water Trails system already has generated 250,000 visits and nearly $20 million in economic benefit over the course of a single recreational season, says a study the group planning and raising money for the trails released Wednesday. To read the full article, visit the Des Moines [...]

West Des Moines receives MidAmerican grant to establish ICON site at Raccoon River The MidAmerican Energy Regional Fund, a $5 million investment in ICON Water Trails, awarded its $125,000 fall grant to the city of West Des Moines to establish access to the Raccoon River, directly south of Valley Junction, within the 35-acre Raccoon River [...]

When ICON Water Trails was conceived as an idea, those behind the initiative hoped it would one day enhance outdoor recreation in Central Iowa and serve as a placemaking attraction that would help draw people to the region. With 15 regional sites along 150 miles of rivers and creeks in Central Iowa now activated [when [...]

 DES MOINES, IA (Feb. 7, 2024) – ICON Water Trails is pleased to announce that it has completed a robust regional economic impact study in partnership with data analysts Radbridge and Pros Consulting. This extensive survey culled more than 2.6 billion mobile location pings used to project aggregate behavior over a six-month period from April [...]

Over the past fifteen years old and abandoned rail lines have been repurposed to become bicycle trails for the thousands of people who enjoy riding, sometimes, miles each week. That has resulted in some major economic development as restaurants, bars, ice cream joints and retailers open shops along those trails. Now another long forgotten asset [...]

DES MOINES, IA (Feb. 1, 2024) – 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 $125,000 fall grant to the City of West Des Moines. The funding will be used to establish access to the Raccoon River, directly [...]

Cultural Story of the YearThis award recognizes a notable story of a nonprofit, cultural organization or cultural leader’s success and achievements that have made a significant positive contribution to the community. Winner: Easter Lake project announced – Polk County Conservation Board. Easter Lake’s new recreation site will be one of the most universally accessible waterfront parks in the [...]

A plan to make whitewater trails on the rivers in downtown Des Moines is about more than tourism. Supporters of the project say they also have water quality in mind. In downtown Des Moines, the Raccoon flows into the Des Moines River and then immediately runs into an obstacle — the Scott Street dam. It's [...]

If you see construction equipment down in the Des Moines River bed near the Scott Avenue bridge, it's part of a larger project. Iowa Confluence (ICON) Water Trails is a public-private partnership, establishing several kayaking launch points on both the Des Moines and Racoon Rivers in central Iowa. Besides shoreline improvements, the new areas will also [...]