News

DES MOINES, IA (March 20, 2023) – ICON Water Trails is pleased to announce that it has hired Monica Converse to serve as the organization’s Project Manager. Converse fills this newly created position, established to bring five of ICON’s downtown sites to fruition over the next few years. ICON Water Trails will break ground on [...]

DES MOINES, IA (January 23, 2023) – 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 Urbandale. The funding will be used to establish access to North Walnut Creek within Walker Johnston [...]

The Des Moines Metropolitan Planning Organization voted Tuesday to approve the contract for the first phase of the Scott Avenue portion of the ICON Water Trails project along the downtown Des Moines riverfront. The MPO board voted 16-3 to award a contract to United Contractors and Reilly Construction for $40.9 million. Board members Len Murray of Pleasant [...]

Des Moines Metro officials could approve a contract for construction of a key part of the downtown water trails renovations as soon as next week, finally moving forward a project that local leaders have long prioritized to create more outdoor activities in town. The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization will hold a special called [...]

The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization received a bid within budget for the Scott Avenue dam portion of the ICON Water Trails project. Leaders will begin moving forward with the next steps toward preparing a possible contract to be voted on at a special meeting, possibly as soon as next week. The Iowa DOT [...]

Bravo Greater Des Moines and ICON Water Trails are collaborating to connect public art with regional waterways in Central Iowa. According to a news release, the two nonprofit organizations are investing in a $500,000, two-year grant program to help fund public art along Central Iowa waterways. Maggie McClelland, ICON Water Trails director, said the collaboration with Bravo will enhance the [...]

The Great Outdoors Foundation has been awarded $7 million in Destination Iowa funds to help develop the Scott Avenue site of the ICON Water Trails initiative. The funding was part of $12.9 million in grants that were announced on Friday by Gov. Kim Reynolds. ICON Water Trails is a $125 million initiative that connects 80 sites along 150 miles [...]

The Iowa Confluence Water Trails project received a big boost Friday when Gov. Kim Reynolds announced she will allocate $7 million in federal funding for the construction. Though backers of the project aim to develop outdoor attractions across 150 miles of waterways in central Iowa, the governor allocated the latest round of funding to one of the project's [...]

I had the amazing opportunity to join ICON Water Trails for its last float of the season recently. A group of about a dozen folks from ICON, the Iowa DNR, Polk County Conservation and supporters paddled the stretch of the Raccoon River from Van Meter to Booneville, west of Des Moines. It was sunny, calm [...]

Leaders of central Iowa's ambitious water recreation project are seeking a boost from Gov. Kim Reynolds' tourism grants as costs for the project continue to rise. With price hikes delaying construction for more than a year, the Iowa Confluence Water Trails board applied for $10 million from Reynolds' Destination Iowa program. ICON Water Trails Director Maggie McClelland said July [...]