DES MOINES, IA (June 17, 2025) – ICON Water Trails is pleased to announce the first-ever ICONic Riverfest – made possible by Polk County – raised nearly $25,000, removing 560 pounds of debris and 15 trailer loads of invasive species surrounding the region’s waterways. The event brought together approximately 140 volunteers at 11 cleanup locations across ICON’s network, including Altoona, Bondurant, Des Moines, Johnston, Norwalk, Polk County, Polk County Conservation, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines, and Windsor Heights parks.

ICONic Riverfest is a regional volunteer initiative dedicated to furthering ICON’s mission of improving the quality, safety, and enjoyment of central Iowa’s water trails, with funds raised by the event directly supporting these goals. The event began with a morning coffee hour, with welcoming remarks from ICON Executive Director, Stephanie Oppel, and Polk County Supervisor, Angela Connoly. Volunteers then dispersed to cleanup sites across the region, where they worked in teams to remove debris and invasive species and make various park improvements. Following the cleanups, volunteers celebrated the day’s achievements at Captain Roy’s with lunch and live music.

“Polk County is proud to serve as a lead sponsor and champion of this initiative.” said Angela Connolly, Polk County Supervisor. “This cleanup event is a strong example of collaboration in action, bringing our missions together to create a lasting impact on the community and natural spaces we all value.”

“We are incredibly grateful to our volunteers, partners, and sponsors for their support of ICONic Riverfest,” said Stephanie Oppel, Executive Director of ICON Water Trails. “Their dedication to protecting and improving our region’s waterways enables us to continue activating the ICON Network and providing unique, safe outdoor experiences for our community.”

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