Speakers: Turn public spaces into draws for residents, businesses

Iowa communities of diverse sizes are looking for ways to turn public spaces into draws for potential residents and businesses, panelists assembled by the Greater Des Moines Partnership said Tuesday. 

It all falls into the broad category of quality of life, of attractions and quirks and surprises that are tailored to each community, the panelists said. 

In Des Moines, a local transit agency may turn bus shelters into works of art. A coalition that includes some of the city’s top corporate leaders plans to turn the downtown rivers into kayak runs and well-designed fishing spots.

In Grinnell, leaders want to restore the Grinnell Veterans Memorial Building, a sturdy but long-abandoned structure in the town’s Central Park. At the same time, there is a grand plan to link Grinnell College with the city’s downtown with a better mix of developments, pedestrian connections and visuals. A 1921 building that long was a junior high school now is Hotel Grinnell.

In West Des Moines, Jordan Creek Town Center quickly became a draw for shopping excursions, movies and concerts. The city and partners have also built an amphitheater near City Hall. Blue Heron Lake, a mainstay for walkers, runners and beachgoers, gained a kayak outfitter. MidAmerican Energy Co. RecPlex opens later this year with pickleball, hockey, skating, basketball, volleyball, and event space.

As proud as he is of his own city, West Des Moines City Manager Tom Hadden said the improvements in Des Moines and elsewhere have really helped the whole area. “When I first heard of the talk about the sculpture park, I’m thinking, ‘What? How is that going to work?’”

But doubting Tom saw the light, and the colors. The 4.4 acre Pappajohn Sculpture Park  has been a big draw since it opened in 2009 in the middle of western downtown Des Moines. “Just that piece of green space in the city has done so much,” Hadden said. “It doesn’t have to be huge spaces. Hopefully we integrate nature more into what we’re doing.” 

Hadden also praised Des Moines’ planned conversion of the Dico Superfund site into a massive mixture of housing, businesses and public attractions including a professional soccer stadium.

“Almost every community in the metro has something exciting going on,” Hadden said. That should help the whole area develop, he added.

Sally Dix, executive director of Bravo Greater Des Moines, an organization that supports arts and culture, said she is working with the Iowa Arts Council on pandemic recovery efforts. 

“There is a priority to address the negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, and one of those aspects is speeding the recovery of the tourism, travel, hospitality sectors and supporting industries particularly hard hit by COVID-19,” Dix said. 

Several speakers, including Hadden, stressed asking residents what they want. That in part is what led to West Des Moines’ new project to add high-speed broadband service citywide, and to build the recreation center and the canoe and kayak outfitter at Raccoon River Park.

Said Hadden: “We have to keep challenging ourselves.”