Stay excited! Downtown Des Moines continues to be poised to embark on a completely new kind of cool. A river exciting enough to attract rafters, canoeists, kayakers, and maybe even inner tubers -- and safe enough to allow them to be there -- is in the works.
On December 19, 2005 The Des Moines City Council voted unanimously to fund an alternatives analysis and feasibility study for a whitewater course and river trail and to improve safety at the lowhead dams on rivers in downtown Des Moines. Principal Financial Group provided half of the funding for the initial study by McLaughlin Whitewater Design Group.
In June, 2006, McLaughlin Whitewater delivered their progress report to the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department. The report identified several concepts at the Center Street and Scott Avenue dams that would address the project objectives of reducing hydraulic hazards and creating recreation bypass around each dam. McLaughlin also identified a new concept that would meet objectives and create a world-class whitewater park with significant potential to generate economic benefit on an annual basis.
On June 27th Parks and Rec convened a focus group of approximately 35 people. The group consisted mainly of representatives of IWC and power boating interests at Birdland Marina. The consultant team presented a Powerpoint show on the background of whitewater courses and described particular attributes and constraints at the two dam sites. They then presented the conceptual plans with multimillion dollar cost estimates. Stakeholders were then permitted to express their views and concerns.
Finally the focus group members were asked to select their preferred conceptual plan. The group unanimously chose the new concept that would create a higher pool above the Scott Avenue dam, integrate better with the Prinicpal Riverwalk, make hazard reduction less expensive at the Center Street, and provide the widest and safest recreational opportunities for all river users.
As of today the project continues to receive consideration for intergration into elements of the Prinicpal Riverwalk Master Plan and other urban redevelopment in the area. Additional study will be required to evaluate impact to utilities and infrastructure within the project boundary, to mitigate flood related impacts, and to reduce cost.
