Changes in the Works

Des Moines Water Works, in collaboration with Sasaki Associates and RDG Planning & Design, invites the public to see the exciting changes in the works for one of the largest urban parks in the nation. A public open house for the Water Works Park Master Plan will be held on September 10th from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Water Works Park’s event lawn (west end of the park off of George Flagg Parkway). Signs and volunteers will guide visitors to the site. Enjoy food, music and family-fun activities that will assist visitors to envision what’s on tap for Water Works Park.

The evening’s activities include paddleboarding and canoeing demonstrations, a water dance performance, a guided ecology bike tour, live music, fishing tips and tricks, and community eco-art projects for the whole family. See below for a complete list of activities and schedule. Enjoy free tacos from Tacopocalypse and free re-usable water bottles for the first 200 people. Your feedback on the park plan is the only request.

In the event of inclement weather, activities will be held at Des Moines Water Works’ general office building, located at 2201 George Flagg Parkway.

For the latest updates, visit facebook.com/ChangesInTheWorks. For more information about the event, contact Teva Dawson at (515) 244-8590 or ChangesintheWorks@gmail.com.

Water Works Park Master Plan Open House: September 10th from 5:00 to 8:00 pm

Throughout the evening, from 5:00-8:00 pm

• Enjoy free tacos from Tacopocalypse for the first 200 people.
• Free re-usable water bottles for the first 200 people or bring your own re-usable water bottle and fill up at Des Moines Water Works’ mobile water station.
• Live music.
• Learn about Water Works Park’s future amenities and provide feedback on the plan.
• View paddleboarding demonstrations by No Coast Stand Up.
• Win a prize by participating in a scavenger hunt.
• Share a picture of yourself next to a future park amenity in the photo booth and enter to win a prize if shared on the “Changes in the Works” Facebook site.
• Learn tips and tricks for successful fishing by experts from Izaak Walton League.
• Gain river paddling advice and demonstrations by Central Iowa Paddlers.
• Hang with the horses from Irish Run Farms and learn about riding the bridle trails at Water Works Park.
• Write your wish for the park and the river through the “wishing ribbons” eco-art project, hosted by Open Arts.
• Participate in green arts activities, hosted by Metro Arts Alliance.
• “Fish for Pollutants” by using a fishing pole to see how many pollutants like dirt, trash, fertilizer, pet waste and pesticides you can “fish” out of the water.

6:00 pm

• Water Dance – Paddleboarding dance performance by modern dance company, Hurley and Dancers.

6:15 pm

• Guided Ecology Bike Tour – Learn about the watersheds, flood plain forest ecosystems and the restoration of disturbed areas, including the infamous “Lost Planet.” A limited number of B-cycle Bikes from the Bike Collective will be available for use. Note: The trail is not strenuous, but participants will ride on asphalt, gravel and mowed grass.