Let's Catch Up! April '26

SKYWALK SECURITY UPDATE

A downtown resident recently asked me about skywalk security, giving me an opportunity to check in with Senior Police Officer Steve Walters, the City’s eyes in the 4.1-mile network since June 2021.

The skywalk is a safer and more enjoyable experience today than it was five years ago, Walters asserted.

“I have downtown workers tell me this several times over the last year or so,” he told me. “This is not because of one person. It’s because of everyone who uses the skywalk system — from retired people walking and calling security when they see a homeless person who needs to be moved along, to Operation Downtown, which keeps the skywalk clean and always calls me when they see something.

“The skywalk truly has a small-town feel, where people look out for each other and call me when something is not right.”

Walters told me three police shifts cover the skywalk 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Walters is on duty weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and walks 14,000 to 15,000 steps on an average day. "The department allows me to be flexible with my hours,” he said. “If there’s an issue in the skywalks, I adjust my schedule accordingly.”

Walters, a 28-year DMPD veteran, also noted that two foot patrol police officers assigned to downtown (weekdays from 7–11 a.m. and 4–6 p.m.) may patrol the skywalks as well. On weekends, an officer is on foot patrol from 7–11 a.m. and from 2–6 p.m.

“There are over 80 security cameras in the skywalk and additional cameras in the stairwells,” Walters noted. “I can view any of them as needed.”

Walters also attributed the success of skywalk security over the past five years to the relationship between the Des Moines Police Department and Per Mar Security, which employs two security officers per shift.

Jeremy Hayes is the manager of Per-Mar skywalk security. “The communication and collaboration that he has brought to the skywalk have been outstanding,” Walters said.

Nationwide, EMC, Ruan, and Vara Guard also assign security officers for seven-day coverage—17 uniformed security officers spread across the skywalk. They communicate regularly via WhatsApp.

Walters noted officers can escort downtown workers to their vehicles upon request.

New skywalk wayfinding signs: Expect to see new skywalk wayfinding signs by year’s end. The designs are completed; vendors will submit bid proposals shortly. The second phase will be wayfinding via smartphone and a website maintained by Catch Des Moines. Stay tuned!

ANOTHER BIG SUMMER IN DM PARKS

Since registration opened March 30, Des Moines parents have wasted little time registering for the popular Des Moines Parks and Recreation Summer Camp at five of our parks. And no wonder — Parks and Recreation Director Ben Page figures the program saves families at least $330,000 in summer child care.

Parks and Recreation Supervisor Amarre Negussie, shown above at a Columbus Park’s Pirate Day in a previous summer, told me Drake and Columbus parks are already at capacity (50 youths, ages 6–12) for the nine weeks of weekday programming. Just a handful of slots remain in the Evelyn K. Davis and M.L. King Jr. parks, and the Weeks Middle School programs. Popular outings include City pools and the Blank Park Zoo.

Parks and Recreation Director Ben Page told me contributions of meals, transportation, and free admission to local attractions amount to more than $200,000 each summer, helping keep expenses low. The campers pay a nominal $5 fee each week. Considering that many area summer camps charge $150 to $200 a week, that makes the Des Moines Parks experience a bargain.

Amarre couldn’t be more pleased to hire Aria Munson, his first former camper, as a full-time staff person for the EK Davis Park program. “We’re still hiring,” Amarre added, “but four of our five camp supervisors are returning. And we’ve had a number of employees go from rec leaders to rec specialists.”

WALNUT BRIDGE TO REOPEN ABOUT MAY 1

The ongoing closure of one of downtown Des Moines’ bridges for replacement or rehabilitation feels endless. But the end is in sight. Crews have nearly finished replacing bridges on the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers. The Walnut Street Bridge, the final downtown replacement, is scheduled to reopen to auto traffic about May 1.

Beginning in 2015, the City replaced or rehabilitated 21 bridges, including eight downtown spans, spending more than $55 million.

In 2016, a federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Discretionary (TIGER) Grant of $8 million kicked off an ambitious $22 million campaign for four bridge projects. The grant supported replacing the Locust Street Bridge (completed in 2021) and rehabilitating bridges on Court Avenue (2019), Scott Avenue (2020), and Southwest First Street (2020). The First Street Bridge, now Riverside Bridge Park, serves pedestrians and cyclists between Mullets and Principal Park.

The Grand Avenue Bridge (not part of the 2016 TIGER award) cost approximately $9.3 million, with $2 million provided by the Federal Highway Bridge Program. Construction was completed in 2019.

The Walnut Street Bridge replacement will cost the City about $19 million, including $3 million to replace the east river wall and balustrades. Federal Surface Transportation Block Grant Funds provided $3.4 million.

The historic Fifth Street Bridge, the green pedestrian and bike passage across the Raccoon River, reopened in late 2016 after a fundraising campaign that raised $2.3 million, with substantial private dollars.

In 2017, the City raised the Union Railway Bridge (Red Bridge) 4½ feet to reduce flood risks. The project cost $2.5 million.

Two pieces of additional good news accompany the bridge completions. The Principal Riverwalk, a 2.8-mile loop spanning the Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge and the Union Railway Bridge, will reopen shortly, without detours.

Also, expect to see Nightfall on the River and other outdoor performances in 2027 at the Simon Estes Amphitheater. The amphitheater between Locust and Walnut streets has been closed since 2019 due to nearby bridge work and elevator reconstruction.

Walnut Street Bridge note: A parking lane and sidewalk will be closed during the early weeks of summer while Cramer Engineering, the bridge’s general contractor, installs scalloped fascia panels beneath the bridge deck that mimic the original “rainbow” arches.

1,600+ NEW HOUSING UNITS IN DOWNTOWN

If you think there’s a lot of housing activity in downtown Des Moines, you’re on the right track.

Carrie Kruse, the City’s economic development administrator, put together a tidy list of downtown housing projects currently under construction or planned. Total investment: $514.8 million for the 1,628 units.

With the exception of Hubbell Realty’s Tellus Condos (for sale), all projects are leasing now or scheduled for completion by late 2027:

• Union at Rivers Edge (The Annex Group, 1600 Indianola Avenue, south side of the Fifth Street Bridge) is now leasing 216 units.

• Linc IV (Hubbell Realty; 1270 Tuttle Street in Gray’s Station) expects to begin leasing 135 units this summer.

• The Financial Center Mezzo Apartments (Lawmark Capital; Financial Center at 606 Walnut Street) expects to begin leasing 200 units this summer.

• The Aston (Heart of America Group, 603 East Sixth in the East Village) expects to begin leasing 186 units in late 2026.

• Telus Condos (Hubbell Realty, 1310 Murphy Street in Gray’s Station) is the only owner-occupied project underway. Hubbell is preselling 32 condos for late 2026 occupancy; 8 units are pre-sold.

• The Falcon (Haussmann Development, 1435 Mulberry, near Central Iowa Shelters and Services) expects to begin leasing 202 units in early 2027.

• 515 Walnut Tower (St. Joseph Group, 515 Walnut) expects to begin leasing 390 units in winter 2027. When completed, it will be 33 stories tall. In the photo above, crews were pouring the 26th floor.

• Foundry Lofts (Christensen/Gratus Development, 509 SE Sixth Street, across from the Market District) will break ground soon on 46 units. Winter 2027 occupancy.

• Two Ruan (Block Real Estate, 601 Locust Street), 221 units; awaiting tax credits.

PROUD DAY FOR BROADLAWNS

March 30 was a proud occasion for Jalina Jordan, left, and her mother, Ashlee Burkett, at the graduation ceremonies for the Broadlawns Medical Center’s Training and Education for Adults Seeking a Career in Healthcare (TEACH) program. Jalina, one of eight graduates from the three-month certified nursing assistant (CNA) program, was awarded the first Doug Reichardt Scholar Award, providing $500 in additional health care career education. Jalina graduated from Hoover High School in 2024.

Doug Reichardt, former Holmes Murphy CEO who died in 2024, was an early supporter of the Broadlawns health care education program, now in its ninth year. To date, the Broadlawns program has graduated 356 CNA students.

The students also received a Dementia Training Certificate.

Many of the graduates already have positions awaiting them at Broadlawns.

POLK MONEY SLIPPING AWAY

Polk County Treasurer Mary Wells and her staff have been attending Des Moines neighborhood association meetings this year to chat up attendees about the importance of titling vehicles in their counties of residence.

Sounds easy enough: Buy a new or used car, get your title from Polk County at the time of purchase. Your license plate reads “POLK.” The paperwork when you sell your vehicle is in the Polk County offices. Polk County handles annual renewals, too.

Oh, just a minute! A change in Iowa law, supported by the Iowa Auto Dealers Association, has allowed Iowans, beginning January 2025, to title their cars in any county, regardless of residence. Apparently, one line of thinking is: “I’ll just drive over to Adel — the waiting line must be shorter over in Dallas County.”

In fiscal year 2025, (ended June 30, 2025), 15,382 registrations “leaked” to other counties, including Dallas, Jasper, Story, and Warren.

But all supposed convenience costs Polk County money — a lot of money. The migrated titles cost Polk County $192,275 in lost revenue for the 2025 fiscal year. The potential loss of the 4% in registration fees (using $300 as an example) amounts to another $55,375.

In the current fiscal year (ends June 30, 2026), 17,451 titles for Polk residents have leaked to other counties.

Of those vehicles titled elsewhere, auto salvage dealers completed approximately 30 percent of them; this resulted in a Polk County loss of another $65,441 this year alone. Dealers and the general public title the remaining 70 percent of the transactions, estimated at around $152,696 this year.

Combining the losses from recyclers and general-public titling, the loss leaked to other counties totals about $218,137 for the current fiscal year. The potential loss of 4 percent of registration fees is $62,824 for the same period (using an example of $300 per registration).

Due to limited available reporting, it’s hard to tell exactly how much cash has leaked. But Mary and her staff estimate that since this law change took effect, Polk County has lost nearly half a million dollars in revenue. That’s serious money Polk County could have used to pay for county emergency management, local conservation, health services, veteran relief, and more.

“Let’s be ‘Polk Proud’ and keep these funds in Polk County,” Mary told me. “We’ve added five more customer service staff members to our office. Scheduling appointments online, the same day or the next day, is really easy, too.”