Sidewalks will be constructed this year along the 4800 block of Southwest 13th Street, about a block away from Wright Elementary in DSM. Photo: Jason Clayworth/Axios
Des Moines will construct 28 blocks of sidewalks this year in residential areas that have not previously had them.
Why it matters: Most of the locations, many of which are near schools, were identified among the most pressing public safety priorities in a 20-year plan to fill in missing walkways across the city.
Catch up fast: Many Des Moines homes were constructed before city ordinances that require sidewalks. There's been a growing call in recent years to build them to promote mobility and healthier communities.
- The city identified nearly 700 miles of sidewalk gaps in 2017 and adopted plans the following year to first focus on school walk routes and bus stops.
The latest: The City Council approved a $1.9 million contract last month for this year's new sidewalks.
- They'll vote May 23 on a separate $250,000 plan for dozens of sidewalk replacement projects.
Of note: DSM has another $10 million planned in new school and priority route sidewalks in 2023-2026.
Go deeper: Review the locations of this year's planned new sidewalks.
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