Des Moines bridge to sport synthetic turf play mounds
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Nearly 6,300 people live within a 10-minute walk from the SW 1st Street Bridge. Rendering: Courtesy of the City of DSM
The SW 1st Street Bridge will become a downtown attraction under an estimated $925,000 project anticipated next year.
State of play: The 87-year-old bridge is near the confluence of the Raccoon and DSM rivers and was converted into a pedestrian walkway about two decades ago.
- It's part of the Meredith Trail greenway and logged nearly 210,000 bike or pedestrian counts last year.
The intrigue: Park advocates began raising money for its makeover several years ago, and nearly half of the project is funded by grants or private donors.
Zoom in: New features will include synthetic turf play mounds, a shade structure, planters and seating.
What's next: The City Council is expected to review bids for the project in January with construction completed by the end of 2025.
