Anonymous donor will pay to restore Greenwood Park bridge
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An AI-generated rendering shows how the new bridge would reconnect a dead-end trail at Greenwood Pond where parks organizer Diane Graham stands. Illustration: Courtesy of Diane Graham; Photo: Jason Clayworth/Axios
An anonymous donor is footing the bill for a new pedestrian bridge at Greenwood Park after a bridge that was part of Mary Miss' deteriorating art installation was removed last year.
Why it matters: Private money is restoring a park connection that wasn't otherwise slated for near-term replacement.
State of play: Diane Graham, a DSM Register former managing editor, tells Axios that she was frustrated by having to double back during winter walks, inspiring her to spearhead the Bridge the Gap at Greenwood Pond campaign.
- She recruited fellow park users and began reaching out to city officials, neighborhood groups and Friends of Des Moines Parks for fundraising.
- Then an anonymous donor offered to cover the entire cost.
The latest: The City Council voted unanimously this week to award a $77,400 construction contract for the 35-foot-long connection, with the cost paid by the donor.
- It'll have a concrete deck and weathered steel construction, modeled after a bridge at MacRae Park.
- Construction is expected to begin this fall and finish in spring 2027.
Catch up quick: The previous bridge was part of artist Mary Miss' "Greenwood Pond: Double Site." It was dismantled in 2025 after the Des Moines Art Center settled a legal dispute with Miss for $900,000.
- Its removal turned the pond's circular walking path into a horseshoe with two dead ends.
What they're saying: Graham said the bridge shows private donors can help advance park projects even while Des Moines faces painful budget choices.
- "I used the word 'gobsmacked,'" she said of her reaction when she first learned about the donation.
Zoom in: Councilperson Carl Voss called the bridge "a great example of how one person can make a difference," while councilperson Josh Mandelbaum thanked her for her persistence and advocacy.
The big picture: Graham and other advocates now want to use the bridge as a catalyst for more privately funded improvements.
- Their next target is paving the path around the pond, which Graham said is difficult for strollers and people with mobility issues and is eroding after summer rains.
What's next: City planners are preparing a broader vision for Greenwood Park, with public engagement sessions expected this fall.
Editor's note: Jason is a former colleague of Graham's from the Des Moines Register.