Step aside, nightclubs — the cool kids are lacing up and heading to run clubs instead.

The big picture: Social running is having a moment, especially among people in their 20s and 30s — driven by young people craving healthier, more analog social experiences.

Driving the news: Running has always been a part of Des Moines' culture (just look at the Drake Relays), but the last few years have marked a shift, says Michael Zimmerman, owner of RipRoar, which hosts Dam to DSM and the Turkey Trot.

• Where run clubs once centered on training goals, Zimmerman says, the next generation of runners is driven more by social connection.

Case in point: Next week, RipRoar hosts the Des Moines Girl 5K and the Des Moines Women's Half Marathon — both social events with things such as a braid bar, facials and wine.

• The half marathon has sold out for the first time in a decade, with 1,250 participants, up 75% from last year, with the biggest growth among women ages 18–24.
• And Dam to DSM saw a rise this year, particularly among 18- to 34-year-old participants, he says.

Zoom in: For triathlete Val Ruby, burnout was the catalyst for launching Gratitude Running in 2023.

• After years of logging long solo training hours for Ironman competitions, Ruby was losing the joy in it. She started the weekly 3-mile run/walk group, for whom each mile is a prompt to slow down and focus on something to be grateful for.
• "I can run hard and fast all alone any day of the week," Ruby says. "But Saturdays at 8am — that's my time to enjoy it with other people."

Neek Robinson, 27, co-founded 515 Run Club with a few friends. Thanks to its popular Instagram, the group now draws 130–200 people to its 2-mile runs.

• Robinson brings his point-and-shoot camera, shooting dreamy black-and-white photos of the group and romanticizing common landmarks like Gray's Lake and the Women of Achievement Bridge.
• Those vintage-esque photos and the purpose behind the club help draw out some nostalgia in young adults, who are craving hanging out with friends for hours without their phones.
• "That's ultimately what me and the other leaders of the 515 Run Club are wanting to do is, create a third space for people to just show up and come as they are," he says.

What's next: In trying to seize the moment, RipRoar is launching a new event in June: The Night Run, which routes through downtown's back alleys, parking garages and a viaduct after dark.

• The goal is to replicate the energy of a night out, but with the running community.
• "We wanted something gritty and urban that represented Des Moines," Zimmerman says.

The first major construction phase of Birdland Park's $54.4 million long-planned transformation is expected to begin this spring, including a multi-season skate ribbon.

Why it matters: The project, described by the city as "the most ambitious" parks and recreation endeavor in the city's history, is a major investment in Des Moines' north side.

• It is expected to transform the park into a four-season recreational destination.

Driving the news: The Des Moines City Council this week approved an $8.4 million construction contract, pushing the project into its first major construction phase after years of planning, design and permitting.

• The winning bid came in about $1 million over the city's estimate.
• The work includes a skate ribbon like the one in Chicago's Maggie Daley Park, a playground and a restroom and concessions building.

Catch up quick: DSM adopted a master plan for the project in 2021 after a series of public meetings.

• It includes five major phases and multiple sub-phases.

Future construction phases include dredging the lagoon and relocating Birdland Drive around it, as well as:

• A new two-story boathouse, with a top floor for Captain Roy's Bar & Grill
• Marina improvements, including more than doubling its 63 boat docks
• A "River Gateway" bridge connecting the lagoon to the boathouse

Reality check: Timelines depend on outside funding, including millions of dollars in federal and state grants, so the full buildout could take 20-plus years.

Yes, but: Decades in the making is nothing new for major DSM park projects, including Gray's Lake Park, where a master plan was first developed in 1970.

• A new marina and playground will open there next month and are part of more recent concepts developed over the past decade.

What's next: Completion of the newly awarded phase is anticipated for summer 2027.

💵 Des Moines Public Schools approved its latest budget, which includes a tax rate increase following the passage of the district's bond referendum.

• A $315,000 homeowner would pay about $5,055.75 for their tax bill. (Des Moines Register)

🚨 Emergency responders went to Capital Square yesterday after a window washer fell three stories when his scaffolding collapsed. He was injured, and another worker was rescued. (KCCI)

📚 Iowa State plans to end 10 degree programs, including environmental studies, religious studies and women's and gender studies. (Iowa State Daily)

🚧 The Iowa DOT is testing new warnings for slow-moving vehicles like farm equipment traveling on the Iowa 5/U.S. 65 bypass near DSM in an effort to improve safety and traffic flow. (Press release)

🚗 Two-lane highway speeds would increase from 55 to 60 mph under a bill approved by the Iowa Legislature and headed to the governor. (Radio Iowa)

Correctly guess Jason's location by 4pm today for a chance to win a box of "Millionaire for Life" swag from the Iowa Lottery, including some free plays!

• The winner will be named in tomorrow's newsletter.