Des Moines’ Newest Trail Will Bring Opportunities For Neighbors, Cyclists

The newest trail in the City of Des Moines will be a convenient new option for cyclists. But first and foremost, the Central Place Trail will provide a much-needed connection to a neighborhood facing serious challenges.

Construction Starting Soon

Central Place Trail will stretch between the Lauridsen Skatepark in downtown Des Moines and the junction of the Inter-Urban and Trestle to Trestle trails near Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy. on the city’s north side.

Phase one of construction is expected to begin this spring. The city has only released a basic route of Central Place Trail, so DSM Bike Notes got a more detailed description from park planner Derek Hansen:

• Heading north from the skatepark, the trail will be built over the current West River Drive along the west bank of the Des Moines River.

• The trail will go under the University Ave. bridge and then hop on top of the levee.

• The Central Place Industrial Park will be to the left as the trail follows the river’s northwest curve.

• Once the trail reaches Second Ave., cyclists can use a pedestrian crossing to get to the other side of the busy street.

The first phase will likely be finished in the summer of 2026, Hansen said. Phase two will start that same year, with construction continuing west of Second Ave. Here’s what Hansen said riders will see along this stretch:

• Once across Second Ave., cyclists will ride on a side path on the north side of Franklin and Arlington avenues.  A strip of grass will separate the path from the street.

• As the trail reaches Sixth Ave., it will then follow Hickman Road, which will undergo what’s known as a “road diet.” That means Hickman will shrink from five vehicle lanes down to three, between Sixth Ave. and Prospect Road. That will make room for the side path trail on the north side of Hickman.

• At Prospect Road, Central Place Trail will head into Prospect Park, running between the road and the river. It will join the road briefly, sharing a bridge over a creek, before once again separating.

• As the trail leaves the park, it will head through a wooded area before joining up with the other trails. Riders will have the options of going north on the Trestle to Trestle Trail, or they can ride east or west on the Inter-Urban Trail.

Phase two could be finished in 2027, completing the Central Place Trail.

Connection for River Bend

The trail will cut through Des Moines’ River Bend neighborhood. It’s a historic section of town, complete with a re-energized business district, beautiful old homes, and some major challenges.

“(Central Place Trail) is actually hitting the highest, most disadvantaged population in the metro,” Hansen said.

The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (DMAMPO) calculated that designation, which rates areas in need of environmental justice. According to DMAMPO, the U.S. Department of Transportation defines environmental justice as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people when it comes to environmental laws, regulations and policies.

The percentages of non-white people, homes without cars, and households in poverty are three of the seven factors considered when tallying a neighborhood’s score. River Bend ranks among the most in-need neighborhoods, and the city hopes Central Place Trail will help change that.

“The research that we see, if we have close-to-home access and new trail users… that more people are going to be using recreation,” Hansen said. “There’s good benefits for them in terms of health and improving lifestyles.”

Benefits for Local Residents

“From what I can tell, people are excited about it,” River Bend Neighborhood Association president Kathy Hellstern said about the trail. “It’s nice to see some dollars being spent in the neighborhood when you see community dollars going to a lot of more ‘precious’ neighborhoods.”

Hellstern echoed the city’s vision that Central Place Trail will create equity for people in River Bend.

“To help people that don’t normally have access to that kind of recreation and that kind of connection to the outside world and that hobby that everyone has in central Iowa, that we should all be a part of,” Hellstern said.

The trail will also create safer paths for cyclists branching off of its main spine. The city is building spurs and connections at the following locations in River Bend and neighboring areas:

• University Ave.

• College Ave. at the industrial park

• College Ave. at the existing side path along Sixth Ave., leading to the new Reichardt Community Recreation Center

• Second Ave., taking cyclists across the river to the Neal Smith Trail and Birdland Park

• Ninth St., taking cyclists south to the community center

• Chautauqua Pkwy., where a granular (crushed rock) trail will cut through a ravine to connect with 13^th St.

Benefits for All Riders

Central Place Trail will be a welcome addition to central Iowa’s extensive trail network, creating another north-south route through the heart of Des Moines.

It will also come in handy when the river floods and regularly closes the Neal Smith Trail on the east bank.

“We’ll have a secondary system that is protected because a good portion of it is on top of the levee,” Hansen said.

He also sees more possibilities for events that utilize trails, like the Des Moines Marathon.

“It’s huge for the city of Des Moines,” Hanson said.

Nowhere is that truer than in River Bend.

Hellstern hopes Central Place Trail will add to her neighborhood’s recent momentum, which is especially visible along the Sixth Ave. business district.

“You also want people to bring their dollars and spend them in your neighborhood,” she said. “You want people to come in and enjoy what’s in your neighborhood.”

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