Metro’s First Glow Trail Installed

The area’s first “glow trail” is in the ground. It’s one of many places shining brightly in Uptown Ankeny these days, thanks in big part to cyclists.

Glow Trail

The concrete trail that glows in the dark is part of the first phase of Ankeny’s new High Trestle Trail Experience Park. DSM Bike Notes stopped by the glow trail the other night. It’s tough to notice a difference as you walk up to the trail, but once you stare down at it, sure enough, the concrete gives off a warm little glow. It runs 425 feet long, separate from the main trail, near SW 4^th and Railroad.

The City of Ankeny said the trail contains materials that take in sunlight during the day to create a glow after dark. For now, the glow trail is blocked off as crews put in some finishing touches. It will officially open to the public next year.

Experience Park

The High Trestle Trail Experience Park will stretch three quarters of a mile along the trail, from S. Ankeny Blvd. north to W. 1^st St. Along with the glow trail, crews have added mounds that will one day have sculptures perched on top of them. Lighting, trees and landscaping will round out the first phase of the park, which is expected to be finished in spring of 2025. The City of Ankeny said future phases will be added as money allows.

Trail Brings Watering Holes

The experience park will cut right through Uptown Ankeny. It is expected to bring even more biking-fueled business to the once-sleepy neighborhood, which is the booming suburb’s original business district.

“It was pretty bare bones,” recalled Alexa Middleton, director of the Uptown Ankeny Association.

Middleton grew up in Ankeny and has witnessed the neighborhood’s rebirth. She said it started about a decade ago when the High Trestle Trail extended south into Uptown.

“We were built around a train track and that was converted into the High Trestle Trail,” Middleton said. “We were incredibly lucky to be in the right place at the right time.”

A number of bike-friendly businesses have opened in the last ten years, many of which cater to hungry and thirsty cyclists. Aaron Scibona opened the Uptown Dairy ice cream shop in the summer of 2023.

“What inspired me to open the shop, was just riding my bike on the High Trestle Trail one hot summer day and I thought, ‘Why isn’t an ice cream shop on this trail?’” Scibona said. “We’re really trying to make it a destination place for all the bikers.”

Firetrucker Brewery, Mullets and Porch Light Coffeehouse are among several other eating and drinking establishments that have opened since the trail’s expansion. TrailSide Tap, which opened less than five years ago, plans to greatly expand its building in 2025.

What’s Missing

While Uptown has cemented itself as a place to refuel along the High Trestle Trail, the neighborhood association wants to add more places to stay and shop. A current store owner agrees.

“I’d like to see more retail stores where people come to walk around and just spend more time down here, other than just coming and eating and leaving,” said Ryan Blane, co-owner of RynoVelo Bike Shop.

Middleton said the lack of available space is a challenge, with all existing buildings taken. She keeps a list of businesses wanting to open in Uptown, and said they will either have to wait for space to open up, or build on one of a couple of empty lots.

“It’s a great problem to have, pretty much the best problem to have,” said Middleton.

What’s Next

Becoming a biking hot spot happened pretty organically for Uptown. Nobody really recruited bike-friendly businesses, Middleton said. They just moved in once the trail opened.

On a very basic level, the shortage of bike racks is a visual clue that Uptown may not have known what it was in for. Middleton hopes to remedy that issue soon. Looking at the bigger picture, she said the neighborhood association will put together a strategic plan in the next couple of years, and bikers’ wants and needs will definitely be a part of it.

“Part of our strategy is just trying to get Uptown on the map for cyclists as a place to start,” Middleton said.

Three Things

DSM Bike Notes interviewed two Uptown Ankeny business owners. Here are three things to know about their shops:

RynoVelo Bike Shop

• It’s a dealer for Cannondale, Cervélo and Felt bikes.

• They are focused on higher-end, niche bikes used for triathlons or gravel rides, but offer options for all experience levels.

• They have a full service repair shop.

Uptown Dairy

• They have 57 flavors of ice cream.

• Affogato is on the menu. It’s an Italian dessert where espresso is poured over a scoop of ice cream. While affogato is mostly served with vanilla ice cream, Uptown Dairy has 32 flavor options.

• They hold a breakfast event the first Saturday of every month. You can fill up on affogatos, Belgian waffles with ice cream on top, and get a cannoli.

Most Bike-Friendly Streets?

A subscriber named Diane emailed me a good question the other day. Here’s her message:

When we travel I find it helpful to somehow ride the 'local' favorite routes/side street connections. Is there a source like this in the Des Moines area? We are from Kansas and so having this info would be great. 

The DSM Street Collective’s regional trails map is great! It shows where you can find bike lanes and protected bike lanes throughout the metro. But beyond those official designations, what are the streets you consider most bike-friendly, and which ones do you avoid? I’ve posed that question on the DSM Bike Notes Facebook page. Leave a comment and share your secret streets!