The Des Moines City Council will discuss the Central Place Levee Trail Project — a new mixed-use paved path in North Des Moines — at its upcoming meeting.The project would add a 10-foot-wide paved path stretching about a mile and a half of the levee alongside the Des Moines River.The path would connect the world-famous Lauridsen Skatepark downtown to the intersection of Franklin Avenue and 2nd Avenue in north-central Des Moines.Citizens have praised the proposal for the additional safety it would bring to people making their way around the area.”I know a ton of kids that live on the north side of town that are kind of stranded at home during the day,” Kevin Jones said. “But if they had a safe way to get from there to the skate park, they would use it and love it.”However, the path proposed by the city would run along the side of the levee closest to the river, which has been a growing homeless encampment in recent years.Sandy Rogers, a nearby business owner, said there is uncertainty about how the homeless situation would change if the project goes through.”I have no idea what will happen, and I think that’s what a lot of people around here are afraid of,” Rogers said. The informal hearing discussing the project is set for Monday evening’s meeting.
The Des Moines City Council will discuss the Central Place Levee Trail Project — a new mixed-use paved path in North Des Moines — at its upcoming meeting.
The project would add a 10-foot-wide paved path stretching about a mile and a half of the levee alongside the Des Moines River.
The path would connect the world-famous Lauridsen Skatepark downtown to the intersection of Franklin Avenue and 2nd Avenue in north-central Des Moines.
Citizens have praised the proposal for the additional safety it would bring to people making their way around the area.
“I know a ton of kids that live on the north side of town that are kind of stranded at home during the day,” Kevin Jones said. “But if they had a safe way to get from there to the skate park, they would use it and love it.”
However, the path proposed by the city would run along the side of the levee closest to the river, which has been a growing homeless encampment in recent years.
Sandy Rogers, a nearby business owner, said there is uncertainty about how the homeless situation would change if the project goes through.
“I have no idea what will happen, and I think that’s what a lot of people around here are afraid of,” Rogers said.
The informal hearing discussing the project is set for Monday evening’s meeting.
