News
June 27, 2007
harkin announces approval of funds for des moines' rivers and parks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations committee, today announced that he has secured funding for multiple projects in the Des Moines area. The funds have been approved by the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee and are expected to be approved by the full Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday. The bill will then need to be approved by both the House and Senate before it becomes law.
"These important investments will help downtown Des Moines and central Iowa grow and thrive,” said Harkin. “The Riverwalk is fast becoming one of Des Moines’ best attractions. Additionally, flood control improvements will help prevent a recurrence of the kind of flooding experienced in 1993.”
DES MOINES RIVER GREENBELT: $3 Million
Des Moines River Greenbelt area in Des Moines: The funding will be used for recreation projects through the Corps of Engineers along the Des Moines River, including the Principal Riverwalk project. The Riverwalk will be a 1.2 mile long, 16 foot wide trail along the east and west bank of the Des Moines River in downtown Des Moines, connected on the ends by an existing railroad bridge and a second bridge which is still in design.
Des Moines River Greenbelt area in Pella: The funding will be used to expand the Volksweg trail along the Des Moines River in the Marion County Center on the Rock. The funding may also be used for the expansion of other amenities. Harkin previously provided funding for trail expansion.
Fort Dodge Riverfront Development Project: The funding will be used to restore the natural environment along the riverfront by cleaning up potentially contaminated areas, stabilizing the riverbank, improving fishing and boating opportunities, and building trails.
DES MOINES AND RACOON RIVERS: $440,000
The funding will be used to complete investigations for the pre-construction engineering and design needed to improve the Birdland Park and Central Place levees. The Army Corps determined that the Birdland Park and Central Place levees do not meet federal standards and do not provide a certifiable level of protection, based on the Chief Engineer’s Report released in March 2006.The report indicated that flood protection through improvements to these levee closures would substantially increase the levees’ reliability and would be economically justified and environmentally acceptable.
This flood damage prevention project is essential for giving Des Moines' businesses and citizens’ confidence that future flood damages will be avoided or minimized. This project is also critical to assure the successful redevelopment of several large Brownfield areas, such as the Argimergent Technology Park and Riverpoint West, as well as other important commercial and residential areas in Des Moines.
