Des Moines is finally going to get its skatepark – make that skateparks. Three new skateparks are to be built in the Des Moines metro. One will be built at 4 Mile Rec on
Des Moines’ east side, another will be at Tower Park, which is located at 50th Street. and Hickman Road on Des Moines’ north side, and the final one will be located at the Principal River Walk downtown.

Local skater and DMACC student Mike Adam believes the skateparks will have a big impact on the community.

“(The parks at 4 Mile Rec and Tower Park will be) no bigger than Urbandale’s”, Adam said. “(The Principal River Walk skate park will be) one of the largest in the country”.

Next Generation Skateshop owner Bill Diaz had similar views on the new
skateparks.

Diaz said that Principal River Walk would be “one of the largest (in the
country)”. Diaz also mentioned that Principal River Walk would be “one of the top ones.
(It will) draw the crowds”.

When it comes to quality, the new Des Moines skateparks are said to be some of the best when they are finished. “(When it comes to quality,) compared to Ankeny and Valley Junction, they’ll be better”, Adam said.

“(The skateparks have) nice locations (in Des Moines).” Diaz and Adam both said that 4 Mile Rec is to be monitored by web-camera.

Although these new skateparks are said to be nice, they aren’t cheap. Diaz said the cost to build the skatepark at Principal River Walk would cost an estimated $3.5 million. City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation Services Manager Doug Romig said that the cost to build one of the smaller parks would cost an estimated $275,000. The cost to build both Tower Park and 4 Mile Rec would cost an estimated $825,000.

To pay for all of these funds, Diaz said that there will be fundraisers in 2009. The fundraisers will have to raise a total of 60 percent of the cost of the Principal River Walk skatepark, which is said to be $3.5 million to build. Diaz and Romig both agreed that the new skateparks will bring lots of tourism to Des Moines and the state of Iowa.