North DSM News

The Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department's Live DSM comprehensive plan won the Advancing Diversity and Social Change Award from the Iowa Chapter of the American Planning Association and the Honor Award from the Iowa Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

The comprehensive plan provides Des Moines Parks and Recreation with a plan to inspire the next elements of the parks and open space systems, according to the city's website.

“We will realize the vision of LiveDSM through the park and recreation plans, partnerships and policy directions as outlined in this plan," said Benjamin Page, director of Parks and Recreation in a press release. "The work ahead, though wide-ranging, is unified by the vision of transforming lives for the better and the intent to build and sustain world-class parks and recreation system. Implementing LiveDSM will lead to a system shaped by attention to equity, health, nature and social connections. This focus will deliver fair use of resources, high-quality parks and trails, neighborhood enrichment, better urban design and more engaging programs, while also activating waterways, improving natural areas and making places people want to visit. These are quality-of-living outcomes.”