MA Architecture led an eight-month planning process for the City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department to create an exciting and vibrant concept that maximizes the project’s potential to serve community groups through a wide range of recreation programs, shared facilities, and community services. The comprehensive, inclusive, and transparent planning process included analysis of the existing facilities and site, market overview, sustainability analysis, benchmarking of similar regional and national facilities, research on the history of the site, and community engagement. The largest component of the process was the time and focus committed to community engagement to ensure an inclusive and equitable process. Six public meetings were held to gather community input which was integral to the process. In addition to the focused public meetings, there were drop-in times and youth engagement sessions to further engage a diverse range of community members in the project.

Collaborators included: Latent Design/Genus Landscape Architects/Sports Facilities Companies