As we look back on 2024, ICON’s five key priorities of On-Water Safety, Economic Development, Workforce & Tourism Attraction, Environmental Conservation, and Access to Recreation guided every action we took. Here’s a look at what we achieved this year in these critical areas:

On-Water Safety

This year, ICON made significant strides in improving on-water safety through a series of dedicated efforts. We completed 20 miles of on-water maintenance on Walnut Creek, Beaver Creek, and Fourmile Creek, making our waterways a safer place to recreate. ICON hosted its first Operations and Maintenance Demonstration Day, showcasing best practices for shoreline stabilization. Participants from our jurisdictions had the opportunity to observe and learn skills they can utilize at their access points.

Throughout the year, we continued to hold safety committee meetings to facilitate meaningful discussions and share insights with our partners. We also leveraged our website, social media, and other communication channels to further promote water safety and raise awareness.

Economic Development

In early 2024, we released our Regional Economic Impact Study, which culled more than 2.6 billion mobile location pings used to project aggregate behavior over a six-month period from April to October in 2022. The study revealed that ICON’s water trails generated nearly $20 million in economic output and about $1.3 million in tax revenues during a single season. Data from the study solidifies the positive economic impact of ICON Water Trails and highlights the role our waterways play in local economic development.

We also reached a significant fundraising milestone, surpassing $100 million in donations. A $1 million federal investment secured by U.S. Representative Zach Nunn, $1 million contribution from Casey’s for our Center Street site, and the final $1 million from Hubbell Realty Company that got us to this point, are a few highlights from our 2024 fundraising efforts. These funds, along with many other vital donations, enable us to continue our work and expand the economic impact of our water trails.

Workforce & Tourism Attraction

ICON continued to promote workforce and tourism attraction across the metro in 2024. Through our access points, art installations, and initiatives, we are creating spaces that engage locals and visitors alike. One standout project was the installation of “Hello, River,” an interactive art piece connecting culture and conservation designed by Minneapolis-based studio Plus/And, consisting of artists Emily Stover and Amanda Lovelee. Located near Lauridsen Skate Park and the future capstone whitewater site at the Center Street Dam, this installation invites visitors to connect with the water in a new and engaging way. Additionally, the 2024 ICON/ Bravo Public Art Grant was awarded to the City of Bondurant, creating another opportunity to bring public art into our region.

Our Regional Economic Impact Study also demonstrated the proven efficacy of ICON in regards to tourism attraction and workforce retention.  The study found that more than 250,000 visits were made to ICON’s 15 access points during a six-month period. Visitors spent over $11 million at local hotels, restaurants, and retail establishments, supporting 112 jobs and generating nearly $3.4 million in wages.

Environmental Conservation

Environmental conservation remains a cornerstone of our work at ICON. We partnered with the Great Outdoors Foundation for the annual Wild Prairie Showdown, raising a record-setting $160,000 for conservation and recreation. Additionally, we introduced the inaugural Waveshaper Award, recognizing Rick Tollakson for his outstanding support of conservation and recreation.

Our commitment to water quality continued throughout the year as we invested in projects that prioritize sustainability. All of our projects integrate infrastructure that supports the health and vitality of our water quality, including urban wetlands, streambank stabilization, native plantings, oxbow restoration, and dam mitigation.

Access to Recreation

The expansion of access to recreation remained a priority in 2024. Several key projects made significant progress, such as the groundbreaking of a new site in Clive, which will provide access to Walnut Creek and feature a stormwater wetland, among other amenities. At Walker Johnston Park, a major portion of the Outdoor Classroom was completed, while the 1st Street River Access Point in West Des Moines was fully constructed. Approval was also received for the Merle Hay Access Point, which is now in the design phase.

Our downtown projects saw significant progress in 2024 as well. Work on the north half of the river at Principal Point near Scott Avenue was completed, and design phases for the Hubbell Trailhead at the Fleur Drive Dam moved forward reaching 90% of design complete. Construction at Harriet Street was largely completed, while Birdland Marina and Prospect Park received substantial funding to continue advancing their development.

Our commitment to expanding recreation was further supported by the MidAmerican Energy Company Regional Fund, which was awarded to the City of West Des Moines. This funding will help establish new access to the Raccoon River within the 35-acre Raccoon River Greenway.

Looking Ahead

We are proud of what ICON was able to accomplish in 2024. From expanding access to recreation and enhancing environmental conservation efforts, to promoting on-water safety, supporting economic growth, and attracting visitors and residents to our communities, this year has been one of significant progress. We look forward to building on these achievements in 2025 and continuing to offer opportunities for connection and recreation along our waterways, helping to set our region apart as a place to live, work, and play.