October 18, 2023
The Great Outdoors Foundation and ICON Water Trails announced that the third annual Wild Prairie Showdown on Oct. 12, presented by Bolton & Menk, raised more than $120,000 for conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives. The Wild Prairie Showdown is a competition to name the MVP, or Most Valuable Philanthropist. The…
Read more
October 17, 2023
Three total whitewater access points are planned to be located in downtown Des Moines and open to the public in 2026. ICON Water Trails is in charge of these three and 12 other recreational sites around central Iowa. ICON is connecting 150 miles of rivers and creeks in the state,…
Read more
September 22, 2023
As we do each year, we asked our readers to cast votes for what Des Moines has to offer in a variety of business-related categories. These businesses make up an ecosystem in our region that supports a strong and vibrant community. Here’s how it worked: You voted. We checked the…
Read more
September 22, 2023
As we do each year, we asked our readers to cast votes for what Des Moines has to offer in a variety of business-related categories. These businesses make up an ecosystem in our region that supports a strong and vibrant community. Here’s how it worked: You voted. We checked the…
Read more
September 7, 2023
Stephanie Oppel, pictured, has been named the new executive director of ICON Water Trails. The organization announced her hiring today, saying Oppel will begin her new duties on Sept. 25.Oppel’s hiring comes almost a year after Maggie McClelland, who held the director’s…
Read more
September 7, 2023
ICON Water Trails is pleased to announce that it has hired Stephanie Oppel to serve as the organization’s Executive Director. Oppel will fill this newly-revised, senior-level position, leading ICON’s…
Read more
August 17, 2023
DES MOINES, IA (Aug. 17, 2023) – The Great Outdoors Foundation and ICON Water Trails are pleased to announce the launch of the third annual Wild Prairie Showdown, presented by Bolton & Menk. This peer-to-peer fundraising campaign will conclude with a pseudo-pageant in which four local participants compete to be…
Read more
July 12, 2023
ICON Water Trails announced Tuesday it’s been awarded a $425,000 grant, bringing its total funding to more than $97.6 million. The grant will be dedicated to the trail’s planned Fleur Drive site on the Raccoon River, one of three whitewater features planned for ICON portion in…
Read more
July 11, 2023
DES MOINES, IA (July 11, 2023) – ICON Water Trails is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $425,000 Prairie Meadows Legacy Grant for its future Fleur Drive site. This Learn & Play access point is one of three signature whitewater features planned for ICON’s downtown run. With…
Read more
June 20, 2023
DES MOINES, IA (June 20, 2023) – The Great Outdoors Foundation is pleased to announce that the MidAmerican Energy Regional Fund, a $5 million investment in ICON Water Trails, has awarded its $125,000 spring grant to the City of Clive. The funding will be used to establish access to…
Read more