About the South 223rd Green Street Project

---

For many decades, the City of Des Moines has made efforts to enhance the value of its Downtown and Marina for residents and the region.  As early as the 1920s, landside and waterside activity and developments have occurred and changed.  In the mid-1980s, the City conducted a Revitalization planning project that identified the importance of Marine View Drive, 7th Ave S, and the alleyway in-between.  One of the most significant elements of this plan highlighted the missing ‘Pedestrian Connection’ to the waterfront from Downtown to the Marina.  Further planning investment included the Marina District Enhancement Master Plan in 2008, which was prepared by the University of Washington.  The plan once again highlighted the need for Marina redevelopment and pedestrian access between Downtown and the Marina. 

Since 2016, City administration has been actively pursuing many possibilities to make all of these efforts a reality, knowing that there will eventually be both significant private and public investments made.  On February 2, 2023, the City Council provided further direction to City Administration that Capital Improvement Projects be brought forward.

Acknowledging the need for pedestrian connectivity between Downtown to the Marina, the South 223rd Green Street Study Planning Project, as part of the holistic Marina Redevelopment Projects, will focus on enhancing the pedestrian experience for residents and visitors, creating a distinctive identity for Des Moines’ Downtown, as well as strategically investing in stormwater quality improvements.

The Project Team is currently in the process of researching and identifying streetscape opportunities that will be further studied during the preliminary design study for this project.