Volunteers Needed: Help us to Build a Better Block!
AARP Iowa, the City of Des Moines, the Greater Des Moines Partnership, business owners, and local advocates are working together with Team Better Block on a temporary beautification project on East Grand Ave., in Des Moines, July 16-19. It’s going to take a village, so you too can be a part of this innovative and unique community-building opportunity!
The pop-up project in the city’s East Village area, between E. 5 th & E. 6 th St., will promote a healthy, fun and active street with protected bike lanes, landscaped sidewalks, public art, murals, and more. Volunteers are needed to participate on the Street Team, Public Space Team, and Beautification Team -- with roles ranging from painting to landscaping to building -- which collectively will help to beautify this block of Grand Ave.
If you have questions, contact Connie Eastman at ceastman@aarp.org or 515.697.1011.
When: July 16 to 19, daily from 3 to 9 p.m. (a grand unveiling will take place the evening of Thursday, July 19) Where: East Grand Ave., between E. 5th and E. 6th Streets, Des Moines' East Village area
View below a similar AARP Livable Communities' Better Block project:
PROJECT SITE — East Grand Avenue is home to some of the best restaurants and retail options that Des Moines offers. The City of Des Moines is currently piloting a yearlong protected bike lane on both sides of Grand and has recently installed a pedestrian crossing signal in the two-stop intersection. The project will focus on the block of East Grand Avenue between 5th and 6th Streets. The interventions completed will test new ways to use the bike lane as well as increase safety for bikers and pedestrians in the intersection and activate more public space, create safer intersection crossing, and better awareness for parking.
DESIGN OBJECTIVES — A primary objective of this Better Block is to rebrand the infrastructure in place to create something that business owners can fall in love with and take pride in. By making East Grand have more options for active transportation and not just cyclists as well as incorporating more public art, the street can become a destination in Des Moines. Cities across the nation are beginning to notice the impact of active transportation oriented development. An example of this is the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. Property values have increased by $1 billion, businesses report more customers and higher sales, and residents feel safer Downtown since construction of the 8-mile Cultural Trail, according to a survey conducted by Indiana University Public Policy Institute.
