Valley View
Park Master
Plan &
Implementation

Client
City of West Des Moines
Location
West Des Moines, IA
Size
85 acres

The design approach to Valley View Park is unique to other parks in the City of West Des Moines in that it seeks to organize passive and active recreation elements based on prioritizing existing and restored ecological features of the land. 

Through restored native plantings and ecological stormwater management systems, the park design strives to balance environmental health with human activity while meeting the recreation needs of the community and serving as a model for sustainable land development.

Implementation phases to date provide the community with much-needed flexible open space through the development of a great lawn with multi-use sports fields for baseball, softball, soccer and cricket. Other completed recreational amenities include sand volleyball courts, pickleball courts, cricket batting cages, restroom/shelter buildings and a park maintenance building. 

Infrastructure improvements provide a safe and accessible passageway to the western portion of the park through grading, utilities, vehicular drives and parking, trails, lighting and reconstructed ecological water management systems. This infrastructure lays the foundation for future phases of improvements to further develop facilities and amenities in a methodical and cost-effective approach.  

Future phases of improvements include a community center, splash pad, sledding hill and a pond connecting the western portion of the park to the eastern portion through water conveyance and management corridors, wetlands, trails and vehicular drives.

Awards
Merit Award in Design (Unbuilt)
ASLA Central States
2013
Honor Award in Design (Unbuilt)
ASLA Iowa Chapter
2012