The Italian-American Cultural Center of Iowa plans to host community events at its new home in the renovated Butler Mansion. Rendering by RDG Planning & Design
The timeframes below reflect our sources’ best estimates at press time.
Right now: Two Rivers Park is ready to explore. Construction wrapped up last fall at the 9-acre site near the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, and a public dedication ceremony will happen when the weather warms up this spring. The fully accessible park features a scenic overlook, more than 300 new trees, bench swings, a picnic shelter, bike stations and a bronze tactile map to help visitors with visual impairments get the lay of the land. MidAmerican Energy Co. helped fund the park’s development, in partnership with the city and county. Reservations to rent the space for private events, starting June 1, are available now at polkcountyiowa.gov/conservation.
Spring: The Des Moines Children’s Museum opens at 1200 12th St. in West Des Moines. The museum first opened in 2017 at Valley West Mall, where it became a populaar spot for playdates and birthday parties. The new location is bigger, with 26,000 square feet and more than 7 acres of outdoor space that once belonged to the Des Moines Golf and Country Club.
Spring: A floating two-story restaurant with a rooftop deck opens at the Saylorville Lake Marina in Polk City. Dark Side of the Spoon, the restaurant group behind the Breakfast Club, Wellman’s Pub and 1908 Draught House, plans to open the new spot to replace the former Buoy’s Waterfront Bar & Grill.
Late spring: The Walnut Street Bridge reopens, although work will continue on its sidewalks and parking areas. It’s the latest downtown bridge renovation, after Grand Avenue (completed in 2017), Court Avenue (2019) and Locust Street (2021).
Late spring: A pipe organ blasts off at Hoyt Sherman Place. The mighty 1922 Wurlitzer was first installed in a theater in the Chicago Loop before it moved to the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas and then upstairs to the penthouse, where Liberace and others pulled out all the stops for private events. The instrument was donated last year to Hoyt Sherman Place, where the 1923 auditorium was built to accommodate an organ but never had one — until now.
Summer: Surfers take on the Des Moines River. The next big thing in the evolution of the ICON Water Trails involves a giant motorized flipper that operators can adjust to create steady, reliably crested waves. It’s part of the new Principal Point, near Scott Avenue, with additional whitewater areas nearby at Harriet Street and the Hubbell Trailhead near Fleur Drive. When they’re finished and the last dams are removed, folks will be able to raft or paddle through downtown.
Visitors to downtown’s Scott Avenue Bridge will see new artwork at Principal Point, plus surfers and paddlers on the river below. Photo: Bondy Studio 21
Summer: The lions get new digs at Blank Park Zoo. Named for a longtime zoo supporter, the Marjorie A. Foster Lion Conservation Center will more than triple the zoo’s space for African lions and feature “a real airplane that both guests and lions can interact with,” according to the zoo’s blog. The bigger space will accommodate up to eight lions and expand the zoo’s role in global conservation efforts.
Aug. 13-23: The Iowa State Fair gets patriotic. This year’s “Fair Spirit” theme celebrates America’s 250th anniversary and echoes “The Spirit of Iowa ’76,” the fair’s theme during the 1976 bicentennial. The local event is part of this year’s Great American State Fair initiative, led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
October: A Harvest Festival takes place outside the State Capitol. As part of America 250 and the related America’s Harvest initiative, the governor promises a festival featuring fall activities, entertainment and representatives from all of Iowa’s 99 counties.
October: The Italian-American Cultural Center of Iowa opens its new home in the historic Butler Mansion. The renovated and expanded space at 2633 Fleur Drive will have room for community activities, cooking classes, bocce games, a museum of Iowa’s Italian heritage, private events and a few guest rooms for overnight visitors. The grand opening will coincide with the return of the annual Italian American Heritage Festival of Iowa, which has been pianissimo since 2019.
January 2027: Des Moines International Airport opens its new terminal, with seven additional gates to expand options for more flights and routes.
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