Coming to West Des Moines: Canoe, kayak rentals and an outdoor amphitheater

Forget the cold and snow — West Des Moines is thinking about kayaking, canoeing and outdoor concerts. 

The Des Moines suburb will start construction next spring on a boat house at Raccoon River Park for non-motorized boat rentals. It marks the first in a series of projects in a 10-year parks master plan that would enhance the city's waterways and connect them with a marathon-length trail. 

"We're making pretty good progress," said Sally Ortgies, director of Parks and Recreation. "I'm feeling good about it."

Fundraising for a second project, a $2.8 million outdoor amphitheater near City Hall and the library, is also underway. If enough money is raised, construction on the amphitheater could also happen in 2019.

More:West Des Moines unveils $32 million dream parks system

The Raccoon River Park Boathouse is set to open in summer 2020. It will have bicycle and boat rentals, including canoes, kayaks, paddleboats and stand-up paddleboards, as well as indoor restrooms.

The non-motorized boats can be used on the park's 232-acre Blue Heron Lake and nearby Raccoon River. Future plans call for a hub downriver where boats and kayaks could be dropped off. The hub would have bikes for rent or a shuttle service to get people back to the boat house.

The $2.4 million boat house will be located at the front entrance of Raccoon River Park, 2500 Grand Ave., near the existing boat ramp. It's being paid for with funds generated from the 1-cent sales tax passed in Dallas County last year. 

Raccoon River Park is West Des Moines' biggest with 632 acres of parkland, including a swimming beach, fishing pier, playground, archery facility, ice rink and a trail.

Meanwhile, West Des Moines is actively searching for private money to help fund the outdoor amphitheater on its Civic Campus, 4200 Mills Civic Parkway. The city hopes to raise about 90 percent of the project cost, Ortgies said.

Microsoft has given the city a $868,000 grant for the project. 

The amphitheater would hold about 2,000 people and be located on a natural hill next to the pond. It would feature community groups like the West Des Moines Community Band or the Tallgrass Theatre Co. and city parks and library programs, Ortgies said.

"We aren't expecting this to be something like Simon Estes where you're bringing in some fairly large acts on a regular basis," she said. "This is really going to be more of a community-based venue."

If construction starts in 2019, it could also be open in summer 2020.

More:

• See the $30 million indoor soccer, hockey complex planned in West Des Moines
• Riverview Park concert venue gets green light
• Coming to Des Moines Water Works Park: amphitheater, playgrounds, food trucks

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