What is an Urban Recreation District?

If Des Moines is your favorite small, big city, then The Avenues Urban Recreation District (URD) is the jumping-off point to all your favorite activities.

Simply moving through the space is a cultural experience that you don’t want to miss with connections to iconic parks, neighborhoods and trails. The URD is the path to a healthy and happy community.

The goal of the URD is to identify and deliver opportunities to enhance recreational infrastructure for the purpose of improving individual and community quality of life and economic development.

The opportunities for the URD extend in a 1.5 mile radius from the center of The Avenues district and includes many neighborhoods and recreational, cultural and educational destinations. Efforts towards the creation and implementation of the URD are ongoing. Check back to this page for updates!

Urban Recreation District Advisory Board

  • Mike Hutchison, The Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand
  • Randy Reichardt, The Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand
  • Jeff Wiggins, City of Des Moines
  • Renae Mauk, Des Moines Partnership
  • Angela Connolly, Polk County
  • Jenny Richmond, Des Moines Parks & Recreation
  • Amber Lynch, Invest DSM
  • Jake Christensen, Christensen Development
  • Woodland Heights Neighborhood Association
  • Drake Neighborhood Association
  • Sherman Hill Neighborhood Association
  • Salisbury Oaks Neighborhood Association
  • Waveland Park Neighborhood Association
  • Waterbury Neighborhood Association
  • North of Grand Neighborhood Association
  • Greenwood Historic Neighborhood Association
  • Linden Heights Neighborhood Association
  • Kathryn Kunert, MidAmerican Energy Company
  • Onnalee Kelly, MidAmerican Energy Company