For Immediate Release
Contact: Amy Day
Tel: 515.271.0344 (o)
515.612.0775 (m)
aday@desmoinesartcenter.org
Des Moines, Iowa (February 24, 2025) Following a settlement agreement in January 2025, the Des Moines Art Center is set to remove Mary Miss’s installation Greenwood Pond: Double Site, which is located on a small parcel of land in Des Moines’ city-owned Greenwood Park. Work will begin Monday, February 24, to enclose Greenwood Pond and the area immediately surrounding it to facilitate the deinstallation process. The vast majority of Greenwood Park, including the extensive bike and hiking trails, will remain accessible to the public during removal.
The project requires the temporary draining of Greenwood Pond, which will be done in coordination with the City of Des Moines. During this time, the pond water and much of the aquatic life will flow into the Racoon River. Once the work is completed, the Art Center will work with wildlife authorities to restock the pond, which will refill with creek water and rainfall. Both water and wildlife levels are expected to return to prior levels by this fall.
Following deinstallation, the Art Center will re-seed grass, restore gravel pathways around the pond, reinforce the shoreline on the northwest side of the pond, and install limestone benches and stone parking bollards. Trees, grasses, and native plantings will be preserved with as much care as possible. Memorial benches installed by Des Moines Parks and Recreation will be removed for protection and then returned to their current locations.
All costs associated with the deinstallation will be borne by the Art Center; no taxpayer or public funds will be used. The removal and rehabilitation process will be completed later this year, dependent on weather and scheduling factors. As work progresses, information will be shared about the timeline for the re-opening of Greenwood Pond.
The Art Center looks forward to returning Greenwood Pond to public use under the management of the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department. The City has addressed long-term plans for this section of Greenwood Park in the following statement:
“The City of Des Moines is committed to working alongside the community, neighborhood associations, and key stakeholders to explore future possibilities for Greenwood Park. This process will incorporate public input to ensure that future improvements reflect the needs and vision of our residents. Any potential improvements will rely on private and grant funding due to budget constraints. As we move forward, Des Moines Parks and Recreation remains dedicated to our mission of helping Des Moines live well, play hard, and protect the earth.”
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