Waveland Park Neighborhood Association

Planning Underway for Franklin Field

Oct 13, 2003

On September 9th, the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department held a meeting at the Northwest Community Center to begin the formal planning process for the area known as ?“Franklin Field.?” An estimated 90 residents of surrounding neighborhoods took part in the meeting, which was also attended by City Council members Chris Coleman, Chris Hensley, and Tom Vlassis.
Park and Recreation Development Manager Don McLaughlin said at the start of the discussion that Franklin Field is a part of the Des Moines park system designated as a ?“public open space?” rather than a ?“park.?” He said improvements for Franklin Field would not duplicate the recreational resources provided at Tower Park.

The goals of the meeting were to gather concerns and issues resulting from additional development of Franklin Field, and to obtain information from participants for the sorts of facilities and amenties people would like to have. Mr. McLaughlin said the site would include the section of the planned ?“Waveland Trail?” which will go through the area. Future use will also retain the community garden, which may be moved to a different part of Franklin Field.

A wide range of ideas and suggestions were expressed by participants at the meting related to improvements which would complement the facilities at the community center, provide amenities for users of the new recreation trail, and provide additional resources for community recreation including community gardening. Comments from participants were written on a flipchart for use in the planning process.

Park Planner Kevin Moran is now preparing a site plan for Franklin Field utilizing the information gathered at the meeting on September 9th, which will be presented to the neighborhood for review and discussion at another upcoming public meeting.