{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://nunn.house.gov/2026/08/10/nunn-secures-2-million-to-expand-des-moines-river-access-through-icon-water-trails/", "Nunn Secures $2 Million to Expand Des Moines River Access Through ICON Water Trails", "2026-08-10", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "IA", "Zachary Nunn", "N000193", "nunn.house.gov", "nunn", "https://nunn.house.gov/category/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cDes Moines grew up around two rivers, and we haven\u2019t done enough to make them part of how families experience our city,\u201d said Rep. Nunn. \u201cThis $2 million builds the access at Birdland and Prospect Park that changes that \u2014 safer, easier ways down to the Des Moines River for the families, kayakers, and anglers who use it. A riverfront people actually use fills the restaurants, hotels, and shops around it, turning more visitors into more customers and more economic growth across Central Iowa.\u201d\n\nRep. Nunn secured the funding through the FY2026 Community Project Funding (CPF) process. The award, funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development\u2019s Economic Development Initiatives account, will support access improvements at both parks. The City of Des Moines will administer the dollars as part of the broader ICON Water Trails initiative.\n\nThe award funds public access and site improvements at both parks. The work will make it easier and safer to get to the water, improve the park space around each access point, and support the clean water and conservation priorities in the ICON plan.\n\nThe investment builds on more than $103 million that local, state, federal, philanthropic, and private partners have already committed to ICON Water Trails. The City of Des Moines alone has put more than $7 million into Birdland Park and $6 million into Prospect Park. Created in 2016, the initiative spans roughly 150 miles of central Iowa creeks and rivers.\n\nIn 2024, Rep. Nunn delivered $1 million for improvements at the Fleur Drive Dam, including dam remediation and new river access for kayakers and anglers. Today\u2019s award brings his total to $3 million in Community Project Funding for the ICON network.\n\nLocal leaders praised the investment and its impact on the community.\n\n\u201cThe Community Project Funding awarded to the City of Des Moines clearly illustrates how support from federal funding results in long-term economic growth for local governments,\u201d said Mayor Connie Boesen. \u201cWith the $2 million award, the City of Des Moines will be able to work alongside ICON to make much-needed improvements to Birdland and Prospect Park, furthering the development of the water trails system. The water trails and new state-of-the-art features at both parks will draw tourism while bolstering the quality of life for our residents.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to Congressman Nunn for his continued leadership and support of projects that expand access to outdoor recreation and improve quality of life across our region,\u201d said Stephanie Oppel, Executive Director, ICON Water Trails. \u201cProspect Park will revitalize an important community space while serving as the future starting point of the Downtown Run, creating new opportunities for people to experience and enjoy the Des Moines River.\u201d\n\n\u201cInvestments in the ICON Water Trails network continue to build on one of Greater Des Moines\u2019 defining competitive advantages: our quality of life,\u201d said Tiffany Tauscheck, President & CEO, Greater Des Moines Partnership. \u201cBy enhancing access points like Birdland Marina and Prospect Park, we\u2019re creating more opportunities for residents and visitors to experience all that our region has to offer. This investment reflects the power of partnership and the importance of continuing to advance projects that create lasting economic impact for our region.\u201d\n\n\u201cOutdoor recreation is a growing driver of tourism,\u201d said Trina Flack, President & CEO, Catch Des Moines. \u201cThese projects position Greater Des Moines as a premier destination for on-water and riverfront experiences while generating significant economic benefits for our local businesses.\u201d\n\nPhotos from today\u2019s press conference are available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-11T05:54:29Z", "2026-08-11T05:56:25Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://nunn.house.gov/2026/08/10/nunn-secures-2-million-to-expand-des-moines-river-access-through-icon-water-trails/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.3462551180273294, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}