Leave it better: getting their feet wet: Central Iowa town incorporates water into its latest playground.

Project:

Raccoon River Park Playground; opened fall 2004

Problem:

The city of West Des Moines, Iowa, did not have an area specifically designed for people with small children or young kids.

Solution:

With a population of 53,000 and a 632-acre park with plenty of room, a large-scale playground facility was built on about half an acre near the park's lake. The area includes two playgrounds, a spraypark with about 14 spray features, a large boat for climbing, an observation deck and a man-made stream running through the play area and into the nearby butterfly garden. The design of the playground incorporated a water theme to complement the neighboring 232-acre lake. It is the only playground in central Iowa that has a spray-park feature.

Cost:

$562,000 plus $50,000 consulting fee.

Lead Time:

About one and a half years, including a design phase that took about a year to complete and raise funds, with additional time for construction and landscaping.

Partnerships:

No financial partners, but there was a committee comprised of West Des Moines citizens and staff members from the West Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department.

Community Impact:

The unique spraypark amenity in the playground area has more than doubled the attendance levels of the nearby shelters and the revenue collected from the shelter reservations. "You just can't believe the kids, they just scream and holler and yell and just come running into that water," says Sally Ortgies, parks superintendent. "It's pretty cool to see all that going on."