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contracts and special projects

Operation Downtown enhances the business environment in Downtown Des Moines (DSM) by fostering vibrancy and forming strategic partnerships that create positive experiences and drive investment in key issues. This work includes collaborative contracts aligned toward shared goals, public art installations, activations and other creative problem-solving initiatives.

Downtown Public Space/Park Maintenance

Woman walking her dog through the park with the Downtown Des Moines skyline in the background. Operation Downtown coordinates a collaborative approach with the City to support the ongoing maintenance of certain public spaces throughout Downtown DSM, including the Principal Riverwalk, Western Gateway, Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and the East Locust Streetscape. Services focus primarily on maintaining the appearance, safety and functionality of these areas and include landscape care, irrigation oversight, snow and ice removal on certain sidewalks and trails, maintenance of certain plant beds and coordination around site infrastructure and amenities. This partnership helps ensure that Downtown DSM’s public spaces remain clean, welcoming and well-maintained for residents, workers and visitors.

Downtown Installations and Activations

A mural of Downtown Des Moines Operation Downtown's Board of Directors designates funding for special projects that enhance vibrancy and create welcome surprises in Downtown DSM. From interactive pop-up experiences to large-scale art installations, these projects activate public spaces and invite people to engage with Downtown in new ways. Explore past and current installations and activations here.

Crow Control

When temperatures drop in surrounding areas, crows migrate to Downtown DSM to seek warmth. Operation Downtown partners with USDA wildlife specialists to implement preventative measures. Using techniques like pyrotechnics and laser technology, the program has successfully encouraged crows to relocate while maintaining a clean, welcoming downtown and serving as a model for other cities.

Downtown Farmers' Market

The Operation Downtown team supports the Downtown Farmers’ Market presented by UnityPoint Health through various tasks to assist with the operation of one of the Top 5 Best Farmers’ Markets in the United States (The Gateway, 2025).