The City of Johnston received two Prairie Meadows Community Better Grants – $25,000 for the Beaver Creek Water Trails project and $10,000 for a 50th-anniversary public art project. Each of these grants will help the Johnston community increase the quality of life for residents.
“Both of these grants benefit Johnston and the residents who live here,” said Mayor Paula Dierenfeld. “The Beaver Creek, Water Trails project, is a metro-wide initiative. The grant money will be used to create a unique recreational site that is easily accessible for all users in Johnston. “The 50th-anniversary project will provide a lasting tribute recognizing the first 50 years of our community. We are certainly proud of the development and growth Johnston has had over the last 50 years and it has been an exciting year to celebrate with our community.”
The Beaver Creek, Water Trail project, is a part of a larger water trails initiative for the metro Des Moines Area. Our portion of the project is staggered into three phases. This project involves the construction of an accessible launch site on Beaver Creek to allow canoes, kayaks and other float devises to enjoy the recreational opportunities that Beaver Creek provides. It also includes a clean-up component that will clean the river of garbage and the numerous log jams that currently make the river difficult to paddle.
The goal of the 50th-anniversary events was to generate pride and celebrate accomplishments as a community. The funding helped to ensure the free events appealed to as many interests and age groups as possible and will create a lasting tribute for our community
“The continued support Prairie Meadows provides our community has allowed us to focus on projects that add value for the residents who live here,” said Jim Sanders City Administrator.