City Completes Full Brick Sidewalk Restoration in Capitol Park Neighborhood

Des Moines, Iowa- Thursday, September 25, 2025 - The 1300 block of Freemont Street in the Capitol Park Neighborhood has been fully restored to its historic character, thanks to a successful partnership between the City of Des Moines, Polk County, Prairie Meadows, and the Capitol Park Neighborhood Association. The restoration, completed in July by City contractor C-2 Creative Concrete, ensures residents and visitors alike can now enjoy a safe, durable, and historically authentic walking surface.

"It's a big deal if someone helps you get a sidewalk repaired, and not just repaired, but done beautifully," said Dena Bennet, Chair of the Capitol Park Neighborhood Association.

The project originated in 2023 following a sidewalk compliance complaint. Rather than opting for a standard concrete repair, the City's Development Services staff worked directly with the Capitol Park Neighborhood Association to explore ways to honor the area's historic character. With the association taking the lead on fundraising, they successfully secured grants from Prairie Meadows and Polk County. The City then leveraged Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to bring the project to life.

Engineering staff drafted detailed construction plans and selected a qualified contractor to perform the work. The restoration process began with the removal of damaged materials, carefully salvaging any reusable historic bricks. These were supplemented with additional stockpiled brick from the City's historic collection to ensure an authentic match. A concrete foundation was poured to provide long-term stability, followed by a sand bedding, brick placement, and a final layer of polymer sand to lock everything into place and protect the restored surface for years to come.

"It helps the City to complete projects when we know that there's buy-in from the neighborhood," said Lisa Crabbs, Federal Funds Administrator for the City of Des Moines.

To celebrate the project's completion, the Capitol Park Neighborhood Association hosted a block party on September 7, bringing neighbors together to enjoy the renewed streetscape.

This project demonstrates the power of collaboration. When neighborhood associations, local government, and county partners work together, projects not only get completed-they reflect the character, history, and pride of the community they serve. The restored brick sidewalks on Freemont Street stand as a lasting example of what's possible when resources, vision, and partnership come together to invest in Des Moines' neighborhoods.

Contact
Emily Wankum
Communications Specialist II, City Manager's Office
(515) 283-4028
[email protected]

About the City of Des Moines
The City of Des Moines is Iowa's capital, and our 17 departments serve more than 214,000 residents and 46 neighborhood associations. Des Moines is a leader in sustainability and provides its residents with vibrant neighborhoods, an active downtown, and abundant leisure opportunities.

Des Moines continuously improves neighborhoods, public safety, and quality of life by offering exceptional city services and reliable infrastructure while fostering an involved and compassionate community for all who visit and live there. Visit DSM.city, Facebook, and X for more information.