Water Works Park needs a facelift. But before it can go under the knife, teams will compete for the chance to perform its makeover.

Des Moines Water Works – with help from Iowa State University – launched its international Parkitecture Competition to bring in a broad range of applicants and design ideas to help transform the park, said Carl Rogers, the project manager and an associate professor of landscape architecture at ISU.

The competition began in June, and when the Oct. 3 submission date rolled around, 46 plans were submitted. Rogers said 21 of those were from professional firms, and 25 were submitted by Iowa State students.

After making it through the first round, the finalists have until Dec. 16 to develop their plans for the 1,500-acre site, which is located between Fleur Drive and 63rd Street in the southwest part of Des Moines.

The five teams were each given $10,000 to put together their plans. Come December, the groups will present their ideas to the public and the project’s 12-member jury, which will ultimately decide the winner.

The winning design will be announced Dec. 30. The winning team will then sit down with Water Works officials and negotiate a contract.