The number of miles of water trails throughout Central Iowa officially increased by 20 on Thursday with the designation of Beaver Creek and the Des Moines River as state water trails.

Leaders from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, ICON Water Trails, Polk County and the city of Johnston gathered to mark the designation at Lew Clarkson Park in Johnston, which has a kayak access point along Beaver Creek.

Of the 20 miles added, seven are along Beaver Creek and 13 are along the Des Moines River. There are now 1,241 miles of water trails in Iowa.

There are eight access points along the new water trails, and 15 along the entire system, with 50 more in the works, said Stephanie Oppel, executive director of ICON Water Trails. The ICON network, which now includes over 150 miles of water trails, saw 250,000 users last season.

With the designation, a variety of state resources will be available to support the water trails’ use and management, including new access points, maps and signage.

“This dedicated route has access points, with maps, with launch sites and signage so we can promote a safe and fun experience for paddling,” said Kayla Lyon, Iowa DNR’s director.

The access points and signage are visible indicators of the trail designation, but the real purpose is to protect and promote the use of Iowa’s waterways, Lyon said.

The designation also aims to improve recreational opportunities, build support for improvements and boost economic development.

Johnston Mayor Paula Dierenfeld said residents of her growing city tend to be younger in age, and she hears from many of them that they want more diverse outdoor recreation opportunities, in addition to the region’s many bicycling trails.

“[The designation] is important because it tells our residents and visitors these waterways are safe to recreate on, and that when you do, you will not cause any harm to the waterways or to the natural resources around them,” she said. “Then our designation will go a long ways in accomplishing what the early visionaries of the water trail system believed was possible, and that is providing water recreation opportunities for our residents to enhance their quality of life and creating destination attractions for visitors, all of which serve as a catalyst for economic development for the entire region.”

Oppel said the trails are a boon for the business community and economic development.

“Every single business here in Iowa is competing for top notch talent,” she said. “We want to continue to grow the community, grow the workforce, and attract people to Central Iowa, and keep them here once they come. Having incredible quality of life opportunities is really a key piece of that. The business community has really gotten behind ICON Water Trails because it’s a catalyst for so many other things we’re trying to achieve regionally. Getting people out on the water, they are connecting with one another, connecting with nature. They are really caring about the natural spaces around them. ICON creates a sense of community. When people are out and having fun, they also go out and enjoy our great restaurants and bars and shop in our shops.”

Conservation officials will work over the coming days and weeks along the water trails to remove downed tree limbs and other debris to make the shallow water trails more passable.

The city of Des Moines also announced its improved parks and recreation score on Thursday. The city’s standing in the Trust for Public Land’s annual ParkScore Index, increased from 65.4 in 2024 to 70.1 in 2025.

“Reaching a new record ParkScore from The Trust for Public Land is a testament to our city’s deep commitment to parks and open space,” Ben Page, director of Parks and Recreation, said in a press release. “This achievement reflects the hard work of city staff across departments, the vision and support of our elected leaders, and the passion of a community that truly values accessible, high-quality public spaces.”

Past coverage: ICON marks $100M in funds raised for water trails projects