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The Nollen Plaza redesign is just one of a couple of initiatives kicking off the implementation phase of the downtown vision plan. The “What’s Next, Downtown?” study updated an original plan led by renowned architect and planner Mario Gandelsonas. It calls for greater connectivity between major attractions and further development downtown. Architect Erin Olson-Douglas, who was hired by the city and county to lead the study, has remained involved after the new vision plan was approved last fall, with her contract being extended an extra year last summer.

The other initiative, announced in March, is a tram feasibility study for the Walnut Street corridor, which would link downtown’s Western Gateway Park to the East Village. The study is being funded by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. So far, a core group of people from Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority, the county, city, Downtown Community Alliance (DCA) and Nationwide have begun meeting and expect to put out a bid for a consultant to help lead the study by the end of this month.

“I was concerned that maybe we wouldn’t hit the ground running,” said DCA CEO Mary Lawyer, “but man, [Nationwide] really came through for us.”

As part of this study, the DCA and other parties involved in the vision plan are looking at ways to enhance the skywalk system with better signage and more visible entrances on the street level.