As one of Iowa’s fastest-growing cities, Waukee has changed a lot during the past several years. New buildings, roads and amenities are going up every few months, and it can be a challenge to keep up with all the changes. Enter the Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce and city leaders, who hosted a bus tour last week to show off the city and its new developments.

The tour started and ended at the Palms Theatres & IMAX, where local leaders presented the latest information about the growing suburb.

“This annual tradition is an opportunity to provide a literal front row seat to the vision progress and possibilities that shape our beloved Waukee,” said Aly Davis, who was hired in July as president and CEO of the Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce. “Our city is thriving. It is anchored by strong businesses, forward thinking developments and a collective investment of people who believe in Waukee not only today but for generations to come.”

Waukee, which has experienced 30% growth during the past five years, is growing with intention, Davis said.

“Each project that we visit reflects the partnerships and collaborations – my favorite word – that are central to how Waukee grows and thanks to our city leaders that is smart, connected and future focused,” she said.

Waukee Mayor Courtney Clarke touted the city’s schools, parks, roads and its welcoming atmosphere that draws thousands of new residents and visitors annually.

“That growth has spurred development across our city with a wide variety of new businesses and expanded markets for the businesses that were already here,” Clarke said. “The city plans and prioritizes projects that help fuel and manage this growth so our community can thrive each year.”

She noted several infrastructure and city improvements, such as water and sewer upgrades that go largely unseen by the community.

“We’ve made some big strides on key priorities,” she said. “In July, the police and fire departments moved into the new public safety building. This facility is absolutely critical to meet the needs of an evolving city and business community. We celebrated breaking ground on the first phase of an affordable housing project with Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity, which is one step forward in a complex challenge that communities everywhere are facing. This summer, we began work on the extension to University Avenue that comes with many improvements to roadways and intersections. By closing this last gap in a key corridor, we will facilitate better traffic flow, improve emergency response times and serve expanding neighborhoods.”

Clarke said city staff is updating the town’s comprehensive plan, Imagine Waukee 2040, which sets guidelines for land use.  

“The last time we did this was in 2017 and it is already time to update it as some of the decisions are a little bit outdated,” she said. “Based on the sustainability plan we completed last year, we are implementing small changes, like energy efficient lights and working toward larger ones to reduce the negative impact of our city operations. Earlier this year, we unveiled our vision for a new civic campus that will blend housing, business, entertainment, green space, government buildings and more into an active neighborhood. Believe it or not, eventually what is currently by the public works building will eventually be the geographic center of Waukee.”

Jennifer Brown, Waukee’s director of economic development, said on average, about 20 new businesses have set up shop in Waukee each year since 2020, with 28 last year. During the past 20 years, $574 million in new taxable commercial valuation has been added to the city, residential valuation has gone up by 843%, and total valuation increased from $200 million in 2005 to $3.8 billion in 2025, she said.

“This strengthens our tax base and supports critical city services. If you did the math on that, that means that we’ve grown 728% in 20 years, which is pretty substantial,” Brown said.

The Iowa Youth Athletic Foundation, which opened in April, hosts 5,000 to 6,000 visitors most weekends with a $25 million economic impact, she added. The city’s Triumph Park welcomes more than 4,000 baseball and softball games, attracting 500,000 visitors annually. Waukee Community School District’s Natatorium competitive pool is home to numerous regional and state tournaments.

“These facilities build community pride, drive tourism and generate significant economic impact, specifically for local restaurants, hotels and retailers,” Brown said.

Highlights of the tour included:

• $400 million Waukee Civic Campus, a 220-acre development that will include government, commercial and residential, with a golf course and lake.
• University of Iowa’s Mission Cancer + Blood 21,000-square-foot cancer clinic.
• New dining options: Breakfast Club, Olive Garden, Steak ‘n Shake, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Buffalo Wild Wings GO, Cinnabon, Hawaiian Bros Island Grill.
• Kettlestone Peak, $350 million Kettlestone Central, 19,000-square-foot Kettlestone Social entertainment food hall that will feature outdoor pickleball courts, an arcade and more.
• Waukee Town Center, 62-acre retail development, including Target, southwest of Hickman and Alice’s roads.
• KeeTown Loop, a 40-acre, $100 million entertainment district including Vibrant Music Hall.
• Prairie Commons, 505 E. Hickman Road retail development with Club Pilates, Lucky Gal Tattoo and more.
• Willard Garage’s newly opened 13,000-square-foot auto body shop.

“These projects reflect the scale, diversity and energy driving Waukee growth right now,” Brown said.