Des Moines Parks and Recreation is looking to change the face of the Birdland Sports Complex at a cost of $1.73 million.
The complex currently includes amenities that serve the neighborhood and city-wide recreational needs of north Des Moines.
However, the complex’s current condition is less than ideal: the tennis courts in disrepair cannot support the growing popularity of both the sport and the current pickleball craze, and Des Moines falls short of the national average for basketball courts.
With a series of improvements, Des Moines Parks and Recreation wants to bring Birdland up to speed and serve the community that uses the park.
“Birdland Sports Park serves 2,588 people within a 10-minute walk of this park,” Des Moines Parks and Recreation Director Ben Page said in an email to the Register. “However, the Birdland Sports Park courts are considered a regional draw due to their ability to support larger groups, events and programs, as well as the ability to support additional improvements such as sports field lighting, which greatly expands their accessibility and programming hours.” for the public.”
At the Nov. 6 Des Moines City Council meeting, a number of improvements to the Birdland Sports Complex were approved to go out to bid. That means the project must be approved again by the Des Moines City Council.
Pending approval, the project is expected to begin in spring 2024 and is expected to be completed before summer 2025.
Birdland’s current amenities:
- Birdland pool
- Five tennis and pickleball courts
- Mini dude futsal court
- Toilets
- Picnic tables
- Benches
- Open space with natural grass
After an evaluation, Des Moines Parks and Recreation decided Birdland needed some updates.
“One of the ways we look at improving our parks is to use a national metric from the Trust for Public Lands, Parkscore,” Page said. “As we continue to focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, it is important that our parks have park amenities that reflect the interests of the neighborhoods and park users that surround the park.
You can see how Des Moines does by Parkscore standards here.
Improvements coming to Birdland:
- Removal of five existing tennis courts, poles, light fixtures, supports, fences, drainage channels and surrounding concrete walkways
- Seven new tennis courts with high-performance cover/surface, nets and undressing for tennis and pickleball
- Two basketball courts with baskets, backboard and stripes
- New perimeter fence
- LED sports lighting for all tennis courts and basketball courts.
- ADA Compliant Sidewalks
- Site planning system and rainwater drainage system
- Total landscape restoration
Why is Birdland updating now?
According to Parkscore, Des Moines is below average in the number of basketball courts per capita.
“The data collected shows that Des Moines is in the bottom 20 percent percentile of basketball hoops provided per capita,” Page said. “Currently, each basketball hoop in Des Moines Parks serves over 4,100 residents, or 2.4 hoops per 20,000 residents.”
Adding basketball courts will increase the number of people who can play in metro Des Moines.
Also, The Birdland tennis courts are in disrepair, and according to Page, there are no records to show how old they really are.
“Unfortunately our antennas don’t date back before 1930 so I can’t tell how old they are. I also don’t know how many times they have been renovated or remodeled,” he said. “… It’s safe to say that these courts are historically significant to our park system.”
With the plan to completely renovate the courts, Des Moines is catching up with the pickle craze that has swept the country.
What’s the deal with the pickle?
In addition to the current state of the tennis courts, a pickle is sweeping the nation. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, the number of people playing pickleball has grown 159% in three years to 8.9 million in 2022.
“We’re seeing the same demands here in Des Moines,” Page said. “Observations from the field (parks), increased participation in our pickleball leagues and through staff contacts with players.”
A growing sport, pickleball has seen courts pop up throughout the Des Moines metro area, including indoor and outdoor courts. More recently, Merle Hay Mall and Southridge Mall have been the fruit of the pickle movement.
“We will soon be proposing more stand-alone pickleball courts for Stone Park this winter, subject to City Council approval,” Page said. “However, it is important to note that all 56 tennis courts in the park system are both tennis and pickleball lanes.”
What Birdland hopes to offer:
By renovating the Birdland Sports Complex, Des Moines Parks and Recreation hopes to bring a new sense of community around Birdland and all it has to offer.
“North Des Moines has always been proud of its parks,” Page said. “Many of the North High School athletes not only began their tennis, basketball, soccer and swimming careers at Birdland Park, but also continued their high school careers using this park.” Engaging children in healthy activities is a proven way to keep children on the path to success.”
Kyle Werner is a reporter for the Register. Contact him at [email protected].
