EMC Downtown Park
| EMC Downtown Park | |
|---|---|
 | |
Interactive map of EMC Downtown Park | |
| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Downtown Des Moines |
| Coordinates | 41°35′8.502″N 93°37′33.715″W / 41.58569500°N 93.62603194°W |
| Area | 0.397 acres (0.161 ha) |
| Opened | 2023 |
| Owner | EMC Insurance |
EMC Downtown Park is an urban park located in the central business district of Des Moines, Iowa. The park was built after a fire on March 29, 2014, burned down the Younker Brothers Department Store.[1] EMC Insurance acquired the property in 2018. It originally planned to expand its headquarters but decided to partner with the city of Des Moines to build a park instead.[2]
History
On March 29, 2014, a fire caused the top floors of the Younker Brothers Department Store to burn down. It caused damage to the skywalk and nearby buildings.[3] It sat as a vacant lot until 2018, when EMC Insurance acquired the lot. Instead of building office space, the company decided to partner with the city of Des Moines to build a park instead, and proposed an agreement to keep the green space for at least 10 years.[4]
The park started construction in 2021, mainly focused for the residents living in downtown.[5] On June 1, 2023, the park opened and currently serves 2,400 residents within a 10-minute walk, helping the cities goal to have a park within 10 minutes of every citizen.[6] The park includes A half-court basketball court, a pickleball court, playground equipment, a ping-pong table, bags game, and table games (chess/checkers).[7]
See also
References
- ↑ Smith, Ryan (March 30, 2014). "Downtown Younkers building burns, partially collapses". KCCI. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
- ↑ Cotton, Max (June 1, 2023). "New downtown park, Walnut Street open Thursday". WHO 13. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
- ↑ McIntosh, Marcus (March 30, 2024). "10 years later: Looking back at devastating fire at downtown Des Moines Younkers building". KCCI. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
- ↑ Norvell, Kim. "EMC Insurance Cos. plans park at site of former Younkers store in downtown Des Moines". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ↑ Buckley, Sarah (July 16, 2021). "EMC Announces Plans for Park in Downtown Des Moines". EMC Insurance. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ↑ "New EMC Downtown Park opens in central business district". BusinessRecord. June 1, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ↑ "EMC Downtown Park". City of Des Moines. Retrieved September 18, 2025.