Polk County Conservation is working with the City of West Des Moines and West Lakes Properties LLC to relocate a section of the Great Western Trail at the SE Corner of the Veteran's Parkway and Highway 5 intersection. (click here for a map)

The existing trail corridor bisects the West Lakes property and lies in the path of the new extension of Maffit Road, eastward of Veterans Parkway. Development of the West Lakes land and the extension of Maffit Road will present public safety and access challenges.

Polk County Conservation has entered negotiations with the other parties to move the trail right-of-way to an alternate route, preserving a continuous corridor while avoiding at grade road crossings and conflicts with multiple commercial trail crossings.

The City of West Des Moines is constructing a new underpass (tunnel) for the trail to cross beneath the new Maffit Road and West Lakes Properties LLC will construct a new trail on the negotiated site. The new trail is to be constructed to Polk County Conservation specifications.

Polk County Conservation's willingness to enter into negotiations to relocate the Great Western Trail from its current alignment included several requests which were to: preserve a continuous trail corridor, continuity of trail use, no loss of publically-owned property, and public safety in this rapidly developing area. We are pleased that all of these requests were met.

The proposed relocation will ensure public safety by the use of a tunnel to separate trail users from motor vehicles, ensure that no land area is lost from public ownership, keep the trail open for use during construction (the new trail will be completed prior to closing the existing route) , and maintain a well constructed enjoyable trail into the future. Anticipated development in this area will take place over the next two recreation seasons.