DES MOINES, Iowa - Cleanup of storm debris in Des Moines parks is underway following the derecho storm that hit Des Moines on August 10.
The city says it's getting help from volunteers to speed up the return of parks, trails and cemeteries to their normal condition.
The Parks and Recreation Department says it oversees 4,000 acres of land in 75 parks, along with 65 miles of paved trails and seven cemeteries.
The city's parks system has seen a steep rise in usage this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The city says its staff has been working with volunteers to remove debris as quickly as possible. Piles of smaller debris have been made to cut away larger debris from trailways and to pick up and dispose of the debris.
"I want to thank the volunteers. We put out a call to our volunteer network and received a great response," said Benjamin Page, director of Des Moines Parks and Recreation. "Folks came from all parts of the city, from the corporate segment to individual residents, and they all came out to help us clean up some of these parks."
The city says the park debris presents a unique problem. Unlike residential neighborhoods, larger debris in Des Moines parks will need to wait until the ground freezes before being removed. With the current temperatures, the large equipment needed to remove large debris would create ruts on soft ground and would require additional investment to repair.
(Image courtesy of City of Des Moines)