Agricultural Corridor
Des Moines, IA
2017
While the city of Des Moines has developed historically in the east to west direction, the growth of downtown has been prevented on the north to south direction, by the freeway to the north and by the railroad tracks to the south. The freeway is a permanent obstacle for growth. However, there is a strip of undeveloped land that runs adjacent to the railroad tracks that presents a unique solution for growth and development.
The Des Moines Agricultural corridor is such a solution, one that simultaneously addresses a number of issues important for the community. An urban farming corridor including a string of greenhouses providing for 365 days a year of farming could perform the aforementioned roles simultaneously encouraging future development towards the south as well as dealing with issues of education, food, health and sustainability.
The Des Moines Agricultural corridor is such a solution, one that simultaneously addresses a number of issues important for the community. An urban farming corridor including a string of greenhouses providing for 365 days a year of farming could perform the aforementioned roles simultaneously encouraging future development towards the south as well as dealing with issues of education, food, health and sustainability.
- The Des Moines Agricultural Corridor provides an urban feature that would transform what is now a barrier inside the city into a transitional area by encouraging the future development of downtown to straddle the railroad tracks which would restore the continuity and allowing the city to expand to the south.
- It helps to educate people about gardening practices, reconnect city dwellers to the source of their food, and contribute to an increased awareness of the health benefits of choosing fresh vegetables and fruits.
- It supplies produce to the outdoors farmers market, during the months when it is functioning and to future hyear-round interior markets in the proximity of the residential areas in the west and the east. It will complement the greenhouse of the homeless shelter by supplying produce during the winter months.
- The farming corridor complements the Des Moines school lunch initiative and a farming pilot program for downtown schools through the Des Moines Edible Schoolyard program. Students, starting in kindergarten through high school, will learn about farming in greenhouses build in the school yards. And finally, in terms of the environment, eating locally grown food will help to reduce the distance from farm to table, lowering carbon emissions related to transporting food.