The Mayor and City Council met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 18. The Council approved the construction of the initial phase of a natural playscape at Barret Park in the western portion of Urbandale. This new park will have a 24-stall parking lot, an open-air shelter with flushable restrooms, as well as natural elements including logs, tree stumps, boulders, and plants. The Barrett Boesen Foundation is helping fund the project, donating $150,000 toward the construction of this new amenity.

Subject to some conditions, the City Council approved preliminary plats for single-family detached homes, townhomes, and apartments in the western portion of Urbandale near 142nd Street/Waterford Road and 164th Street/Meredith Drive. The Council also approved a site plan for a two-story addition onto the southwest side of Des Moines Christian School. The new building will add more classrooms and administrative space. Lastly, the Council approved an approximately 40,000 square foot storage unit project on 111th Street south of Justin Drive. The project is proposed to have around twenty-seven 1,500 square feet units.

The Council approved and authorized the signing of applications for the Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grant. Grants help the City save money and keep taxes low; therefore Urbandale will submit three applications: one to help fund the construction of the natural playscape at Barrett Park, two to help fund the purchase of a new 15-passenger van for the Senior Recreation Center, and three to help provide physical fitness equipment for the Urbandale Fire Department. Read More.