Des Moines Opens Surveys on Parks, Budget Shortfall and University Avenue Safety

Des Moines residents can submit feedback on parks and recreation programs until September 15, 2025, through an online community input survey. Separate surveys address the city's projected $12 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2028 and priorities for the FY27 budget, with the latter closing January 30, 2026. The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization is also collecting comments on traffic safety projects until March 16, 2026, and a corridor study for University Avenue safety improvements is seeking input from property owners and users.

Budget and service implications

The city faces a $12 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2028 and has invited residents to comment on potential cuts. Survey results on those options are scheduled for presentation to the City Council in August 2026. Residents can also influence FY27 budget priorities for operational and capital improvements through online surveys that close January 30, 2026. These processes directly affect local services and infrastructure spending decisions.

City leaders are developing a five-year strategic plan and have invited residents to complete surveys and attend pop-up input sessions. The surveys cover recreation programming, traffic safety countermeasures and University Avenue corridor improvements that may include bike lanes or lane reductions.

Next steps for residents

Input collected through the parks survey, the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization traffic safety survey and the University Avenue study will inform planning documents. The budget survey results will be presented to the City Council in August 2026, after which decisions on fiscal year 2028 allocations are expected to follow. All surveys are available online for Des Moines residents to complete before their respective deadlines.