Safe and Clean
Downtown Des Moines has experienced phenomenal growth and development in the ten years since the start of Operation Downtown. With this wonderful growth come unique challenges to keeping our community safe, clean, and beautiful – smoking bans, additional events, crow nuisances, expanded public space, and more pets living downtown.
Operation Downtown addresses these challenges with special programs and also performs standard services that include pressure-washing sidewalks, removing graffiti, communicating with Des Moines Police to assist with crime prevention, welcoming and assisting the public, and leading the way in downtown beautification.In 2008, Operation Downtown provided pedestrian assistance to more than 4222 guests in our downtown. Property owners and building managers were contacted nearly 1500 times. Dozens of wheelchair assists were made and daily security was provided at the Downtown Des Moines Public School which serves hundreds of families throughout our community.
Security officers patrolled the area on bicycles and made 287 contacts to prevent panhandling in our downtown.
213,350 pounds of trash were removed from downtown by the Operation Downtown ambassadors. More than 950 incidents of graffiti were removed. Dozens of blocks of sidewalks are power washed regularly in our downtown area by Operation Downtown. Keeping downtown sidewalks fresh and clean is a major objective of our ambassadors.
