Walk the art
Off the Rails brought five walkway murals to Valley Junction in fall 2026, the first phase of Vivid Junction.
Vivid JunctionExplore by Area
Places to know. Projects to follow.
Historic streets · Independent businesses · Public art
Explore this area on City Map →Valley Junction
Explore Fifth Street, its connecting walkways and the businesses that give historic Valley Junction its character. Follow new public art and infill projects alongside established shops and gathering places.
- 1Valley Junction
- 2Valley Junction Activity Center
- 3Historic City Hall / Valley Junction Welcome Center
Fifth Street stops
The district directory lists The False 9 at 206 Fifth Street and Tulip Bloom Boutique at 138 Fifth Street.
False 9 district listingTulip Bloom district listingProjects & change
Actual mural-making photographPhase 1 complete
Vivid Junction
Five walkway murals completed in fall 2026 begin a wider Valley Junction placemaking initiative.
Explore on map →Image source
Actual mural-making photograph · A mural being painted for Off the Rails, Vivid Junction’s first phase. This is a process photograph, not the finished installation.Artwork: Nick Goettling. Project-overview photo: Historic Valley Junction Foundation; photographer not identified. Proportionally reduced.Proportional resizing and WebP encoding only; no crop or scene edit.Original source
Historical area photographProposed · agreement approved
122 Fifth Street infill
A planned two-story restaurant and tavern building would replace a demolished structure in historic Valley Junction.
Explore on map →Image source
Historical area photograph · Fifth Street and the Valley Junction entrance arch, June 28, 2009. Historical district context, not a photograph of the proposed 122 Fifth Street building.Iowahwyman · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia-resized thumbnail; no further edits. · CC BY-SA 3.0Proportional resizing and WebP encoding only; no crop or scene edit.Original source
Getting around
Arrive from Fourth or Sixth
The district guide directs drivers to public parking lots off Fourth and Sixth Streets. Walkways connect the lots with Fifth Street.
Valley Junction accessOne-way Fifth Street
Fifth Street runs northbound through the commercial district.
Valley Junction accessBike into the district
The district guide identifies public bicycle parking and the Jordan Creek Trail just south of the district.
Valley Junction accessAround the area
Celebrated October 9, 2026Five new walkway murals in Valley JunctionRead announcement →Reported open May 27, 2026The False 9 adds a new gathering placeRead announcement →Relocation reported March 20, 2026Tulip Bloom moves to Fifth Street storefrontRead announcement →
Guide context & sources
These guides group documented places and projects. They do not add new official district boundaries or walking routes.
Map context: U.S. Census Bureau; © OpenStreetMap contributors. Full map sources.
City plans and studiesSports · Health-sciences education · Major projects
Explore this area on City Map →Grand Avenue
Follow western Grand Avenue from the RecPlex to Des Moines University’s campus, with proposed development along the way. See what is operating, what is being built and what remains planned.
- 1Grand Avenue corridor
- 2MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex
- 3Des Moines University — Medicine and Health Sciences
- 4Grand Avenue Trail
- 5West Grand Avenue Trail
RecPlex expansion
The existing RecPlex is adding an Event Center. The facility anticipates opening the addition in fall 2027.
RecPlex expansionDMU campus
The university’s 88-acre campus at 8025 Grand Avenue is a medical and health-sciences education destination.
DMU campusGrand Experience
The city identifies a proposed entertainment district along Grand Avenue. Follow the project’s dated agreement and planning milestones.
Grand Experience city profileProjects & change
Architectural conceptUnder construction
RecPlex Event Center
The city-owned sports and events addition is under construction. The facility anticipates opening in fall 2027.
Explore on map →Image source
Architectural concept · Architectural concept. The source filename includes October 28, 2025; that date does not establish publication. This is not a photograph of completed construction.ISG / City of West Des Moines–RecPlexProportional resizing and WebP encoding only; no crop or scene edit.Original source
Concept renderingAgreement approved
Grand Experience
A proposed entertainment district with a July 2026 development agreement and a later reported amendment.
Explore on map →Image source
Concept rendering · This concept groups the proposed waterpark and amphitheater within the entertainment district. It illustrates the proposal, not built conditions or a verified final design. First publication and design dates are not established.Source: City of West Des Moines / Go West Des Moines; original artist not identifiedProportional resizing and WebP encoding only; no crop or scene edit.Original source
Actual facility photographOpen · completed 2023
Des Moines University campus
An 88-acre health-sciences campus that opened to students in June 2023, with space for future growth.
Explore on map →Image source
Actual facility photograph · The Plaza at DMU's West Des Moines campus. Photo published by Des Moines University, September 2026; capture date not stated.Source: Des Moines University Medicine and Health SciencesProportional resizing and WebP encoding only; no crop or scene edit.Original sourceGetting around
RecPlex east entrance
The facility reports its east parking expansion opened in October 2026 with direct Grand Avenue access.
RecPlex expansionChoose the right DMU destination
The campus is at 8025 Grand Avenue in West Des Moines; DMU’s main clinic continues at 3200 Grand Avenue in Des Moines.
DMU campusGuide context & sources
These guides group documented places and projects. They do not add new official district boundaries or walking routes.
Map context: U.S. Census Bureau; © OpenStreetMap contributors. Full map sources.
RecPlex expansionDMU campusGrand Experience city profileEmployment areas · Retail · Reinvestment
Explore this area on City Map →University & Westown
Explore the established office and retail area around University Avenue, Valley West Drive and Westown Parkway. Follow city redevelopment planning and the separate projects that could reshape familiar sites.
- 1Valley West Mall site
- 2University Ave
- 3Valley West Dr
- 4Westown Pkwy
- 5Westown Pl
A corridor under review
The city describes an effort to encourage a more walkable mix of offices, homes, retail and public spaces in the University Avenue corridor.
City active development projectsValley West Mall
The city identifies 1551 Valley West Drive as a proposed redevelopment location.
Valley West Mall city profileRegency West
The public State of the City account describes a proposed mix of offices, dining, retail, housing and walkable public spaces.
Public Chamber State of the City accountProjects & change
Planning framework
University Avenue Corridor
The city is exploring mixed-use redevelopment and improved walkability in an established office and retail corridor.
Explore on map →
Existing-site photographPlanning / transition
Valley West Mall
Redevelopment planning follows a reported September 2026 sale of the existing mall.
Explore on map →Image source
Existing-site photograph · Historical existing-site photograph on the city redevelopment page. Capture date unknown; not a replacement-development rendering.Source: City of West Des Moines / Go West Des Moines; photographer not identifiedProportional resizing and WebP encoding only; no crop or scene edit.Original source
Existing-site photographProposed · negotiations ongoing
Regency West redevelopment
A proposed mixed-use transformation of Regency West Office Park, combining work, dining, housing and public spaces.
Explore on map →Image source
Existing-site photograph · Existing Regency West 3 at 4800 Westown Parkway, pictured in an earlier R&R leasing brochure. This is not a rendering of the redevelopment proposal.R&R Real Estate Advisors brochure; individual photographer unstatedProportional resizing and WebP encoding only; no crop or scene edit.Original sourceGetting around
Explore by street
Orient the map using University Avenue, Valley West Drive and Westown Parkway, then open the exact destination’s project record.
City active development projectsValley West Mall city profileAround the area
Guide context & sources
These guides group documented places and projects. They do not add new official district boundaries or walking routes.
Map context: U.S. Census Bureau; © OpenStreetMap contributors. Full map sources.
City plans and studiesCity active development projects