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Norwalk announces indoor sports complex, promises 20 acres of turf and courts

NORWALK, Iowa — One of the Des Moines metro’s fastest-growing cities has given the green light to one of the largest projects in its history.

Norwalk City Council approved plans for the Norwalk Central development Thursday evening. The project for 70 acres of former farmland along Highway 28 has been in the works for five years.

“We have a downtown, but there’s not a lot of space to be able to grow,” said Norwalk mayor Tom Phillips. “To have this much land to be able to provide something like that is a fantastic opportunity.”

The city will invest $30 million for the infrastructure of the project, but Norwalk economic development director Hollie Zaijcek estimates the development will attract $300 million in private investment.

“It really gives us a lot of encouragement that Norwalk is at the level where developers are willing to take the risk and invest that much money to make this happen,” Zaijcek said. “That means they see the potential and they know it’s going to be successful.”

The project centers around a new athletic complex, which includes 20 acres of turf fields and an indoor recreation center with basketball courts. The development will also become the new home of Norwalk Parks and Recreation.

“It’s something that we have needed for a long time,” said Norwalk Parks and Recreation director Robin Leaper. “We currently do not have dedicated space for the parks and recreation department for us to offer programs.”

In addition to the fields, a private company is developing a “town center” complex with stores and restaurants.

Norwalk’s population has doubled in the past two decades, going from about 6,800 residents in the 2000 census to nearly 13,000 residents in the 2020 census.

Phillips believes this development is necessary to complement its explosive population growth.

“We have a lot of residents that are going outside of the city to enjoy amenities elsewhere, but we want to have them be here and enjoy those same amenities in town,” Phillips said. “Hopefully there will be a lot of people gathered around here all the time.”

Norwalk expects to break ground on the project in April, with the goal of having the fields available for use by the fall.

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