Riverwalk/ Asian Gardens

[iadm]

What's up with th epagoda on the river that's supposed to be just north of the ped bridge? Last I saw of it was a funny looking set of water falls cascading over concrete stuff with a trail that led into a circle that went no where.

[DMRyan]

There sure haven't been too many details about this project lately either. I thought it was supposed to start construction this summer. I wonder if they'll coincide this with closing Robert D. Ray Drive from the south as a part of the botantical center gardens/riverwalk construction.

[dmluvr]

From my understanding---these gardens and that asain thing isn't suppoe to be done untill 2008 with the ped. bridge opens.

That's what I noticed at the booth this weekend for the asian festival.

[DMRyan]

This is from an article this past September. It says the Asian garden will start this year, but the $15 million Chinese Cultural Center won't get going for several years.

City leaders on Monday kicked off the first phase of an Asian cultural center project, which will add another public landmark to downtown Des Moines' riverfront gateway.

Within the next year, construction on an Asian garden will be completed on a 1.7-acre site along the east side of the Des Moines River, just south of Interstate Highway 235.

The $800,000 garden project will include a three-story pavilion, waterfalls, bonsai-like evergreens and granite symbolic carvings that represent moral values in Chinese culture.

A second phase will include a $15 million 30,000-square-foot building that will be used as the headquarters for the Chinese Cultural Center of America.

[dmluvr]

severl years?? What's several years??

That sounds too vague. with all the momentum going on in that area, you would think they would maybe and try to have it ready by 08 for the big opening of all of the riverwalk and other gardens?

[DMRyan]

They don't have the money they need yet.

[Squintz]

This asian thing is great!

[Brady]

yeah -- it appears like this things gonna be pretty sweet when its all done

[IowasUrbanOasis]

Ok i see two renderings... are they going to build them both or just one? If its going to be the HQ wouldnt they have to build the bigger one?

[DMRyan]

This project is moving slow, but the Chinese craftsmen that seem to be building most of this by hand are chugging along.

July 06 update

[NOG]

This will be a tremendous addition to the riverwalk. I recall watching a story about this a few months back. All of the sculpted pieces were done in China and shipped to Des Moines. Also as Ryan stated, Chinese craftsman from China are putting it all together, without the use of nail, bolts, etc. Every piece is carved to fit into the next piece. You cannot get much more authentic than that.

[dogbo]

Has anyone seen much coverage of this project in the media? Considering how unique this is, you'd think we'd be hearing more about it as it is being built.

[dmluvr]

Has anyone seen much coverage of this project in the media? Considering how unique this is, you'd think we'd be hearing more about it as it is being built.

That's because our wonderful local media is too busy covering backyard bbq's and corn report updates. not a shocker here.

this is truley a gem here. Beautiful indeed. I agree NOG that this is a steller addition to the riverwalk.....decent visibility heading east on 235 coming down that hill there. with some great night time lighting, this thing is a total beaut.

[dmluvr]

wow--i'm kinda surprised to see little comment on this. This is such a wonderful addtion to the riverwalk and will add a lot t this.

hmmmmm..........

[speeder]

I think it is a great looking project and a great addition to the river walk that adds a bit of contrived diversity to Des Moines, but what is the story behind a Chinese Pavilion and the headquarters for Chinese Culture in America to be located off of the Des Moines River, which you couldn’t even navigate a sloop down? Shouldn’t the Chinese Cultural Center of America be in someplace like San Francisco, CA or Promontory, Utah? Is there something I don’t know about the Chinese and the pivotal role they played in the development of Des Moines?

The $800,000 garden project will include a three-story pavilion, waterfalls, bonsai-like evergreens and granite symbolic carvings that represent moral values in Chinese culture.

“…granite symbolic carvings that represent moral values in Chinese Culture.” That could be interesting. Hopefully these are not the current moral values of the Chinese Government.

[DMRyan]

It appears that we're not unique in getting an authentic Asian project like this. A very quick search of the internet shows that Omaha and Little Rock also have hand crafted Asian pavillion looking things similar to what you see here.

Ours is better. And bigger.

I've never heard of the relationship between Iowa and the Chinese historically. I think there's an influential ISU professor that lives in DSM, sees that we have a sizable Asian population compartively speaking, and was organized enough to get this project built here.

[hawk61401]

The Asian Garden in Des Moines has a special signifcance. It's a memorial to former Iowa Governor Robert Ray because of the thousands of lives that have been saved through his leadership.

It was because of Ray's worldwide leadership in the 1970's that allowed thousands of refugees from Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos to relocate to Iowa and have a new life.

[dmluvr]

Ours is better. And bigger

and hotter!!!

for real though...that sucker is nice.

[speeder]

The Asian Garden in Des Moines has a special significance. It's a memorial to former Iowa Governor Robert Ray because of the thousands of lives that have been saved through his leadership.

It was because of Ray's worldwide leadership in the 1970's that allowed thousands of refugees from Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos to relocate to Iowa and have a new life.

Okay. But weren't the Taiwanese, Cambodians, Vietnamese, and Laos fleeing because of communism, which was in that region was spearheaded by the Chinese and backed by the USSR. It seems odd to me that those cultures would support a memorial with architectural detail that is primarily Chinese, when the Chinese are one of the primary reasons they were refugees to begin with... well, actually I would blame the French for the IndoChina fiasco (because they sucked at being colonists), but China and its communists expansion efforts didn't help. I guess that doesn't have much to do with the Chinese here in Des Moines, but evidently neither does the Chinese pavilion and cultural center so I guess it okay. At least it looks cool, who gives a crap if has nothing to do with Des Moines… I mean, if Omaha and Little Rock have one, we should get one too.

[dmluvr]

At least it looks cool, who gives a crap if has nothing to do with Des Moines… I mean, if Omaha and Little Rock have one, we should get one too.

...............and nicer

[Des Moineser]

I was under the impression that'd be a little bit bigger at least. It's kind of underwhelming, but cool none the less.

[QuadCityImages]

Just because the refugees hate the current Chinese government doesn't necessarily mean they hate Chinese history and architecture.

[DMRyan]

The Asian Garden is looking much more complete. This may be a small project, but it's defintely a head turner. Still plenty of work to go on the fountain on the river side.

[NOG]

What a difference getting some color has done for this project. Can't say it enough but when all the construction for the riverwalk is complete, it is going to be a completely different world down there. We have seen so much improvement downtown but this will be catalyst to bring the people downtown in large numbers on a daily basis (I hope ).

[Des Moineser]

That's really going to be an eye-catcher for people on 235.

[Ingersoll1978]

All can say...where is the "Orient Express" roller coaster (Worlds of Fun)? LOL That looks really cool.

[Slideman81]

I haven't been to DM in a while, so I'm not sure what's behind the new pavillion (to the East), but I was thinking it would be cool if the area could be re-developed using Chinese architectural influences, sort of as an extension of the East Village. It would definitely make the pavillion feel more "at home" and provide a very unique destination for visitors and residents. Unfortunately, from the pics, it looks more like a light industrial park/offices. I can dream, though......

Edit: Scratch that...just ran into the blurb about the Chinese businesses on 2nd Ave. in another thread. Good idea while it lasted (about 3 minutes...)

[dmluvr]

small but BIG! you know what i'm saying?? This does look sharp from 235 heading east. Very noticable. This is a hot lil thing for sure. (it better have killer nightime lighting though)

[Des Moineser]

They better give this the lighting it deserves. If they do, it'll really look great, otherwise, chalk up another in the could have been column.

[DMRyan]

I don't see how they couldn't light this thing at nighttime, just so it doesn't end up being vandalized or in flames.