Rising rivers closes Des Moines trails

Mon June 02 2008
Posted Jun 2, 2008
1,511

City officials have closed some roads and trails because of flooding. George Flagg Parkway from Fleur Drive to Park Avenue will be closed through Friday because of rising waters of the Raccoon River. The outside curb lanes on both northbound and southbound Fleur Drive also will be closed. The level of the Raccoon River at Fleur Drive is 15.1 feet and is expected to crest at 17 feet, or about 5 feet above flood stage. Current trail closings are: • The Bill Riley Trail. • Meredith Trail, the western leg from the northwest corner of Gray's Lake Park to Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway at 15th Street and the eastern-most section adjacent to Court Avenue. • The Neal Smith Trail between the Birdland Park Marina and Sixth Avenue. • The Walnut Creek Trail at 63rd Street and the Grand Avenue Bridge. • The loop at Gray's Lake Park's Kruidenier Trail can no longer be made, although the majority of the trail is still open. The trail is closed between the beach and the southwest parking lot. Also, passage is limited on the Trestle to Trestle Trail at Douglas Avenue, although the trail isn't yet closed. City officials said more rain in the northwestern part of the state could affect already rising water levels along the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers, as well as Walnut Creek, which could lead to more closings this week.