Eleven years ago,Tonya Logan and her daughter were having a picnic when she spotted members of the Des Moines Rowing Club in their sweep boats.
Despite living for decades in a city with two major rivers, Logan said she'd never witnessed rowers before. Seeing the club's members out on the water encouraged her to try the sport.
"I have not stopped rowing since," said Logan, now president of the 38-year-old club.
The Des Moines Rowing Club started with just a handful of members in the metal, shed-like building that serves as its headquarters on the banks of the Des Moines River in Birdland Park. At its peak, before the COVID-19 pandemic, it's had 250.
Now, with a plan to overhaul Birdland Park into a resort-like recreational area complete with a new boathouse, fishing, kayak rentals, playgrounds, a skating ribbon, splash padand a river overlook, Logan believes more people will be inclined to join.