Western Gateway Park, an urban park in downtown Des Moines, opens out ahead of you. Opened in 2006, this compact civic lawn quickly became a gathering place — hosting political rallies, the Des Moines Arts Festival, the 80/35 Music Festival, and a variety of athletic events and festivals. The central branch of the Des Moines Public Library, the Temple for Performing Arts, and the Des Moines center for the University of Iowa sit within the park, giving it the rare tilt of culture, learning, and performance all in one block.
In 2009, 4.4 acres of green space were converted into the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park: the Pappajohns contributed 28 works, the most significant donation of artwork ever made to the Des Moines Art Center. That sculpture garden, administered by the Des Moines Art Center, includes pieces by artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Jaume Plensa, Deborah Butterfield, and Judith Shea. You may also recall that on October 31, 2008 Barack Obama held a rally here and gave a speech just four days before being elected president.
Picture Obama's 2008 rally unfolding right here, beside the sculptures, the library facade, and the Temple for Performing Arts.