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Winners & Losers: Winners

Des Moines cityview

May 25-31, 2006

[Note: This material is copyright by Cityview, and is reproduced here as a matter of "fair use" for non-commercial, educational purposes only. Any other use may require the prior approval of Cityview.]


Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Iowa Environmental Education Project (now Earthpark) not only narrowed its possible location to two cities - both of which can come up with millions in cash and services - but it also signed on German international technology firm, Siemen, as its partner. The $155 million project, which should draw more than one million visitors a year, will break ground in 2007 on its indoor rainforest, half-million gallon aquarium and other features - and, so it seems now, leave Des Moines area residents kicking themselves for denouncing it. Remember, at one point, according to the daily and a large number of residents, the new downtown Science Center was a bad idea, too.