The Athene Pedestrian Bridge is one of five signature ‘quality of life’ initiatives outlined in the City of West Des Moines’ Five Waters Project. The Athene Pedestrian Bridge gives residents and visitors of all ages and abilities new ways to connect with the great outdoors. Spanning the beautiful Raccoon River, this iconic bridge is now a seamless connection for cyclists, walkers, and runners from Raccoon River Park to Walnut Woods State Park, Brown’s Woods, Purple Martin Lake Water Recreation Area, Hidden Valley Soccer Complex, and dozens of miles of future greenway trails.

Parks and Recreation Director Ryan Penning said, “The new Athene Pedestrian Bridge will connect Raccoon River Park and Walnut Woods State Park, which are currently separated by the Raccoon River. This critical connection will not only link these two major parks but also enable the expansion of West Des Moines' trail system south of the river, including a future link to the regional Great Western Trail.”

According to the 2024 City Survey, residents identified the following as their top priorities for the next two years: (1) Walking and biking trails in the City, (2) Access to desired destinations via the bike and trail system and (3) The number and quality of greenway areas. With the completion of the Athene Pedestrian Bridge, the city is directly addressing the community's desire for better connectivity, expanded trails, and increased greenspace access.

West Des Moines continues to be a leader with these quality-of-life projects and successful public-private partnerships. The Athene Pedestrian Bridge is another great example of that with nearly $3 million raised from the private sector. This project would not have been possible without the support from Athene and more than 300 donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations.

“We are proud to sponsor the Athene Pedestrian Bridge and support initiatives that increase access to nature,” said Grant Kvalheim, Chief Executive Officer and President of Athene USA. “This project aligns with our commitment to environmental sustainability and the health of our community by encouraging more hikers, runners and cyclists to enjoy our local parks.”

Penning said work is now substantially complete, and the City of West Des Moines and Athene are inviting the public to the Grand Opening on Thursday, November 21, at 3:30 p.m. The event will be held at the bridge’s north end. Parking is available at the Raccoon River Park Boathouse (2500 Grand Avenue, West Des Moines) for those planning to attend the celebration. A scenic half-mile walk will lead you to the bridge.

Athene Pedestrian Bridge Design
The Athene Pedestrian Bridge includes 1.2 miles of paved trail from the Raccoon River Park entrance to the Hidden Valley Soccer Complex entrance along SE Walnut Woods Drive. The bridge is 620 feet long with an additional 184 feet of elevated ramp in Walnut Woods State Park. The north end of the bridge is anchored by a plaza that incorporates several unique features to celebrate the donors who made this project possible. Surrounded by natural elements on both sides of the bridge, the center of the bridge highlights an artistic tree canopy structure, including two overlooks to the east and west. The bridge allows pedestrians to enjoy the expansive views of the Raccoon River.

The cost of the Athene Pedestrian Bridge was $9.3 million, with over $2.8 million in private donations, which included Athene’s generous contribution of $750,000. The design team was led by Shive Hattery.