James W. Cownie Soccer Park

Last updated
James W. Cownie Soccer Park
James W. Cownie Soccer Park
TypeSoccer park
LocationDes Moines, Iowa
Coordinates 41°33′45.8634″N93°34′00.2526″W / 41.562739833°N 93.566736833°W / 41.562739833; -93.566736833
Area372.8 acres (150.9 ha)
Owned byCity of Des Moines

James W. Cownie Soccer Park is a soccer park located in Des Moines, Iowa. The park has 372.8 acres and is surrounded by Des Moines to the East and South, and by the Des Moines River to the North and West. The park is owned and operated by the Des Moines Parks and Recreation. [1] Drake University, Grandview University, and multiple schools and leagues use the park for soccer use.

Contents

History

The park was built in 1998 due to a demand for sports in the area. [2] In 2003, the Drake soccer team relocated to the park, and the Des Moines Parks and Recreation built a 1,000-seat bleacher addition, a press box, and a score board for it. There has been numerous national and regional competitions including the 2006 USYSA National Championships, and the 2007 Regional II Soccer Championship. In 2009, the first-ever men's NCAA Tournament game took place. [3]

In 2019, the park talked about expanding the area another 87 acres south of existing fields, wanting to create 12 more fields and in turn would generate $1.47 billion of income for the park. It would also include plans of additional parking, restrooms, a concessions area and a team building. Another proposal of $1.2 million in improvements to the existing soccer park were also mentioned, including the addition of 80 parking spots and two more restroom and concessions buildings. [4] [5] Cownie Soccer Park operates at an annual deficit of $262,700. The park could gain a net income of $51,700 if approved. [6]

References

  1. ↑ "Sports Parks". City of Des Moines . Retrieved 2025-07-25.
  2. ↑ "City of Des Moines Looking to Expand Soccer Complex". WHO 13. 2018-05-14. Archived from the original on 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
  3. ↑ "Facilities". Drake University Athletics. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
  4. ↑ Cannon, Austin. "Des Moines explores $30 million expansion to Cownie Soccer Complex". The Des Moines Register . Retrieved 2025-07-25.
  5. ↑ "FEASIBILITY STUDY OF A POTENTIAL EXPANSION OF JAMES W. COWNIE SOCCER PARK" (PDF). City of Des Moines . October 10, 2019. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  6. ↑ Bolten, Kathy (2019-10-14). "$30 million expansion of Des Moines' Cownie Soccer Park proposed". Business Record. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
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