South Des Moines Sculture Park

Two men with a vision created the South Des Moines Sculpture Park & South Des Moines Art Festival. This narrow strip of land became an eyesore.

The South Des Moines Sculpture Park is located at the corner of SW 8th & McKinley. In the 1930's & 40's, The Des Moines Railway System's trolley cars used this location as a stop. Southside residents Chuck Mettler and Phil Barber decided to purchase the land. They began cutting the weeds and grass, trimming the trees, and removing the trash and debris from the property. These two citizens funded t  ...