Des Moines Beach Park is now a nationally recognized historic district.

The Des Moines City Council was informed of this latest development at their Jan. 26 meeting.

"It's very exciting," said Councilwoman Susan White, who has pushed for the historic designation during the past four years. "I'm very pleased."

Now that it is on the register, city officials hope to pursue funding from federal sources to help attract more people to the park.

"We're so lucky to have this for economic development and a cultural resource," said White.

"We'll do our best to obtain funds to keep it a historic site," said Councilwoman Carmen Scott. She was also a council member in 1987 when Des Moines purchased Beach Park from Covenant Church, which had owned it since 1931.

Scott actively fought for the preservation of Beach Park at that time, opposing other council members who wanted to tear down buildings on the site and make it a green space.

They were looking at cost, obligation, fire codes and safety surrounding keeping the buildings, Scott recalled last week.

"Some did not want to look at the historical aspect. I was convinced it was wrong."

Scott had Leonard Garfield, who was the state historical architectural historian at the time, look at the park.

Garfield described it as a "jewel" and one of the only remaining church camps from a hundred that used to be in the region, said Scott.

"This caused the city to take notice."

Then two years ago, White met Allyson Brooks, the state's historic preservation officer, at a conference in Washington, D.C., and urged her to check out Beach Park.

After Brooks saw the park, she put it on the "fast track" for the historic register, said White.

For a historic district to be on the register, the buildings must be over 50 years old and have had no significant changes.

It also needs enough left to show its original use.

Most of the buildings were built in the 1930s when it was bought by Covenant Church, but the picnic shelter was built in the 1920s while owned by a Mr. Draper.

Draper Park was a private beach used by children from Draper's orphanage.

The buildings are rare because they are primarily made out of wood, and many wood buildings can deteriorate or be remodeled, said Scott.

In other business, the council unanimously approved a $10,000 contract with the Regional Commission on Airport Affairs (RCAA), which includes an additional $10,000 to be used for special services to be negotiated.

Larry Corvari, RCAA president, reminded lawmakers about environmental problems contractors are having with construction of the third runway, including $100,000 in fines they have acquired.

"Our work for the city will work to pay very close attention to these problems," said Corvari.

He added that the RCAA will keep a watchful eye on the airport, check on permits that are issued, follow on what conditions are placed on the permits so problems can be prevented.

"We're spending a lot of money to improve Des Moines Creek. We can't let the airport ruin it," said Councilman Dan Sherman.

"It's a fantastic way to keep a watchful eye on the airport that we couldn't financially do on our own," said Councilmember Ed Pina.