Growing Pains: Renaming Alice’s Road

This past April, the cities of Waukee and West Des Moines considered changing the name of Alice’s Road to Grand Prairie Parkway, which would extend two miles south of Hickman Road to the new Interstate 80 interchange and south of that, replacing 105th Street in West Des Moines. The goal was to create a brand that connects the two communities and Kettlestone, as well as to give the road one consistent name. Alice’s Road changes to 105th Street when it enters West Des Moines, south of I-80, and it was thought by local leaders that giving the road just one name would help to reduce confusion.

The name “Grand Prairie Parkway” was inspired by the name given to the Central Iowa region by French settlers Louis Joliet and Father Jacques Marquette as they crossed the native prairie grass in Iowa in 1673 – “Grandes Prairies.”

However, the decision to rename Alice’s Road was met with an online petition of nearly 2,000 as well as phone calls, emails and emotional pleas to the Waukee City Council from many who felt the renaming would erase important local history and disrespect Alice Nizzi, an honorable historical figure of Waukee.

Due to the public response, city officials proposed a revised plan that was found to be a fair compromise by both sides. The new plan changes the road’s name south of University Avenue, rather than south of Hickman Road. The city will also build a three-acre Alice Nizzi Park north of Hickman Road and create an Alice’s Road Historical Area.

Although the Nizzi family would prefer that Alice’s Road extend all the way to Interstate 80 on the city’s southern border with West Des Moines, Jennifer Nizzi Speers, Alice’s great-niece, said that the family is satisfied with the decision.

“We are so very grateful to everyone who voiced their concern through phone calls, emails or letters to the editor, stood up at the council meetings and spoke, took the time to speak to the city, council or mayor or did anything else that we may or may not have heard about,” she said. “The Nizzi family was overwhelmed by how much Alice and the restaurant still mean to them.”

“There was a strong consensus, a strong solution for everyone,” said Moerman about the compromise.

A Future To Look Forward To

Ever since its humble beginnings, Waukee residents have played a key role in the successful growth of the city. Neighbors have helped neighbors, citizens have worked hard, and leaders have executed carefully laid plans to position Waukee as an attractive location for both families and businesses. With its rich history and bright future, Waukee is definitely a town of which past, current and future residents can be proud to call home.

“Our past leaders and schools laid the foundation with careful planning and hard work. Going forward, this next generation of Waukee residents will enjoy an exceptional quality of life,” said Peard.