🌱 Natural Playgrounds + Plant-Based Delights Coming Today

Morning, people of Des Moines! It's me again, Sean Peek, your host of the Des Moines Daily.

First, today's weather:

A.M. flurries; cloudy, chilly. High: 43 Low: 27.

Here are the top three stories in Des Moines today:

1. A new nature park in West Des Moines will encourage kids to get creative and dirty. The park, which features all-natural materials, will open this summer and cost an estimated $1.2 million to build. It will be called Urbandale. (Axios)
2. On Apr. 18, the Belmond City Council will hold a public hearing to discuss Iowa Specialty Hospital's (ISH) bid to purchase an office building near the Des Moines airport. The proposed development would cost $3 million. ISH has plans to remodel a building at 5901 Thornton (near the northwest end of the Des Moines Airport) to create a weight loss clinic. (Belmond Indepedent)
3. From Shark Tank to your stomach. Des Moines is about to welcome Cinnaholic, a plant-based sweet shop featuring cinnamon buns and veggie sweets of all stripes. Cinnaholic Gourmet Cinnamon Roll is opening its doors in East Village today! (Local 5 - weareiowa.com)

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Today in Des Moines:

• Story Sprouts at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden (10:30 AM)
• Classic Cinema: Easter Parade at the Urbandale Public Library (1:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Start growing your beard. For the final Grandstand announcement of 2022, Iowa State Fair revealed that ZZ Top will headline the fair's concert series on Aug. 16. (Facebook)
• From soprano to bass-baritone, this town has you covered. The Des Moines Metro Opera has a post announcing the apprentice artists for the 2022 Frank R. Brownell III Apprentice Program. (Instagram)
• Cool weather couldn't stop the crowds as Granny's Sweet Freeze Shoppe opened for the season this week. The 39-year-old Des Moines institution will be open through September. (KCCI Des Moines)

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You're all caught up for today! I'll see you soon.

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.