Advertisement Des Moines parks and rec dept. to discuss Riverwalk fishing ban Meeting is 5 p.m. Tuesday Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The city of Des Moines released a new proposal that will be discussed at a public meeting on Tuesday. The proposal opens up more areas for fishing along the Principal Riverwalk.VIDEO: Preview of Riverwalk playgroundThe plan comes after many fishermen voiced concerns that the city's first proposal was too strict.Map of proposed Riverwalk fishing locationsGray's Lake Park: Proposed no-fishing locationsThe latest proposal bans fishing at places like the pedestrian bridge, Riverwalk sidewalks and the Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway Bridge. It would allow fishing in areas like the riverbank and most bridges.Bill Bright has been fishing along the Des Moines River for 30 years. He said the new proposal still isn’t good enough."Everybody is used to doing what they want to do when it comes to fishing,” Bright said. “Now they're starting to move people in downtown, and they want to change everything."City officials said fishing restrictions are necessary for the safety of people using the Riverwalk and because people aren't cleaning up after themselves."I can definitely see it on that bridge, for sure,” fisherman Kai Pedersen said. “And down on the walkways, because that's not really -- I mean, you could fish from it, but guys try to fish in other places where you don't really need to."The city's parks and recreation board will discuss the proposal Tuesday at 5 p.m. at City Hall.