🌱 Patch AM: Why Urbandale’s Buc-ee’s rejection could boost West Des Moines instead

Greetings Urbandale! We're your go-to source for what's happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Why Urbandale's Buc-ee's rejection could boost West Des Moines instead
• Remember when Urbandale's pool hosted carnivals, races and dog swims?
• Which Urbandale star made this week's top football performers list?

Today's riddle: Why did the fish blush ? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Weather forecast:

• Monday: Sunny intervals; less humid, with a high of 84 and low of 68 degrees.
• Tuesday: A t-storm around in the p.m., temps: high: 95, low: 69. 🌶 Hot!
• Wednesday: A t-storm around in the a.m., with a high of 84 and low of 57 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• 'Nobody puts Buc-ee's in the corner!' Petition to secure location for West Des Moines (who13.com) — Urbandale's recent rejection of a Buc-ee's proposal has prompted West Des Moines' mayor to launch a public petition to lure the giant travel center to his city instead, with several I-35 and I-80 sites already floated. For Urbandale residents, that means the high-profile project and its jobs, tourism and tax base will likely land just down the road rather than within city limits.
   

• Travel back in time with these throwback Iowa swimming pool snapshots (desmoinesregister.com subscription) — Urbandale's long relationship with public pools, from joyful summer carnivals and winter carnivals at the Urbandale Swimming Pool to quirky events like cardboard boat races and dog swims, is captured in decades of nostalgic photos. The feature also notes the city council's 2019 decision to permanently close and demolish the Urbandale pool, leaving its future use to the school district.
   

• Our top 10 Iowa high school football performers in IHSAA Week 2 (desmoinesregister.com subscription) — An Urbandale quarterback's four-touchdown performance helped power the J-Hawks to a dominant 41-6 win over Ames, earning him a spot among Iowa's top Week 2 high school football performers. Local fans can see how his night stacks up against standout efforts from players across the state, from record-breaking receivers to clutch kickers.
   

📸 Around Urbandale

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Urbandale

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Tuesday September 15
• Public Art Committee →
  Urbandale, IA Calendar, 3600 86th Street, Urbandale
  4:00 pm
Wednesday September 16
• Parks and Recreation Commission →
  Urbandale, IA Calendar, 3600 86th Street, Urbandale
  5:30 pm

📣 Urbandale Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Monday September 7
• All City offices CLOSED in observance of Labor Day →
  Waukee, IA Calendar Waukee, IA 50263
  8:00 am
Tuesday September 8
• Splash Pad Closed for the Season →
  Grimes, IA Calendar Grimes, IA 50111
• Adel Farmers Market
  Adel Partners Chamber of Commerce Beginning at 2pm through 8pm, the following intersections will be affected: Main St & N 9th St Main St & N 10th St Court & N 10th St Road closures will remain in place throughout the market event. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes.
  4:00 pm
• Girls Tennis: Southeast Polk vs Waukee (Varsity)
  Adel DeSoto Minburn Comm School District Adel, IA 50003
  4:00 pm
• Music at the Market - Chris Powell →
  Johnston, IA Calendar Johnston, IA 50131
  4:00 pm
• Boys Cross Country: Winterset Cross Country Invitational (Junior High)
  Adel DeSoto Minburn Comm School District Adel, IA 50003
  4:15 pm
• Girls Cross Country: Winterset Cross Country Invitational (Junior High)
  Adel DeSoto Minburn Comm School District Adel, IA 50003
  4:15 pm
• Waukee Walkers - Community Walking Group →
  Waukee, IA Calendar, 700 NW Douglas Pkwy., Waukee
  5:00 pm
• Girls Swimming & Diving: Johnston vs Waukee (Varsity)
  Adel DeSoto Minburn Comm School District Adel, IA 50003
  5:00 pm
• City Council Workshop September 8, 2026 →
  Grimes, IA Calendar
  5:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• City of Urbandale posted a job opening for Part-Time Parks & Recreation Building Attendant in Urbandale. Apply here.
• Van Meter Inc posted a job opening for Traveling Construction Coordinator in Urbandale. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Urbandale here.

🗞 Nearby News

Grimes

• See the best moments from Dowling Catholic vs Johnston football (desmoinesregister.com)

Ok Urbandale! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: It saw the ocean's bottom! (Thank you Gary M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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