Hansen Triangle Park

Hansen Triangle is a small urban park located in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Situated at the intersection of Grand Avenue and 2nd Avenue, this pocket park serves as a green space in the heart of the city's business district.

The park is named after the Hansen Company, a local construction firm that donated its services to help create this public space as part of their 30th anniversary celebration. The triangular shape of the park is a result of the convergence of streets in the area, giving it a unique footprint in the urban landscape.

Hansen Triangle features landscaped terraces with native limestone walls, inviting visitors to meander through the space and enjoy the plantings. The design incorporates both hardscapes and green elements, creating an eye-catching contrast against the surrounding urban environment. The park provides a place for downtown workers and visitors to relax, gather, or simply enjoy a moment of respite from the bustling city surroundings.

A notable feature of Hansen Triangle is its role as the site of "A Monumental Journey," a significant public sculpture by renowned artist Kerry James Marshall. This 30-foot-tall structure, unveiled in 2018, honors the legacy of the African American lawyers who founded the National Bar Association in Des Moines in 1925. The sculpture's form is inspired by the talking drum of West African Yoruba culture, symbolizing communication of ideas across time and distance.