Shawn Johnson Believes Des Moines Is The Heart Of America [View all]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/shawn-johnson-believes-des-moines-is-the-heart-of-america_us_59cd49ebe4b0ef0694273933?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

What’s your first memory you can recall from your childhood in Des Moines?

Oh, my gosh! I remember being in my first house, which was over by Jordan Creek Town Center. What is now the most developed commercial area of West Des Moines was nothing but farmland behind our house, and I remember riding the lawnmower through the fields with my dad, looking at cows. It’s just funny because I grew up in the farm country of Iowa, which is now developed into the biggest mall of the state.

What happened when the town said they were going to build this mall on the farmland?

The city ended up contacting my family, like anyone else who lived on our street, to say that all the property next to our house and behind it was bought by the city and they were going to be developing a six-lane street and then the mall right behind us. So we ended up moving because of it. It was just funny because it was exciting to know Des Moines was growing that much, but we also had to leave my childhood home.

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Small town me drove from Polk City to Adel and then home a few weeks ago. I couldn't keep my mouth closed at the expansion so far north and west. Normal for me to drive I80 but Hwy 141 construction inspired a different route home from Polk City.