Ask CITYVIEW

What is the construction happening near Johnston Station, where the Panera Bread is?

We asked the city of Johnston about this construction project. Communications Director Janet Wilwerding responded, saying it will be a Chase Bank. The site is on the corner of Merle Hay Road and Pioneer Parkway, and it will have the address of 5565 Merle Hay Road.

The stretch of road between N.W. 62nd Street and I-35 has a Bank Iowa, Grinnell State Bank, BMO Bank N.A, Wells Fargo, and a Community State Bank. The addition of the Chase Bank will make six banks on the 1.8-mile stretch. 

What happened to the huge bronze statue of the naked man riding a tricycle that used to be at Merle Hay Mall?

We asked Merle Hay Mall operator Liz Holland this question and received this response:

“It was in storage for many years at the mall, and when we needed to relocate it, we tried to give it away to a number of public libraries or parks. We finally donated it to a friend of our then general manager, who moved it to her lovely garden on the east side of Des Moines. I am sure it has a good home.”

That was more than 20 years ago. In 2021, the statue was then donated to the city of Johnston. It now rests near Johnston City Hall. The statue’s true name is “UpDown” and was originally created by artist Mark Jacobsen. It was donated to Johnston by Jerri Scott after being in her garden from 2001 to 2021. ♦