Des Moines Parks and Recreation

Des Moines Parks and Recreation Responsible for the management of 92 parks, 4,000+ acres of land & 100+ miles of trails. Come play!

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The City of Des Moines page is produced and maintained by the City of Des Moines Public Information Office. Links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein. The City of Des Moines
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06/06/2026

Hit the court!🎾✨

2026 Summer Tennis Clinics have officially begun! In partnership with Life Time Tennis, youth and adult clinics are offered throughout the summer. Whether you want to refine your technique or it's your first go at the sport, all skill levels and ages (5 and up) are welcome!

The sport of tennis can offer a life time of fitness and fun! Register your kiddos or try something new as an adult, and maybe you'll find a new activity you'll 'love'.🎾💕 Learn more at DSM.city/Tennis.

🤩 BIG NEWS FOR CHEATOM PARK! 🤩We are BEYOND EXCITED to announce Ally Frame as the selected artist for the upcoming Cheat...
06/05/2026

🤩 BIG NEWS FOR CHEATOM PARK! 🤩

We are BEYOND EXCITED to announce Ally Frame as the selected artist for the upcoming Cheatom Park Mural project! 🥳✨

Check out Ally’s winning design concept for the basketball and futsal courts! P.S. This is the initial concept that will be used to guide and inspire the final, official design. 🎨

Ally’s vibrant concept celebrates Joe Anna Cheatom’s legacy through a hip-hop aesthetic, bold color-blocking, and layered storytelling. The basketball court honors her spirit of inclusion with ASL signing for "LOVE," while the futsal court pays tribute to her founding of KUCB-FM radio with a central vinyl record design. At the heart of both courts is her powerful reminder to live "without apology and without regret."

A massive THANK YOU to all of our incredibly talented finalists who submitted impressive visions for this space:
👏 Amanda Stout
👏 Chandler Condon
👏 Indigo Moore
👏 Marissa Hernandez
👏 Siricasso Garcia
👏 Van Holmgren

Once the park's upcoming improvement projects are wrapped up, Ally will work right alongside the crew from Project Backboard to bring these murals life! We are aiming for an estimated completion timeline of Fall 2026 for both the park improvements and sport court murals.

This is a privately funded public art project made possible with zero public dollars. A huge thank you to our generous donors who made this transformation possible:
Grants & Donations from Bravo Greater Des Moines, Friends of Des Moines Parks, and Musco Lighting. ❤️

Learn more about the overall park improvements project here: https://www.dsm.city/Cheatom_Park_Improvements63.php

Stay tuned for updates on the mural, DSM!

2026 Aquatics Updates:All Des Moines pools, aquatic centers, and splash pools open tomorrow, Saturday, June 6!💦The unoff...
06/05/2026

2026 Aquatics Updates:

All Des Moines pools, aquatic centers, and splash pools open tomorrow, Saturday, June 6!💦

The unofficial start to summer is here! 🛟Visit any of our aquatic facilities or join us in kicking off our aquatic season at Birdland Bash, a family-friendly pool party designed to bring the community together to enjoy games, frozen treats, and endless fun!

⭐️ To ensure the safety of all visitors while staying within the 2026 operating budget, Des Moines Parks and Recreation has implemented rotating weekday closures for open swim for the season. Ensuring every facility remains fully staffed, safe, and operational for the summer. *Closures only impact open swim, no other programs will be effected.

⭐️ Please note: Nahas Aquatic Center's water slide and mushroom feature will be down through July 4th due to required maintenance. Crews are continuing to work diligently to get the repair completed as they wait for the delivery of a critical component.

To learn more about facilities, events/programs, rotating closures, and other updates, visit DSM.city/Aquatics

🌟Park-N-Play, our mobile recreation van, is on the move!🌟 Mark your calendars and get ready to add some fun to your week...
06/04/2026

🌟Park-N-Play, our mobile recreation van, is on the move!🌟

Mark your calendars and get ready to add some fun to your week! Join us Mondays-Thursdays + Saturdays all summer long.🎉 Our summer park rotation runs June 8 - August 15 and includes 10 regular stops, special appearances, and indoor days with Des Moines Public Library at Central Library.

🎨🐞⚽️☀️🎯✨The van is packed full of creative crafts, family-favorite games, adventure for all ages, rambunctious recreation and activities the whole family will love!

➡️Check out the full schedule at DSM.city/ParkNPlay - head to our website or social stories for weather updates throughout the season.

Check out weekly aquatic programs, starting this weekend!👀✨🏊🏼‍♀️From using our 50-meter lanes during lap swim to getting...
06/03/2026

Check out weekly aquatic programs, starting this weekend!👀✨

🏊🏼‍♀️From using our 50-meter lanes during lap swim to getting in some water fun for families looking for sensory-friendly options, we have aquatic programs that will have you moving and grooving, feeling great, and having fun!🌊

Weekly programs include Lap Swim, Paddleboard Fitness, Aqua Zumba, Sensory Swim, and Fitness hour.

🛟 Limited gear is available for Paddleboard Fitness. Be sure to register to claim your spot!

🌟 For more information on pricing, registration, and other details, please visit DSM.city/Aquatics.

*Please note: Rotating Weekday Closure only impact open swim. All programs are available as stated here and on the aquatics webpage. We can't wait to see you!

Get ready for a weekend of fun!Friday, 6/5:🪦 Jump back in time with a Glendale Historical Cemetery Tour at 10 a.m. - DSM...
06/02/2026

Get ready for a weekend of fun!

Friday, 6/5:
🪦 Jump back in time with a Glendale Historical Cemetery Tour at 10 a.m. - DSM.city/CemeteryTours
🛼 Take your wheels to Brenton for Friday Night Skate Date at 6 p.m. - All ages, $5 admission, bring your own skates!

Saturday, 6/6:
🎣 Try your hand at Carp fishing! Registration for this free fishing contest starts at 8 a.m. at Gray's Lake. - DSM.city/NaturePrograms
🧘 First Yoga In The Park of the season at Gray's Lake. Yoga starts at 9 a.m. - DSM.city/YogaInThePark
💦 Celebrate the start of aquatics season with Birdland Bash! Make a splash at Birdland Swimming Pool starting at 6 p.m. - DSM.city/Aquatics

Monday, 6/8:
🎉 Park-N-Play returns! Visit DSM.city/ParkNPlay to see where the van stops and where fun starts!

Make a splash! Be a lifeguard! Keep your community safe! Have fun!☀️🌊Join our aquatics team this summer! Lifeguard appli...
06/02/2026

Make a splash! Be a lifeguard! Keep your community safe! Have fun!☀️🌊

Join our aquatics team this summer! Lifeguard applications are still open for the 2026 aquatic season!⛱️

🛟No lifeguard experience required - all training is provided to ensure our staff is ready to serve our community. Community members ages 15 and up are encouraged to apply!

Visit DSM.city/ParkJobs to submit your application!✨

💦 Aquatics Update: We heard you, DSM! ❤️After listening to feedback from parents and caregivers of small children, Des M...
06/01/2026

💦 Aquatics Update: We heard you, DSM! ❤️

After listening to feedback from parents and caregivers of small children, Des Moines Parks and Recreation has revised our temporary sprayground hours. Your input helped us create a schedule that balances necessary water conservation with the needs of local families.

Starting Tuesday, June 2, we are adjusting operating times, based on location, to offer a 9 AM – 5 PM block (perfect for little ones to enjoy morning fun before the peak heat of the day) and a 12 PM – 8 PM block (ideal for afternoon and evening playtime before bedtime).

Find your favorite neighborhood spot’s updated hours below:
⏰ 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Locations
▪️Bates Park
▪️Chesterfield Park
▪️Good Park
▪️Greenwood Park
▪️MacRae Park
▪️McHenry Park
▪️Sargent Park
▪️Sayers Park
▪️Sheridan Park
▪️Woodlawn Park

⏰ 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM Locations
▪️Burke Park
▪️Columbus Park
▪️Drake Park
▪️E.K. Davis Park
▪️Fairmont Park
▪️Grandview Park
▪️Gray’s Lake Park
▪️Stone Park
▪️Tower Park
▪️Western Gateway Park

Thank you for helping us conserve water to support Central Iowa Water Works, and thank you for sharing your feedback to help us better serve our community, DSM!

👉 For more details including a map of these sprayground hours and all things summer water fun, visit DSM.city/Aquatics

🐶 ✨️ Looking for a pup-tastic time to visit a dog park, ready to introduce your fur baby to some fluffy friends? At no c...
05/31/2026

🐶 ✨️ Looking for a pup-tastic time to visit a dog park, ready to introduce your fur baby to some fluffy friends?

At no cost, Dog Park Open Houses invite all dog owners to explore our parks. All participants will be entered into a raffle for a free 2027 dog park permit.🎟️🎉

June 14, 12 - 2 PM
– Reno Memorial Dog Park, 3325 Hubbell Ave.
July 19, 12 - 2 PM
– Ewing Dog Park, 4660 Indianola Ave.
August 21, 12 - 2 PM
– Riverwalk Dog Park, 1111 Illinois St.

➡️ To learn more, visit DSM.city/Dogs.

05/29/2026

Beat the heat with Gray's Lake Park's new and improved dock - now open!

In case you missed it, not only is our new Gray's Lake Playground and Sprayground now open, but our revamped dock and rentals at the Christine Hensley Terrace in the Southwest corner of Gray's Lake Park are open as well.

Stop by to rent a bicycle or watercraft or cool off with ice cream and an ice cold drink from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Learn more at DSM.city/GraysLakeRentals

Address

1551 E. Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy
Des Moines, IA
50317

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+15152371386

Website

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