• Volunteer Opportunities

    Many Different Ways to Make a Difference

    It’s always a great feeling to enjoy the outdoor, but it feels even better when you know you’ve helped bring about positive differences in our city.

    Adopt a Flower Bed or Prairie Patch at Gray’s Lake Park (May-September)

    Other

    More Info

  • Free Yoga in the Park

    Picture this! It’s Saturday morning. You’re on the shore of Des Moines’ Gray’s Lake. You’re learning beginning yoga. As if that isn’t already relaxing enough, it’s free!

    Every Saturday at 9:00 AM starting June 5 through September 26, on shore of Gray’s Lake, east of the beach.

    Other

    2010 Instructor Schedule

Adult Flag Football League at playYouth and Adult League Sports

 

Des Moines Parks and Recreation offers competitive, recreational, and leisure leagues for youth, men, women, and coed teams. Anyone can form a team from work, church, social group, or neighborhood. Individuals who are not on teams are encouraged to call the Leisure Sports office and place your name on our player-referral list, which is made available to teams needing players.  For more information on other sports and recreational offerings click on the links below.

 

Four Mile Community Center Activities and Program Offerings

Pioneer Columbus Community Center Activities and Program Offerings

Sports Registration Schedule

 

Adult Softball Leagues

 

Des Moines Parks & Recreation sponsors adult softball leagues for men’s fast-pitch, men’s or women’s slow-pitch and coed slow-pitch. Be part of outdoor fun at the best complex in the midwest. Leagues range from recreational level to very competitive. Twice a week play is offered on Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday for 14-game leagues; 14-game leagues with once a week play are available on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. 7-game leagues are offered once a week play on Sunday or Monday.  Registration opens mid-March and rund Summer play will run from mid-May through August. 

 

Adult Softball League Information

League Standings

 

Other League Offerings 

 

Fall ball registration for men's and coed softball leagues begin mid-July through mid-August with play beginning in late August. 

 

Flag football registration begins mid-July through mid-August with play beginning in September.

 

First session coed volleyball register is mid-August to mid-September with play beginning in late September.

 

Men's and women's basketball registration is mid-October to mid-November with play beginning in late November.

 

Second session coed volleyball registration is late November to late December with play beginning in January of the following year.

 

Youth and Pee Wee Sports

 

Pee wee sports programs for children ages 3 to 6 years of age are offered at both Pioneer Columbus Community Center, 2100 SE 5th, Des Moines, Iowa and Robert L Scott Four-Mile Community Center, 3711 Easton Boulevard, Des Moines, Iowa.  Sports include: indoor soccer and basketball in the fall and outdoor spring soccer.

 

Youth sports programs are coordinated through the Leisure Sports Office, 3711 Easton Boulevard, Des Moines, Iowa and include: youth basketball for children in grades 1 through 6 and high school spring softball leagues for eligible players in grades 8 through 12. 

 

Youth basketball offers both team and individual registrations beginning in September and continuing into October with play beginning in November and continuing through March of the following year.

 

High school girls spring softball leagues are registered by team only from mid-January through mid-March with double-header play on both Saturdays and Sundays in April.

Group tennis lesson being taught at McCollum Tennis ComplexNon-Fee Based Tennis Program

 

The Des Moines Parks and Recreation department will be offering free tennis lesson through the United States Tennis Association (USTA) National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) program for children ages 9 to 14.  The traveling instructional lessons require no pre-registration, simply show up five minutes before the lessons begin and your child may attend.  The instructor will bring all the necessary equipment.  Emphasis is on tennis as an introductory sport.  Children should wear tennis or gym shoes while participating on the tennis course. 

 

USTA Tennis Program & Schedule Information

USTA NJTL Community Tennis News

 

Girl in wheelchair playing tennis at McCollum Tennis ComplexFee Based Tennis Programs

 

The Des Moines Park and Recreation department offers many other exciting tennis programs for all ages.  Click on the appropriate link below for more details on tennis programs or to find registration forms for lessons offered this year.

 

QuickStart Tennis Programs (Ages 5 through 10)

Youth Tennis in the Park (Ages 11 - 18)

Evening Lessons (Adult Group Lessons - Level I - III)

 

Tennis Court Locations

 

Tennis Courts can be found in 18 of the parks within the the Des Moines park's system; two of which are classified as sports complexes. Each sport complex boosts 12 lighted laykold courts open to the public with water and restrooms available.  Birdland Sports Complex is located at 2100 Saylor Road (off Birdland Drive near 6th Avenue), Des Moines, Iowa 50313.  The Waveland Sports Complex is located at 4822 Observatory Road, Des Moines, IA 50311.  For a map of all 84 tennis courts found in the Greater Des Moines area click here.

 

Des Moines Tennis Court Listing

 

Youth Golf Programs

 

First Tee Greater Des Moines

The First Tee of Greater Des Moines

The mission of The First Tee of Greater Des Moines is to impact the lives of young people around the City of Des Moines by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.


The First Tee Greater Des Moines offers instruction by local high school golf coaches and trained staff. Lessons include rules of the game, etiquette and advance skill development following written and oral testing at the beginning of the program. Additional First Tee Life Skills Curriculum will be incorporated within this program. 

 

This program is administered through The First Tee of Greater Des Moines, 12928 NW 85th Ave, Grimes, IA 50111.  For more information about the program visit their website.

 

Golf Instructors:

 

A. H. Blank: Tom Hawkins, Rick Williams

Grandview: Pat Dunbar, Joe McQuerry

Waveland: Matt Campbell, Kate Galligan, Shirley Corkhill

 

Adult Golf Offerings

 

The City of Des Moines offers three public golf courses for your golf enjoyment.  Season Passes are available for purchase at golf courses starting January 1st of each year.  Courses accept cash, MasterCard, Visa, and Debit Cards; checks are not accepted.  See the link to the official golf course of choice to schedule tee times, view course layouts, scheduled golf outings, golf rates, directions and more.

 

Des Moines Disc Golf Courses

Disc Golf

 

Disc Golf is a great way to enjoy outdoors, exercise and meet people. Thanks to the Des Moines Disc Golf Club, Des Moines has two courses available for public play:


 

Grandview Park, E. 32nd and Easton – First tee between lot and ball golf course. Great use of terrain makes this course fairly difficult. 18 holes Total Course Length: Short Tees: 5713 Long Tees: 4045 Hole Length: under 300 ft: 8 300-400ft: 7 Over 400 ft: 3


 

Ewing Park, Indianola and McKinley – First tee is at north end of parking lot This course is huge, with Pro tees to Pro baskets going over 8000 feet. Tees are cement. 18 holes Total Course Length: Short Tees: 5680 Long Tees: 8175 Hole Length: under 300 ft: 10 300-400 ft: 4 Over 400 ft: 4


 

For information on area disc golf go to: www.discgolfdesmoines.org

 

Adults utilizing the exercise equipment at one of the Community Centers

Recreational Activities for All Ages

 

Recreational activities are offered at both Scott - Four Mile and Pioneer - Columbus community centers, Monday through Friday.  The Community Centers provide an active environment for all ages at affordable prices.  There are an array of week-day activities as well week-night programs for all ages.  Not all week-day activities and week-night programs are offered at both Community Centers so be sure to view the specific community center page for more information.  Amenities offered at each Community Center may also vary.

 

Four Mile Community Center Activities and Program Offerings

Pioneer Columbus Community Center Activities and Program Offerings

Sports Registration Schedule

 

Facility Use Fees

 

Senior adults ages 60 and over may take part in week-day programming free of charge.  Adults ages 18 to 54 are charged a $1.00 per visit or pay a monthly fee $12.00 to attend throughout the month.

 

The facility is open to youth and teens after school hours or when school is not in session beginning at 11:00 AM.  Youth and teens ages 17 and under may use the facility free of charge.  

 

Week-day Programming

 

Recreational week-day programming includes walking clubs, open gym, open recreation, pick-up basketball, aerobics, table tennis, billiards, and weight & fitness room.  In addition, seniors adult activities for those ages 60+ include billiards, crafts, ceramics, and bingo.   Be sure to check the day of week and time offered for each activities mentioned above.

 

Pioneer - Columbus Youth Activities and Programs

Pioneer - Columbus Adult Activities and Programs

Pioneer - Columbus Senior Activities and Programs

 

Scott - Four Mile Youth Activities and Programs

Scott - Four Mile Adult Activities and Programs

Scott - Four Mile Senior Activities and Programs