About Us

Mission Statement

Providing clean, safe, fun, and beautiful parks, open spaces, recreational facilities, and professionally managed leisure activities.

Fact Sheet

By the Numbers

  • Number of Parks73
  • Acres of Parkland3,226
  • Miles of Trails37
  • Number of Employees104 Full-Time
     30 Part-Time
     239 Seasonal

Park and Recreation and Municipal Facilities

  • Aquatic Centers, Municipal Pools: Ashworth, Birdland, Nahas, Northwest, Teachout
  • Baseball Field: Birdland
  • Blank Park Zoo (Managed By Contract)
  • Botanical Center: Des Moines Botanical Center (Managed By Contract)
  • Brenton Skating Plaza (Managed By Contract)
  • Buildings: City Hall, Argonne Armory, Des Moines Police Station
  • Clare and Miles Mills Rose Garden
  • Community Centers: Chesterfield, Four Mile, Pioneer-Columbus
  • Disc Golf Courses: Grandview, Ewing, Pete Crivaro
  • Ewing Lilac Arboretum
  • Gray's Lake with Swimming Beach
  • James W. Cownie Soccer Park
  • The John Pat Dorrian Multi-Use Trail System includes the following individual trails: Bill Riley, David and Elizabeth Kruidenier,  Gay Lea Wilson, Inter-Urban,  John Pat Dorrian, Meredith, Neal Smith, Trestle-to-Trestle, Walnut Creek
  • Long Look Civic Garden
  • Marina: Birdland
  • Municipal Cemeteries: Elm Grove, Glendale, Laurel Hill, Oak Grove, Sims, Woodland / St. Ambrose
  • Municipal Golf Course: Blank, Grand View, Waveland
  • Nollen Plaza
  • Principal Park (Leased)
  • Principal Riverwalk
  • Simon Estes Riverfront Amphitheater
  • Softball Complexes: Greater Des Moines Softball Park, Savage
  • Streetscapes: East Locust, ML King, Kingman, Polk, Urbandale
  • Sylvan Theater
  • Tennis Complexes: Waveland, Mike McPherson
  • Western Gateway Park

Programs

  • Adult Sports
  • Community Gardening and Urban Conservation
  • Environmental Education Programs
  • Golf Instruction
  • Graffiti Removal
  • Hosting Regional and National Sporting Events (Sports Tourism)
  • National Junior Tennis League
  • Neighborhood Beautification Partnership
  • Neighborhood Playgrounds and Wading Pools
  • Rotating Park youth Activities
  • Sailing and Canoeing Instruction
  • Swimming Instruction
  • Tennis Instruction
  • Youth Sports
  • Volunteerism and Park Stewardship
  • Youth-in-Parks Program

Special Events

  • Father/Daughter Dane
  • Free Flicks
  • Hoopin' at the Dome
  • Mayor's Annual Ride for Trails
  • Nitefall on the River Concerts
  • Run for the Egg
  • Turkey Bowl

Amenities within 73 Parks

  • Basketball Courts
  • BMX Track
  • Boat and Bicycle Rentals
  • Disc Golf
  • Enclosed Shelters
  • Equipment Rental and Concessions
  • Horseshoe
  • Ice Skating
  • Nature Trails
  • Open-Air Shelters
  • Picnic Areas with Tables and Grills
  • Playgrounds
  • Ponds and Fishing
  • Sledding Hills
  • Soap Box Derby Track
  • Soccer Fields
  • Softball Fields
  • Tennis Courts
  • Volleyball Courts
  • Wading Pools

City of Des Moines logo

City of Des Moines, Iowa
Parks and Recreation