The Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department was established in 1892. We are responsible for managing 4,000+ acres of land and 75 parks across Des Moines.
First Parks - 1894
The City’s first parks date to 1894 when land for the first four parks was purchased. They include:
- Greenwood Park
- Union Park
- Waveland Park (Now Waveland Golf Course)
- Grandview Park
Signature Parks
Signature parks include:
- Ewing Park
- Union Park
- Greenwood Park
- Gray’s Lake
- Pappajohn Sculpture Park
You will find information about all our parks in the
Parks Directory.
Park Features
Throughout our 75 parks you can enjoy a variety of features like:
- Basketball, Tennis, Horseshoe, and Volleyball courts
- BMX and Soap box derby tracks
- Boat and bicycle rentals
- Disc golf courses
- Enclosed and open-air shelters
- Equipment rental and concessions
- Ice skating rinks and sledding hills
- Nature trails
- Picnic areas with tables and grills
- Playgrounds
- Ponds and fishing
- Soccer and softball fields
- Water-play features
- Skateboard park
- Dog parks
Always Looking for Park History
Today the Parks and Recreation works with volunteers to uncover and document the history of the park system and the parks. The result is a series of presentations and documents that are presented regularly to the Parks and Recreation Board.
We are always looking for more information about the history of the city’s parks and recreation system. If you have information that might be of interest, old photos or a passion for history we would love your help to document that last 125+ years of parks history in Des Moines. Contact us at: Email: Volunteer@dmgov.org or call us as 515-237-1386.
