We have NO Public Park in our WHNA area. We have NO public walking or biking trail in our WHNA area.
​
We have made a major and ongoing effort to obtain some public green-space like a small "Vest-Pocket Park"
Thus far our efforts have been amazingly unsuccessful.
There are many parks of varying sizes and features on the southside of Des Moines. Unless you really like to walk, none of the parks are within normal walking distance. As we provide more details of the Parks listed below, we will try to include approximate distance from our WHNA area.
​
Amenities are all subject to seasonal requirements
​
All of the Parks listed below are on the southside of Des Moines.
​
The City of Des Moines is updating their Parks website so there may be changes in the link to parks. Often you will have an option to type in the name of the park and will still be able to reach that parks website.
Small parks closest to our WHNA area:
​
Sayers Park
1300 Linden Lane
Des Moines, IA 50315 (515) 237-1386
4.1 Acres
Amenities: Restrooms, Picnic Tables, Benches, Charcoal Grills, Drinking Fountain, Basketball Courts, Tennis Courts, Playground, Open Shelter, and a Wading Pool.
​
https://www.dsm.city/business_detail_T6_R84.php
​
​
Nahas Auguatic Park
1101 Porter Ave
Des Moines, IA 50315 (515) 237-1386
8.7 Acres
Amenities: Restrooms, Picnic Table, Benches, Drinking Fountain, Swimming Pool, and off Street Parking.
https://www.dsm.city/departments/parks_and_recreation-division/nahas_aquatic_center.php
​
​
Jordan Park Wading Pool
600 E. Wall Ave
Des Moines, IA 50315 (515) 237-1386
1.6 Acres
Amenities: Restrooms, Picnic Tables, Benches, Charcoal Grills, Playground, Wading Pool, Pickleball Court, and a Walking/Bike Path.
http://www.dsm.city/business_detail_T6_R141.php
​
​
Stone Park Wading Pool
2100 SE 5th Street
Des Moines, IA 50315 (515) 237-1386
15.5 Acres
Amenities: Restrooms, Picnic Tables, Benches, Off Street Parking, Basketball Courts, Open Space, Playground, Open Shelter, and a Wading Pool.
​
https://www.dsm.city/business_detail_T6_R154.php
​
City Parks with Enclosed Shelters closest to our WHNA area:
​
MacRae Park
1021 Davis Ave
Des Moines, IA 50315
Acres 50.9
Amenities: Restrooms, Picnic Tables, Benches, Charcoal Grills, Ice Skating, Drinking Fountain, Off Street Parking, Tennis Courts, EMC Overlook, and Enclosed Shelters.
​
https://www.dsm.city/business_detail_T6_R66.php
​
MacRae Park Enclosed Shelter
1021 Davis Ave
Des Moines, IA 50315
​
https://www.dsm.city/business_detail_T6_R189.php
​
MacRae Park W.C. Walker Enclosed Shelter
2235 SW 11th Street
Des Moines, IA 50315
​
https://www.dsm.city/business_detail_T6_R188.php
MacRae Park EMC Overlook
1021 Davis Ave
Des Moines, IA 50315
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
The overlook is worth taking a visit. This is a picture taken of me as far out on the end as I could get.
​
​
​
The following address takes you to a site to play an almost 2-minute video about the MacRae Park EMC Overlook. You will need to expand and start that link see it best. When video is done or to exit early Use a "Ctrl" Key & "W" twice to return to this website. This is an impressive Video worth watching.
​
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=macrae+park+overlook&qpvt=macrae+park+overlook&FORM=VDRE
​
Columbus Park Sprayground
1921 SE 1st Street
Des Moines, IA 50315 (515) 237-1386
5.4 Acres
Amenities: Restrooms, Picnic Tables, Benches, Charcoal Grills, Off Street Parking, Basketball Courts, Tennis Courts, Open Space, Accessible Playground, Open Shelter and a Sprayground.
​
https://www.dsm.city/business_detail_T6_R132.php
​
Columbus Park Enclosed Shelter
​
https://www.dsm.city/business_detail_T6_R230.php
​
Columbus Park Open Air Shelter
​
https://www.dsm.city/business_detail_T6_R200.php
​
Ewing Park
5300 Indianola Ave
Des Moines, IA 50320
355.0 Acres
Amenities: Restrooms, Picnic Tables, Benches, Charcoal Grills, Drinking Fountain, Off Street Parking, Open Space, Playground, Accessible Playground, Disc Golf, Lilac Arboretum, Open Shelter, Mountain Bike Trails, Nature Trail, and a Walking/Bike Path.
​
https://www.dsm.city/business_detail_T6_R49.php
​
Ewing Park Lilac Arboretum
5300 Indianola Road
Des Moines, IA 50320
​
https://www.dsm.city/business_detail_T6_R113.php
​
Ewing Dog Park
4660 Indianola Ave
Des Moines, IA 50320
​
https://www.dsm.city/business_detail_T6_R180.php
​
Pioneer Park
1650 Pioneer Road
Des Moines, IA 50320 (515) 237-1386
12.3 Acres
Amenities: Restrooms, Picnic Tables, Benches, Charcoal Grills, Drinking Fountain, Off Street Parking, Basketball Courts, Playground, Open Shelters, Disc Golf, Splash Pool, and a Walking/Bike Path.
​
https://www.dsm.city/business_detail_T6_R72.php
​
Pioneer Park Enclosed Shelter
1650 Pioneer Road
Des Moines, IA 50320
​
https://www.dsm.city/business_detail_T6_R191.php
​
Evergreen Park
2006 Evergreen Ave
Des Moines, IA 50320 (515) 237-1386
​
https://www.dsm.city/business_detail_T6_R48.php
​
Polk County Parks with Enclosed Shelters closest to our WHNA area:
​
Fort Des Moines Park
7200 SE 5th Street
Des Moines, IA 50315 (515) 285-7612
135 Acres
Amenities: A deep 14-acre lake, picnic shelters, children's playground, boating, fishing, great nature trails, and an Arboretum.
​
https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Polk/Park/Fort-Des-Moines-Park.aspx
​
​
Easter Lake Park
2830 Easter Lake Drive (5150 285-7612
Des Moines, IA 50320
468 acre Park
176 acre Lake
Amenities: Swimming Beach, Boating, Fishing, Biking and hiking trails, Water Craft Rentals, Bike Rentals, Boat Ramps, Fishing Pier/Dock, 4 different trails, Five Picnic Shelters, Three Children's Playgrounds, and the historic Owens Covered Bridge.
​
https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Polk/Park/Easter-Lake-Park.aspx
​
Featured or Specialty Parks:
​
Gray's Lake Park
2101 Fleur Drive
Des Moines, IA 50321
166.6 Acres
Amenities: Restrooms, Off Street Parking, Open Space, Boat Ramp, Playground, watercraft rentals, and a Walking/Bike Path.
​
https://www.dsm.city/business_detail_T6_R58.php
​
​
A. H. Blank Park (ZOO)
7401 SW 9th Street
Des Moines, IA 50315
61.2 Acres
Amenities: Restrooms, Playground, Off Street Parking, Camel exhibit and an Open Shelter.
​
https://www.dsm.city/business_detail_T6_R18.php
​
​
Cownie Baseball Complex
2050 SE 22nd Street
Des Moines, IA 50320
62.6 Acres
Amenities: Restrooms, Playground, Concession Stand, and a Walking/Bike Path.
​
The Complex features: 8 irrigated turf fields; 8 Batting Cages; Youth Fields (2 have lights); All Fields have scoreboards and covered bleacher seating; Playground and Batting cages; Concession Stand; New maintenance building; and next parking lots for up to 250 vehicles.
​
https://www.dsm.city/business_detail_T6_R36.php
​
​
Cownie Soccer Complex
2600 Hartford Ave
Des Moines, IA 50320
372.8 Acres
Amenities: Restrooms, Playground, Concession Stand, and a Walking/Bike Path.
​
The Complex features: 12 irrigated turf fields; 4 of the 12 fields have lights and scoreboards; Field nine is considered championship level with seating for 2,000 fans, a press box and video platform.
​
https://www.dsm.city/business_detail_T6_R37.php
​
Waterworks Park (Des Moines Waterworks)
2201 George Flagg Parkway
Des Moines, IA 50321
1,500 acres
NOTE: This is the address of the Waterworks company. The main entrance to the Park is from Fleur Drive and opposite Grays Lake entrance.
​
Amenities: Multiple ponds, fishing, great hiking/biking Trails, Bridal Trails, and plenty of open space. This is one of the largest urban parks in the Nation.
​
http://www.dmww.com/parks-events/water-works-park/
​
Waterworks Park Arie Den Boer Arboretum
​
http://www.dmww.com/parks-events/arie-den-boer-arboretum/
​
​
Waterworks Park Lauridsen Amphitheater
​
https://www.dsmwaterworkspark.com/
​
The City of Des Moines and Polk County and the Waterworks Foundation provide plenty of great ways and places for the WHNA neighbors to enjoy nature. Unfortunately, Almost none is within walking distance.
​
​
