List of parks in Polk County, Iowa

Last updated

Polk County is the most populous county in Iowa with around 500,000 residents living within the county boundaries, with the majority living in the Des Moines metro area. [1] Its major cities being Des Moines, Ankeney, and West Des Moines. [2] The cities of Urbandale, Clive, and West Des Moines all are mostly in Polk County, but have parks located in other counties which are not counted towards parks in Polk County. There is around 16,000 acres (6,500 ha) of parks operated by the Polk County Conservation. [3] The biggest park being Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt at 9,100 acres (3,700 ha).

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.
Altoona [4]
NameImageLocationSize
17th Ave Dog Park851 17th Ave SW
Falcon Ridge Park15th St SE
Haines Park3rd Ave SE
Ironwood Park2222 3rd Ave SW
Lions Park507 13th Ave SW
Oak Hill Park1975 28th Ave SW
Phoenix Park450 19th Ave SW
Prairie Heritage & Civic Plaza360 Center Pl. SW
Sam Wise Youth Sports Complex600 8th Ave SE
Skip Conkling Memorial Playground700 8th St SW
Spring Creek Park24th Street SE
Spring Creek Sports Complex7600 NE 38th Ave
Village Park4th St. NW
Ankeny [5]
NameImageLocationSize
Ankeny Dog Park1155 SW Ankeny Road7.5 acres (3.0 ha)
Ashland Meadows ParkNW Park Meadows Drive
Bellagio Park5000 NE Bellagio Dr.
Boulder Brook Park3333 NW Boulder Point Place
Briarwood Park2701 NE Oak Drive
Carney Marsh Nature Preserve580 SE 54th Street
Centennial Park2202 NW Reinhart Drive
Cherry Glen Ballfield5325 NW 8th Street
Creekside Park575 NE 47th Street
Crestbruck Park1007 NE Crestmoor Place
Dean Park1720 SW Abilene Road
Deer Creek Park1601 NE Chambers Parkway
Diamond Hills GreenbeltSW Polk City Drive and SW Applewood St
District Playground1250 SW District Dr.
Estates Park2020 SW Cascade Falls Drive
Georgetown Park2625 NW Ash Drive
Glenbrooke Park2803 SW Glenbrooke Drive
Greentree Park1914 NW Hickory Lane
Haubert Park914 SW 3rd Street
Hawkeye Park400 NW Lakeshore Drive
Heritage Park300 NE Frisk Drive
Hillside Park1925 SE Four Mile Drive
Horizon Park1509 NW Prairie Ridge Drive
Michael Park700 NE Michael Drive
Midway Park1500 SW Des Moines Street
Miracle Park300 NW School Street0.32 acres (0.13 ha)
Northcreek Park1309 NW Irvindale Drive
Otter Creek Park1100 NE 36th Street
Prairie Ridge Skate Park1400 NW Prairie Ridge Drive0.21 acres (0.085 ha)
Prairie Ridge Sports Complex1510 NW Ash Drive
Precedence Park1725 SW Precedence Road
Renaissance Park3425 NE Renaissance Drive
Sawgrass Park2200 SW 36th Street
Somersby Park816 SW Springfield Drive
Springwood Park275 SE Springwood Drive
Summerbrook Park800 SE Delaware Avenue
Sunrise Park506 SE Peterson Drive
Sunset Park1309 SW 3rd Street
Village Park1241 NW 4th Street
Vintage ParkSW Vintage Parkway and SW State Street
Wagner Park410 W First Street
Watercrest Park4320 NW 5th Street
Westside Park599 SW State Street
Westview Park1155 SW Magazine Road
Westwinds Park2200 SW Woodbury Lane
White Birch ParkSW 35th Street and SW White Birch Drive
Woodland Reserve Greenway610 NE 36th Street
Bondurant [6]
NameImageLocationSize
Bondurant Recreational Sports Complex2050 Jr. Haines Pkwy45.82 acres (18.54 ha)
City Park201 Main St1.7 acres (0.69 ha)
Collison Soccer Park315 2nd St9.5 acres (3.8 ha)
Eagle Park320 2nd St39.1 acres (15.8 ha)
Eva Pointe Park401 Eva Point Dr0.5 acres (0.20 ha)
Gateway Park1499 Grant St1.3 acres (0.53 ha)
Lake Petocka Park521 Pleasant St34.9 acres (14.1 ha)
Lincoln Estates Park1201 Kadin Trail0.4 acres (0.16 ha)
Mallard Pointe Park501 Mallard Pointe Dr0.46 acres (0.19 ha)
Renaud Ridge Park410 Sycamore Dr0.48 acres (0.19 ha)
Wisteria Heights Park1310 13th St1.3 acres (0.53 ha)
Wolf Creek Park3207 Wolf Creek Rd1.47 acres (0.59 ha)
Clive [7]
NameImageLocationSize
Campbell Recreation Area12385 Woodlands Parkway34 acres (14 ha)
George Lundberg Park1450 NW 78th Street2 acres (0.81 ha)
Huntington Ridge Park1400 NW 131st Street0.75 acres (0.30 ha)
Karp Park1500 NW 109th Street2 acres (0.81 ha)
Linnan Park8500 Alice Road3 acres (1.2 ha)
Rio Valley Park1743 Rio Valley Drive1 acre (0.40 ha)
Swanson Memorial Park Clive depot.jpg 8641 Swanson Boulevard15 acres (6.1 ha)
Walnut Ridge Park10700 Elmcrest Drive0.5 acres (0.20 ha)
Wellington Ridge Park1400 NW 123rd Street
Westview Bend Park1836 NW 90th Street0.25 acres (0.10 ha)
Des Moines [8]
NameImageLocationSize
Allen Park4850 SE 5th St4.16 acres (1.68 ha)
Ashby Park3200 38th St11.8 acres (4.8 ha)
Ashfield Park720 E 19th St7.2 acres (2.9 ha)
Ashworth Park102 45th St62.7 acres (25.4 ha)
Bates Park330 Clark St3.7 acres (1.5 ha)
Beaverdale Park3333 Adams Ave24.8 acres (10.0 ha)
Belle M Turner Park800 Jerlynn Ave2.4 acres (0.97 ha)
Birdland Park2100 Saylor Rd44.3 acres (17.9 ha)
Birdland Sports Park645 Birdland Dr29.4 acres (11.9 ha)
Blank Park Golf Course711 County Line Rd.150.4 acres (60.9 ha)
Blank Park Zoo
Blank Park Zoo Entrance.jpg
7401 SW 9th St61.2 acres (24.8 ha)
Brian Melton Field1000 Jefferson Ave7.3 acres (3.0 ha)
Bright Grandview Golf Course2401 E 29th St101.6 acres (41.1 ha)
Brody School Park2501 Park Ave20.3 acres (8.2 ha)
Brooke Run Park4901 E Douglas Ave5 acres (2.0 ha)
Burke Park601 E University Ave1.7 acres (0.69 ha)
Carney Park2780 SW 30th St49.3 acres (20.0 ha)
Chamberlain Park2134 Woodland Ave1.1 acres (0.45 ha)
Cheatom Park1100 Day St3.5 acres (1.4 ha)
Chesterfield Park2719 Scott Ave5.8 acres (2.3 ha)
Cohen Park1000 Scott Ave1 acre (0.40 ha)
Columbus Park1921 SE 1st St5.4 acres (2.2 ha)
Cowles Commons313 Walnut St1.8 acres (0.73 ha)
Crowley Park1760 Garfield Ave1.1 acres (0.45 ha)
Des Moines Botanical Gardens DesMoinesBotanicalCenter.jpg 909 Robert D Ray Dr14.6 acres (5.9 ha)
Drake Park2300 Drake Park Ave5 acres (2.0 ha)
Easter Lake Park 2830 Easter Lake Dr468 acres (189 ha)
Easton Basin Park2617 Easton Blvd15 acres (6.1 ha)
Easttown Park2559 Hubbell Ave13.5 acres (5.5 ha)
Edna Griffin Park1613 13th St0.5 acres (0.20 ha)
EMC Downtown Park 701 Walnut Street0.397 acres (0.161 ha)
Evelyn K. Davis Park1400 Forest Ave10.1 acres (4.1 ha)
Evergreen Park2006 Evergreen Ave5.5 acres (2.2 ha)
Ewing Dog Park4660 Indianola Ave8.5 acres (3.4 ha)
Ewing Park5300 Indianola Ave355 acres (144 ha)
Fairmont Park2520 Hull Ave4.6 acres (1.9 ha)
Fourmile Park3711 Easton Blvd33.3 acres (13.5 ha)
Franklin Community Garden5300 Franklin Avenue2 acres (0.81 ha)
Frisbie Park6101 Muskogee Ave3.4 acres (1.4 ha)
George Davis Softball Park4980 E 46th St78.6 acres (31.8 ha)
Good Park1103 17th St11 acres (4.5 ha)
Grandview Park3230 Easton Blvd59.6 acres (24.1 ha)
Gray's Lake Park Gray's Lake Park Winter.jpg 2101 Fleur Dr166.6 acres (67.4 ha)
Greenwood Park Greenwood Park, Des Moines, Iowa (63400).jpg 100 45th St80.8 acres (32.7 ha)
Harmon Park3900 SW 26th St4.7 acres (1.9 ha)
James W. Cownie Baseball Park2050 SE 22nd St62.6 acres (25.3 ha)
James W. Cownie Soccer Park2600 Hartford Ave372.8 acres (150.9 ha)
Jim Muto Recreation Area700 Robert D Ray Dr2.6 acres (1.1 ha)
John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park View from the Pappajohn Sculpture Park.jpg 1418 Grand Avenue4.4 acres (1.8 ha)
Jordan Park600 E Wall Ave1.6 acres (0.65 ha)
Laurel Hill Park3407 Dean Ave2 acres (0.81 ha)
MacRae Park 1021 Davis Ave50.9 acres (20.6 ha)
Martin Luther King Jr Park1650 Garfield Ave6 acres (2.4 ha)
McCollum-Waveland Tennis Complex928 Polk Blvd2.2 acres (0.89 ha)
McHenry Park1012 Oak Park Ave19.4 acres (7.9 ha)
Nash Park901 University Ct0.2 acres (0.081 ha)
Pete Crivaro Park1105 E Railroad Ave0.2 acres (0.081 ha)
Pioneer Park1650 Pioneer Rd46.4 acres (18.8 ha)
Pocket Park #11400 E 19th St0.34 acres (0.14 ha)
Pocket Park #22830 E 35th St0.3 acres (0.12 ha)
Principal Riverwalk High Water in Des Moines 2015.jpg 115 Grand Ave15.3 acres (6.2 ha)
Prospect Park1225 Prospect Rd141.6 acres (57.3 ha)
Redhead Park1700 Dean Ave1.1 acres (0.45 ha)
Reno Memorial Dog Park3325 Hubbell Ave4.2 acres (1.7 ha)
Riley Park5300 Urbandale Ave3 acres (1.2 ha)
Riverview Park710 Corning Ave43.6 acres (17.6 ha)
Riverwalk Dog Park1111 Illinois St4 acres (1.6 ha)
Rotary Riverwalk Park800 W. River Drive50.9 acres (20.6 ha)
Sargent Park3500 E Douglas Ave30.3 acres (12.3 ha)
Sayers Park1300 Linden Ln4.1 acres (1.7 ha)
Sheridan Park4000 Hull Ave3.5 acres (1.4 ha)
Stewart Square Park1401 E Grand Ave1.9 acres (0.77 ha)
Stone Park2100 SE 5th St15.5 acres (6.3 ha)
Strasser Woods State Preserve1552 E 36th St40 acres (16 ha)
Talarico Park409 Columbus Ave0.93 acres (0.38 ha)
Tower Park4900 Hickman Rd12.9 acres (5.2 ha)
Union Park2009 Saylor Rd51 acres (21 ha)
Valley High Manor Park1022 Winegardner Rd4.6 acres (1.9 ha)
Waveland Golf Course4908 University Ave159.3 acres (64.5 ha)
Westchester Park4901 Valdez Dr5.9 acres (2.4 ha)
Western Gateway Park1000 Grand Ave10.8 acres (4.4 ha)
Whitmer Park526 Lyon St0.5 acres (0.20 ha)
Witmer Park1610 34th St19.1 acres (7.7 ha)
Woodlawn Park3126 Twana Dr7.1 acres (2.9 ha)
Grimes [9]
NameImageLocationSize
Autumn Park400 NW Brookside Dr0.5 acres (0.20 ha)
Beaverbrooke Park797 N Jame St6.4 acres (2.6 ha)
Glenstone Park3100 SE Glenstone Dr3.6 acres (1.5 ha)
Hy-Vee Multiplex Powered by the City of Grimes1000 NE Heritage Dr50 acres (20 ha)
Grimes Community Complex Park410 SE Main St3.6 acres (1.5 ha)
Heritage Park1055 NE Beaverbrooke Blvd2 acres (0.81 ha)
Lions Park4.8 acres (1.9 ha)
Kennybrook South Park800 SE Brookside Dr4.5 acres (1.8 ha)
North Sports Complex700 NW 27th St26 acres (11 ha)
South Sports Complex750 S James St45 acres (18 ha)
Shawver ParkSE Dolan Dr4 acres (1.6 ha)
Wallace ParkSE Main St &, SE 6th St14 acres (5.7 ha) [10]
Waterworks Park100 N James St8.5 acres (3.4 ha)
Johnston [11]
NameImageLocationSize
Adventure Ridge Park10201 Windsor Parkway5 acres (2.0 ha)
Crosshaven Park7909 NW 95th Street
Dewey Park5225 NW 64th Place
Dog Park5401 NW Johnston Drive4 acres (1.6 ha)
Greenwood Hills Park5700 NW 86th Street
Johnston Commons6050 Morningside Drive14 acres (5.7 ha)
Lew Clarkson Park7501 NW 54th Avenue55 acres (22 ha)
Morningside Park5605 Morningside Drive
Pointe Vista Park9612 Enfield Drive
Providence Point10325 Catalina Drive
Ray Schleihs Park5400 NW 55th Avenue
Terra Park6400 Pioneer Parkway200 acres (81 ha)
Pleasant Hill [12]
NameImageLocationSize
Christie Lane Park564 Christie Lane
Copper Creek Lake Park4390 E. University Ave40 acres (16 ha)
Doanes Park4900 Doanes Park Rd.43 acres (17 ha)
Hickory Glen ParkSE 6th Ave & SE 68th St77 acres (31 ha)
Meacham Place Park6010 E Oakwood Dr.
Oak Hill Park2115 Copper Wynd Dr.
Sunrise Park5415 E. Oakwood Dr.7.5 acres (3.0 ha)
Sunset Park4463 E. Oakwood Dr.
Polk City [13]
NameImageLocationSize
Doc Simmer Memorial Park608 Tyler St.1.46 acres (0.59 ha)
Kiwanis Park451 N. 3rd St.1.85 acres (0.75 ha)
Leonard Park413 N. Parker Blvd.1.59 acres (0.64 ha)
Lost Lake Park504 N. Broadway St.3.81 acres (1.54 ha)
Marina Cove Park430 E. Southside Dr.2.74 acres (1.11 ha)
Miller Park401 Booth St.2.39 acres (0.97 ha)
Morse Family Park1409 Westside Dr..55 acres (0.22 ha)
Polk City Sports Complex1701 W Bridge Rd12.63 acres (5.11 ha)
Polk City Town Square107 S. 3rd St.1 acre (0.40 ha)
Twelve Oaks Park1349 Twelve Oaks Dr.4.52 acres (1.83 ha)
Urbandale [14]
NameImageLocationSize
Ashleaf Park3934 Mary Lynn Drive
Bent Creek Ridge146th and Plum
Bestland Park91st Street and Meredith Drive6 acres (2.4 ha)
Brookview Park65th Street and Sutton Drive
Charles Gabus Memorial Tree Park and Gardens3400 86th Street
Colby Woods Park3000 Colby Woods Drive
Coronado ParkEula Drive and Sandler Drive
Cross Creek Park92nd Avenue and Aurora Avenue
Days Run Park124th Street and Tanglewood Drive
Donald J, Brush Park129th Street and Cardinal Lane
Foxdale Park10115 Oakwood Drive
Glen Eagles Park96th and Meredith Dr.
Golfview ParkHammontree Drive and 95th Street
Jackaline Baldwin Dunlap Park and ArboretumPatricia Drive and Dewey Gibbs Road
Jaycee Park71st Street and Iltis Drive
Jeff Harm Park128th Street and Aurora Avenue
Lakeview Park80th Street and Aurora Avenue
Laura A. Ward Park3900 NW Urbandale Drive
Lawson Trolley Park Lawson Trolley Park.jpg 70th and Roseland Ave.
Lions Park Lions Park Urbandale, Iowa.jpg 72nd Street and Aurora Avenue8.5 acres (3.4 ha) [15]
Lynner Woods72nd Street and Hickory Lane
Merideth Park82nd and Meredith Dr.
Murphy Park Murphy Park.jpg 67th Street and Urbandale Avenue
North Karen Acres Park77th Street and Douglas Avenue
Northview Estates Park69th and Deerview Drive
Northview Park Northview Park.jpg 4871 78th Street
Rick Boals Park Rick Boals Park.jpg 77th Street and Roseland Avenue
Rocklyn Park Rocklyn Park.jpg 70th Street and New York Avenue
Sharon Heights Park4624 78th Street5 acres (2.0 ha)
Sunflower Park92nd Dr. and Douglas Ave
Sylvan Ridge Park Sylvan Ridge Park.jpg 75th Circle
Timberline Park135th and Ridgeview
Walker Johnston Park9000 Douglas Avenue79.7 acres (32.3 ha)
Winter Park Winter Park Urbandale, Iowa.jpg 5110 72nd Street
West Des Moines [16]
NameImageLocationSize
American Legion Park301 Vine St
Ashawa Park4431 Waterford Dr
Beh Glen Park1898 EP True Pkwy
Brown's Woods BrownsWoodsDesMoines.jpg 465 Brown's Woods Dr486 acres (197 ha)
Crossroads Park5205 Ashworth Rd
Fairmeadows Park543 22nd St
Florer Park1410 Locust St
Holiday Park1701 Railroad Ave
Jaycee Park5608 Center St
Jordan Creek Park310 50th St
Kiwanis Park3101 Maple St
Knolls Park5150 Aspen Dr
Legacy Woods2296 Grand Ave
Meadowview Park638 Prairie View Dr
Pearson Park1256 19th St
Peony Park1100 63rd St
Pinedale Park3375 Woodland Ave
Quail Cove Park1515 S 52nd St
Raccoon River Park2500 Grand Avenue
Railroad Park425 Railroad Ave
Scenic Valley Park1223 S 24th Ct
Southwoods Park350 S 35th St
Walnut Woods State Park Raccoon River at Walnut Woods.JPG 3155 Walnut Woods Dr250 acres (100 ha) [17]
Western Hills Park4115 Walnut St
Willow Springs Park5685 Wistful Vista Dr
Wilson Park298 9th St
Windsor Heights [18] [19]
NameImageLocationSize
Colby Park6900 School St8.6 acres (3.5 ha)
Dog ParkColby Park2.2 acres (0.89 ha)
Harmony ParkColby Park, 6900 School St3.36 acres (1.36 ha) [20]
Lions Park1133 66th St0.2 acres (0.081 ha)
Parks in small communities
NameImageLocationSize
Mally’s ParkNE 38th St, Berwick 265 acres (107 ha)
Parks not located in city boundaries [21]
NameImageLocationSize
Beaver Creek GreenbeltNW 121st St73 acres (30 ha)
Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt8700 NE 126th Ave9,100 acres (3,700 ha) [22]
Engeldinger Marsh11961 NE 118th Ave214 acres (87 ha)
Fort Des Moines Park7200 SE 5th St135 acres (55 ha)
Jester Park12130 Northwest 128th St1,675 acres (678 ha)
Thomas Mitchell Park4590 NE 108th St197 acres (80 ha)
Yellow Banks Park6801 SE 32nd Ave576 acres (233 ha) [23]

References

  1. ↑ Carney, Kristen. "Iowa Counties by Population (2025)". Iowa Demographics. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Place Rankings - Data Commons". Data Commons. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Polk County Conservation Master Key Map" (PDF). Polk County Conservation. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  4. ↑ "City of Altoona, Iowa | A Development Friendly Community". Altoona, Iowa . Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Facilities • Ankeny, IA • CivicEngage". Ankeny, Iowa . Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Parks + Recreation" (PDF). City of Bondurant . Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Welcome to Clive Parks Recreation". City of Clive . Archived from the original on July 22, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Des Moines Parks Directory". City of Des Moines. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Parks | Grimes, IA". Grimes . Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  10. ↑ McIntosh, Marcus (June 16, 2022). "City of Grimes plans to build destination park on 14-acre property". KCCI. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Parks | Johnston, IA - Official Website". City of Johnston. Archived from the original on July 20, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  12. ↑ "City Parks | Pleasant Hill, IA - Official Website". Pleasant Hill, Iowa . Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Parks | Polk City, IA". Polk City . Archived from the original on July 20, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Parks & Recreation | Urbandale, IA - Official Website". City of Urbandale . Archived from the original on July 20, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  15. ↑ "REQUEST FOR PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS LIONS PARK MASTER PLAN PROJECT". City of Urbandale. March 4, 2022. Archived from the original on July 20, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Parks, Trails, & Facilities | West Des Moines, IA". www.wdm.iowa.gov. Archived from the original on July 15, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  17. ↑ "A Guide to Iowa State Parks" (PDF). Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 25, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Parks | Windsor Heights, IA". Windsor Heights . Archived from the original on July 22, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Park Master Plan". Windsor Heights. Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Design for Harmony Ridge Park Confirmed". Windsor Project Connect. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Beaver Creek Greenbelt - Polk County Iowa". Polk County, Iowa . Archived from the original on May 12, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  22. ↑ "A Vision for South Skunk River and Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt" (PDF). Des Moines Area MPO. 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  23. ↑ Busbee, John (February 1, 2024). "Descend into Yellow Banks Park, 576 acres of ancient history". Little Village. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
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