West Des Moines Parks & Recreation / Aquatic Centers

West Des Moines Parks & Recreation / Aquatic Centers We provide our community everyday enjoyment through people, parks, and programs. IG: wdmparkrec

Celebrate local talent shaping West Des Moines! ✨*Brought to you by the West Des Moines Public Arts Advisory Commission*...
09/20/2026

Celebrate local talent shaping West Des Moines! ✨

*Brought to you by the West Des Moines Public Arts Advisory Commission*

Celebrating community creativity starts with the 6th Annual WDMurals Exhibit, where Iowa artists paint vibrant murals on trail underpasses every May. Best in Show winner Christine Hilbert, a Winterset artist, transformed the Jordan Creek Trail underpass (northeast of Brookview Elementary, beneath EP True Pkwy) with her piece, It’s Good to Bee Home, featuring large-scale bumblebees and Iowa wild roses celebrating native pollinators and belonging.

Switching to sculpture and 3D, the 14th Annual Art on the Campus Exhibit showcases regional sculpture design from March through November on the WDM City Campus each year. People’s Choice Award winner Hilde DeBruyne, Belgium-born artist and Cu***ng resident, shapes weathered steel, aluminum, and dynamic light and movement into abstract contemporary works like her winning piece, Journey of Life, which explores nature and the life cycle.

Explore more public art across the city: wdm.iowa.gov/WDMurals and wdm.iowa.gov/AOC

☔ Don't let a quick shower scare you off! A passing rain cell is moving through right now, but it'll be short-lived. Ill...
09/19/2026

☔ Don't let a quick shower scare you off! A passing rain cell is moving through right now, but it'll be short-lived. Illumifest is still ON at WDM City Campus from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM! Come on out for food trucks, family fun, and Faculty Lounge starting at 7:00 PM! 🪁✨

🍂🎶 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐬! 🎶🍂Formerly known as 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬, Autumn at the Amphitheater brings 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞...
09/17/2026

🍂🎶 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐬! 🎶🍂

Formerly known as 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬, Autumn at the Amphitheater brings 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 to the Jamie Hurd Amphitheater every Sunday evening from mid-August through mid-October.

𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐮𝐩:
🎤 JOSHUA SINCLAIR | Alt/Country One-Man-Band
𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎 • 𝟓–𝟕 𝐩𝐦

Des Moines native Joshua Sinclair brings a high-energy mix of rock, alternative and country to the stage. Performing with just a guitar, microphone and loop pedal, Joshua puts his own spin on original songs and covers, creating a fun, engaging show that will have you singing along. With more than 18 albums and 200+ performances each year, Sinclair knows how to bring the party! 🎶🍂

🍴 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐬: 𝟒–𝟕 𝐩𝐦
🎶 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜: 𝟓–𝟕 𝐩𝐦
🎟️ 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄

🚚 Tarboosh.dsm
🍦 Sweets

📍 Jamie Hurd Amphitheater
4100 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines

𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐲𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤! 🎶

Bring a lawn chair or blanket, come early for food, and enjoy an evening outdoors with great music, delicious food, and good company!

In case of inclement weather, check the West Des Moines Parks & Recreation page for updates.

🍂🪁 𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐔𝐌𝐈𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐑𝐘! 🪁🍂It’s time to highlight our 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐬! 🍔🍜🍦☕ We’ve got plenty of delicious options t...
09/17/2026

🍂🪁 𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐔𝐌𝐈𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐑𝐘! 🪁🍂

It’s time to highlight our 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐬! 🍔🍜🍦☕ We’ve got plenty of delicious options to keep you fueled while you enjoy everything Illumifest has to offer.

🍔 Kulinary Khaos Food Truck — Burgers, tenderloins & fries
🍜 Walking Noods LLC — American Hibachi
🥔 Loaded Food Truck — Loaded baked potatoes & fries
🍦 𝐁𝐚𝐚𝐧 𝐕𝐚𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 — Small batch ice cream
🍭 Sweet Beyers — Cotton candy, lemonade, & dirty sodas
☕ Curious Joe Coffee — Espresso drinks, coffee, & whole beans

Once you’ve grabbed something to eat, there’s no shortage of fun to explore! ✨

𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐔𝐌𝐈𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒 & 𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

🪁 Kite creations
🧗 Rock climbing wall
💃 Interactive dancers by Hurley & Dancers
🔬 Science of Flight with STEAM STARZ
🚂 Mini train rides by West Des Moines Public Library
📚 Book rentals from the Words on Wheels vehicle
🎈 Inflatables
🎨 Access Yourself Services face painting
✨ Airbrush tattoos
✏️ Kitty Cowgirl Caricatures
🎪 Carnival games
🎲 Bingo
🌎 Cultural performances
🎶 Live concert by Faculty Lounge (FL Funk)

📅 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟗
⏰ 𝟒–𝟗 𝐩𝐦
📍 𝐖𝐃𝐌 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐬

Kids’ activities will take place from 𝟒–𝟕 𝐩𝐦, followed by a live concert from 𝟕–𝟗 𝐩𝐦 featuring 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐋𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞!

Bring your family, bring your friends, and definitely bring your appetite! 🍂✨ We’ll see you at Illumifest!

👉 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞:
wdm.iowa.gov/Illumifest

Thank you to our sponsors for making this event happen! Illumifest is presented by Veridian Credit Union and sponsored by West Des Moines Community Foundation and Warners' Stellian Appliance.

ATTENTION: Starting today, Tuesday, September 15, the Jordan Creek Trail between Grand Avenue and S. 19th Street is temp...
09/15/2026

ATTENTION: Starting today, Tuesday, September 15, the Jordan Creek Trail between Grand Avenue and S. 19th Street is temporarily closed due to streambank erosion concerns.

Our crews are working hard to complete necessary streambank stabilization efforts. The trail will reopen to the public as soon as this work is finished. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work to keep our trail system safe!

📍 See the graphic for a detailed map of the closure area and recommended detour route.

Don’t miss our last Full Moon Kayak Tour of the season!Relax and enjoy a fall evening on the water. Paddle along the sho...
09/13/2026

Don’t miss our last Full Moon Kayak Tour of the season!

Relax and enjoy a fall evening on the water. Paddle along the shoreline dappled in fall colors and take in the sights of the setting sun and rising full moon. Participants will be outfitted with a kayak, paddle, lifejacket, and stern light but are asked to bring their own headlamp.

Saturday, September 26 | 6-8 pm
$28/person | Ages 18+
Raccoon River Park Boathouse

Sign up at wdm.iowa.gov/ParkRecReg using program ID 53692.

WHAT A SUMMER! A HUGE thank you to everyone who visited our aquatic centers this summer! With nearly 140,000 visits, we ...
09/12/2026

WHAT A SUMMER! A HUGE thank you to everyone who visited our aquatic centers this summer! With nearly 140,000 visits, we had our highest aquatic center attendance in history! 🎉

Whether you stopped by for a quick swim, spent the whole day at the pool, grabbed a snack, joined us for an event, or visited again and again — thank you. An extra-special shoutout goes to our incredible aquatic center staff for their hard work, dedication, and for keeping everyone safe all season long.

Your support made this record-breaking season possible. Thank you for making 2026 one for the record books! We’ll see you at the pools next year! ☀️💦

The wait is over—the new Crossroads Park Skatepark is officially OPEN! 🛹✨After nearly two decades of heavy use on our ol...
09/11/2026

The wait is over—the new Crossroads Park Skatepark is officially OPEN! 🛹✨

After nearly two decades of heavy use on our old wooden ramps, we’re thrilled to unveil a brand-new, all-concrete facility designed for skaters and scooter riders of all skill levels.

Shaped by community feedback, this new setup features a wide assortment of street-style elements—including a slappy curb, box bollard, radius wedge, and quarter pipes—offering beginner-friendly zones alongside fun, flowing lines for more experienced users. Plus, the nearby multi-use recreation trail has been slightly rerouted to improve accessibility and create a smoother flow through the park.

Join us to celebrate!
📍 Where: Crossroads Park, 5205 Ashworth Road
🗓️ When: Wednesday, September 23 at 4:30 PM (Ribbon Cutting!)

Grab your board, come check out the new setup, and roll with us!

Friends of WDM Parks and Recreation is excited to host the 4th Annual Pickleball Tournament, presented by SCHEELS!📍 Vall...
09/10/2026

Friends of WDM Parks and Recreation is excited to host the 4th Annual Pickleball Tournament, presented by SCHEELS!

📍 Valley View Park Pickleball Complex
💲 $50/team
⏰ Registration closes Sept. 15 at 5 pm — just 5 days away!

Whether you’re in it to win it or just looking for a fun day on the courts, this tournament is for you! All proceeds from the event support improvements and expanded opportunities for West Des Moines parks, facilities and recreation programs.

🏓 Round up your partner and register before the deadline!
👉 Register now: tinyurl.com/teamsidelinewdm

Let’s play!

Join us for the inaugural West Des Moines Open! This 18-hole youth mini golf tournament is the perfect way to spend a fa...
09/10/2026

Join us for the inaugural West Des Moines Open! This 18-hole youth mini golf tournament is the perfect way to spend a fall Saturday morning. Enjoy friendly competition, test your skills, and compete for a chance to take home a prize!

Event Details:

* Date: Saturday, September 26
* Location: West Grand Golf (6450 Raccoon River Dr, WDM)
* Cost: $20 per participant
* Registration: wdm.iowa.gov/parkrecreg

Divisions:

* Ages 7-9: 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM (Program ID 52331)
* Ages 10-12: 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM (Program ID 52332)

Sign up today to secure your spot for a morning of fun and friendly competition!

Address

West Des Moines, IA

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+15152223444

Website

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