Fall Parks and Recreation Newsletter

Des Moines Parks and Recreation is the winner of the 2022 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) made the announcement during the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) conference Tuesday, Sept. 20 in Phoenix, AZ.

This is the first time an agency from Iowa has won since the recognition was created in 1965, and the fourth time Des Moines Parks and Recreation is a finalist. Other finalists in Class II, for those with a population of 150,001 to 400,000 were City of Henderson Parks and Recreation (Henderson, NV), City of Plano Parks & Recreation Department (Plano, TX) and Wichita Park & Recreation (Wichita, KS).

Adult Sports

Coed Volleyball - Session 2

Ages 18 and up

Cost: $195 per team

Men's/Women's Basketball Leagues

Ages 18 and up

Cost: $375 per team

Online Registration Ends Nov. 1

Snoball Softball Tournament

Men's: Jan. 21

Coed: Jan. 22

Cost: $105 per team

Indoor Wiffle Ball League

Adults 18 and older only

Men, Women, or Coed Teams

Cost: $60 per team

Youth Sports

Youth Basketball

Grades: 1-7

Cost: $50/player or $475/team

Scholarship Cost: $5

Pre-K/Kindergarten Basketball

Cost: $50/player

Scholarship Cost: $5

Scholarships

Two programs provide discounts on youth recreation programs and swim lessons

Learn More/Sign Up Online

Aquatics

Learn to be a Lifeguard

Nov. 4-6

Must be 15 by end of course

$195 per person

*Cost will be refunded to the participant with an offer of employment

Brenton Skating Plaza

Skating Season

Nov. 18 - April 1

Online registration for each session recommended

Hours, admission and sign up available at dmparks.org

Holiday Tree Lighting

Nov. 18

Free Skating Clinics

Nov. 19

Dec. 3

Jan. 7

Jan. 21

Feb. 4

Feb. 8

Community Recreation Centers

My PAL Time

Grades 1-6

Free

Thursdays, Sept. - March

Pioneer Columbus CRC

Imagination Playschool

Ages 1-7

$1.50 per child

November - March

Mon-Wed-Fri 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Pioneer Columbus CRC

Open Recreation

Mon-Fri

8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Cost: Ages 19 and up: $1/day or $12/month

Ages 10 - 18/Seniors (60+): Free

Equitable Services Programs

Free After-School Program

This free six-week program will meet three days a week (Tuesday – Thursday) from 3-6 p.m. at a variety of different parks throughout Des Moines from Sept. 20 through Oct. 28. Kids in grades K-8 can enjoy arts and crafts, STEM projects and outdoor athletic activities. Pre-registration for each session is required online.

10/4 – Pioneer Park, 10/5 – Tower Park, 10/6 – MLK Park

10/11 – MacRae Park, 10/12 - Drake Park, 10/13 Fourmile CRC

10/18 - Evelyn K. Davis Park, 10/19 - MLK Park, 10/20 Fourmile CRC

10/25 – Columbus Park, 10/26 – Drake Park, 10/27 Fourmile CRC

Nature Programs

Build a Bat Box

Oct. 7 - 5:30 p.m.

Cost: $15 per box built

Paddle and Pickup

Oct. 15 - 10 a.m.

Cost: $5 per person

GPS Great Pumpkin Hunt

Oct. 29 - 10 a.m.

Cost: $10 per person

Build a Birdfeeder

Nov. 5 - 10:30 a.m.

Cost: $15 per box built

National Take a Hike Day

Lunch Hike

Nov. 17 - 12 p.m.

Free Program

Hub Spot

Luminary Hike

Dec. 9 and 10

5 - 8 p.m.

All ages

Free

Grandview Park Enclosed Shelter

Special Events

Halloween Candy Drop

Oct. 22

Union Park

Ages 5 & Under - 12 p.m.

Ages 6-12 - 12:30 p.m.

Inclusive - 1 p.m

Free

Bark Before Dark

4:30 - 6 p.m.

Oct. 25 - Reno Memorial

Oct. 26 - Ewing

Oct. 27 - Riverwalk

Dog Park Permit Holders Only

$5 per dog

Toys for Tots

Call/Online register Nov. 1 - 30

Fourmile:515-248-6315

Pioneer Columbus:515-248-6316

Pickup at community recreation centers Dec. 12 - 14

Jingle Bell Stroll

Family, holiday-themed event at Gray's Lake Park

Dec. 3 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Free program

Volunteer Opportunities

Monument Restoration

Clean stones at Woodland

Oct. 6-7 9 a.m.- Noon and/or

12:30 - 3:30 p.m.

18 and up or 14-17 with a guardian

Prairie Seed Harvest

Harvest prairie seed by hand for future plantings

Oct. 8 and 22 1-2:30 p.m.

All ages

Bark Before Dark

Help facilitate dog park events on Oct. 25, 26, 27

4 - 6:30 p.m.

Jingle Bell Stroll

Help with family holiday event

Dec. 3 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Adults

Miscellaneous Programs

Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America Day at Woodland Cemetery Dec. 17

Sponsors are needed for over 700 wreaths, starting at $15 each.

Learn more

Annual Report Cover Photo Contest

Enter up to five photos of your favorite park, trail or other amenity

Voting Oct. 12-19

Submit online by Oct. 4

COVID-19 Notice

Our team has developed safety protocols for each program/event. These were formed from various recommendations by public health organizations, to help ensure the safety of our program participants and our staff. View online now.

All program/event dates and season schedules are subject to change.