By Isabelle Foland, Des Moines Register
Your guide to pools, splash pads and spraygrounds in metro Des Moines
Heat indices are expected to reach the triple digits the last days of June and potentially into the 4th of July weekend across the state.
The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning for 41 counties including much of central Iowa from Sunday, June 28, through Tuesday evening.
“Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values above 100,” are expected, the weather service said.
If you’re looking to beat the heat this week, here are some places in the Des Moines metro offering fun ways to stay cool.
Offerings and hours for Des Moines pools and spraygrounds
The City of Des Moines‘ venues include two swimming pools, three family aquatic centers, four splash pools, and 21 spraygrounds.
Due to the lawn watering ban from Central Iowa Water Works, the spraygrounds operate on a reduced schedule, running from either 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. instead of the normal 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. hours.
The spraygrounds that operate from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. include:
- Bates Park, 330 Clark St.
- Chesterfield Park, 2719 Scott Ave.
- Good Park, 1103 17th St.
- Greenwood Park, 100 45th St.
- Jordan Park, 600 E. Wall Ave.
- MacRae Park, 1021 Davis Ave.
- McHenry Park, 1012 Oak Park Ave.
- Sargent Park, 3500 E. Douglas Ave.
- Sayers Park, 1300 Linden Lane
- Sheridan Park, 4000 Hull Ave.
- Woodlawn Park, 3126 Twana Drive
The spraygrounds that run from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. are:
- Burke Park, 601 E. University Ave.
- Columbus Park, 1921 SE 1st St.
- Drake Park, 2300 Drake Park Ave.
- Evelyn K. Davis Park, 1400 Forest Ave.
- Fairmont Park, 2520 Hull Ave.
- Grandview Park, 3230 Easton Blvd.
- Stone Park, 2100 SE 5th St.
- Tower Park, 4900 Hickman Rd.
- Western Gateway Park, 1000 Grand Ave.
All City of Des Moines pools and aquatics centers run on a rotating schedule for open swim on weekdays in order to keep the facilities fully staffed. One of the five facilities will be closed for open swim one weekday each week:
- Closed Mondays: Nahas Aquatic Center at 1101 SW Porter Ave.
- Closed Tuesdays: Birdland Pool at 300 Holcomb Ave.
- Closed Wednesdays: Northwest Aquatic Center, located at 4915 Madison Ave.
- Closed Thursdays: Ashworth Swimming Pool at 102 45th St.
- Closed Fridays: Teachout Aquatic Center at 2601 Hubbell Ave.
All facilities have open swim on weekends.
In addition to open swim, the venues offer a variety of activities to enjoy.
On Monday through Friday from 8-9 a.m. and Monday through Sunday at noon to 1 p.m., Ashworth and Birdland pools hold fitness hours and lap swimming at the price of regular admission.
Nahas Aquatic Center has aqua Zumba on Saturday mornings from 10:30-11:15 for $5.
Ashworth Pool also has active swimming options throughout the week, holding total body aqua workouts on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from noon to 12:45 as well as paddle board fitness on Wednesdays from noon to 12:25 and 12:30-12:55 p.m. Total body aqua is the same price as regular admission, and paddle board fitness is $8.
Aqua fitness classes have limited spots, so participants are asked to register online.
Offerings and hours for West Des Moines swimming pools and spraygrounds
West Des Moines features two city-owned aquatic centers and a sprayground, which is also operating under limited hours due to the lawn watering ban.
The American Legion Park Sprayground, located at 301 Vine St., currently runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.
Holiday Aquatic Center at 1701 Railroad Ave. is open daily for open swim from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The pool features a family night at $15 per family on Fridays from 6:30-8 p.m.
Valley View Aquatic Center, 255 81st St., has open swim Sunday through Friday at the same hours as the city’s other aquatic center. Valley View also offers evening swim at half-price admission from 6:30-8 p.m. on Sunday through Friday. Family night is held twice a week, on Sundays and Wednesdays, at $15 per family from 6:30-8 p.m.
Additionally, Valley View also holds lap swim and walking Sunday through Friday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. for $5 admission as well as Saturday swimming hours from 12:30-6 p.m.
Where to swim in Ankeny
Ankeny also features two aquatics centers, Cascade Falls and Prairie Ridge, which are located at 2350 SW Prairie Trail Parkway and 1220 NW Prairie Ridge Drive, respectively. Both centers are open every day for open swim starting at noon, with Cascade Falls closing at 7 p.m., an hour later than Prairie Ridge.
Cascade Falls also offers lap swim and water walking in the morning Monday through Saturday from 10 to 11:45 as well as in the evening on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 7:15 to 8:45.
There are also four splash pads throughout the city that can be used from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. These free splash pads are at Crestbruck Park, 1001 NE Crestmoor Place; Dean Park, 1720 Abilene Road; Sunrise Park, 506 SE Peterson Drive; and Watercrest Park, 811 NW Abbie Drive.
Altoona Aquatics Park
The Altoona Aquatics Park, located at 1200 Venbury Drive, is open from noon to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.
In addition to open swim, the park offers a variety of aquatics classes, including low- and high-impact exercise classes, volleyball, yoga and Zumba. More information and a class calendar can be found on the park’s website.
Clive Aquatic Center
Located at 1801 NW 114th St., the Clive Aquatic Center features daily open swimming from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. as well as water walking, lap swim, and water aerobics at various times and days throughout the week. Information on the days and times for these additional activities can be found at the center’s website.
Clive residents can also enjoy a discounted season pass, paying $60 per person compared to $100 per person for nonresidents. Passholders at the Clive Aquatic Center are also granted admission to the two West Des Moines facilities through their season passes.
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