About Us
We strive to preserve, protect, improve, and promote the use of Des Moines parks.
Together we support our 75 Des Moines parks.
The Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department plays a powerful role in creating and sustaining a healthy, vibrant and attractive community for all Des Moines residents and visitors. The Friends of Des Moines Parks partners with the Parks and Rec to ensure all park and trail users have a positive experience when using park amenities, accessing programs and attending events. Our 75 parks, 82 miles of trails, community centers, community gardens, aquatic facilities, and various events and programs connect residents to one-another, to their neighborhoods and to their city. Our park and trail system plays a critical role in bolstering the reputation of Des Moines as a premier community for quality of life, raising a family and overall well-being. To ensure our facilities, playgrounds, trails and attractions can continue serving our community for current and future generations, the Friends need your time and treasure. Join us. Become an outsider. Help us preserve and improve our system for future outsiders.
OUR MISSION:
First established by a group of citizens as The Des Moines Park and Recreation Foundation in 1993, the Friends of Des Moines Parks is a nonprofit 501c3 organization with a mission to preserve, protect, improve, and promote the use of Des Moines’ parks, greenways, and recreational programs for the benefit of all neighborhoods, residents, and visitors.
FRIENDS SUPPORT:
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Programs that focus on urban conservation, environmental education, athletic instruction, sports tourism, neighborhood beautification, water recreation, volunteerism and stewardship
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Special events to attract diverse, multi-generational audiences for leisure, educational and recreational purposes
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75 parks, over 4,000 acres of park and open space, 82 miles of trails, and municipal facilities such as aquatic centers, community centers and civic attractions