Made up of 15 Des Moines citizens, the Des Moines Park and Recreation Board advises  the City Council in the oversight , planning and administration of city parks, cemeteries, recreation centers, and various programs.  

The Des Moines Parks and Recreation is responsible for managing 4,000+ acres of land, 82 miles of trails and 75 parks across Des Moines.  Employing 53 full-time and over 200 seasonal staff, this team provides a variety of programming 365 days a year. Efforts include various athletic endeavors for youth and adults, environmental education and special events. The volunteer program continues to grow with over 5,000 individuals donating 32,000 hours of their time valued at $815,261 in 2019!

We are ever so grateful for our donors who support our visions and goals each year.  Examples include:  Variety - Children's Charity's and Polk County's annual funding of swimming lessons to families in need,  EMC & Prarie Meadows continual support of needed park improvements, and Principal Financial's youth sports program sponsorships. See the full list HERE.

Our Neighborhood Associations are constantly working to improve our City.  We are grateful for their continued support, hard work and and innovative ideas.