Des Moines Water Works Park
4.6(1.6K)google
1.9(10)yelp
OutdoorRiverFamilyFree
Overview
Water Works Park is a 1,500-acre park southwest of downtown Des Moines, Iowa and contains the Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) which is a publicly owned municipal water utility that supplies the greater Des Moines metropolitan area. It is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. Located along the Raccoon River west of Fleur Drive, the park offers trails, picnic areas, grills, and fields.
Practical Info
Mon6:00 AM– 10:00 PM
Tue6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Wed6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Thu6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Fri6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sat6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sun6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Suggested Duration2-5 hours
Best TimeLate April during the peak bloom of one of the world's largest ornamental crabapple arboretums or summer outdoor amphitheater concert nights represent the absolute pinnacle. Strolling through the sprawling 1,500-acre park block between 9:00 AM and 1:30 PM on a clear weekend is highly recommended; enjoy cycling or walking through endless canopies of pink-and-white spring blossoms in a peaceful country-like clearing.
Getting TherePositioned directly adjacent to the western boundary of Gray's Lake Park at 2201 George Flagg Parkway. Drivers should head south on Fleur Drive, and turn right onto George Flagg Parkway straight into the river valley. Because the park's acreage is vast, it operates dozens of distinct, fully free surface parking pastures situated near major tree groves and modern event pavilions.
Travel Tips
- Encompassing 1,500 acres of open water utility terrain, the park features dangerous water-intake channels; swimming, cliff diving, or unauthorized netting inside the irrigation infrastructure is strictly banned.
- Major concert schedules at the Lauridsen Amphitheater instantly trigger massive vehicular redesigns, closing the public access arteries to non-ticketed parkers; review the music calendar before setting out.
Photo Tips
Best LightThe world-class Crabapple collection peaks rapidly in late April; approach early via the Fleur Drive secondary link at 06:30 to grab premium riverfront parking before commercial tour buses block the visual lines.
Reviews
Positive
- As one of the largest urban parks in the US, it features nearly endless open lawns and historic bridges—visually grand.
- The new Lauridsen Amphitheater boasts advanced acoustics and smooth management; listening to starlight concerts on the lawn is amazing.
- The park is entirely free for drivers and seamlessly connects to hundreds of miles of bike trails; map signage is well-updated.
- Free from over-commercialization, the springtime bloom of thousands of crabapple trees is gorgeous, offering unparalleled peace.
Heads up
- Due to its gargantuan footprint and lack of regular internal shuttles, walking between distant park sectors can be exhausting.
- Bordered by river reservoirs, summer evening concerts see heavy mosquito swarms; sitting down is impossible without massive bug spray.
- During massive rock music festivals holding tens of thousands, narrow park vehicle exit lanes lock up, gridlocking departures for two hours.
- During quiet winter or early spring off-seasons, large lawn tracts look unkempt, leaves clog walkways, and old restrooms look dated.