Spacious park with nature in mind…read more Huge park with 3 playground sets to play on! What kid WOULDN'T like this park? During COVID19 review: Came out on a week day 9:00am-11:00am with a friend with her two kids and it was pretty busy. 5 other families with at least 3-5 kids in each family were out here. They were not affiliated with each other. Social distancing is challenging with kids. Families tried to keep their kids together but many wanted to play with each other. No one was wearing masks but adults were keeping distance. BEAUTIFUL park with great scenery (if you don't mind the construction by the IPTV station) Soft trail for walking near the playgrounds and lake and a hard trail for walking/biking into the woods. Fishing is allowed at the lake! Picnic shelters and amphitheater near by. There is also a community center up the hill. Playgrounds are very fun and unique with 1 structured as a tree house. It's a fully equipped park! We enjoy coming here since it's close to our home. Highly recommend exploring this beautiful Johnston park. Might be the best one in Johnston yet!

A hidden gem in Des Moines?…read more We think so. We have ridden by here a lot on our bikes following the Neal Smith bike trail, which is another gem of the Des Moines area! It goes right by on the levy and you can see this park just off to the northwest. We have also been here for several concerts as part of the river view concert series that are hosted by the City of Des Moines and parks and recreation systems. They host a fantastic and safe party. Please keep doing this!!! They bring in vendors and food trucks to provide food and refreshments for the attendees. They are parked right of the sidewalk and easily accessible without being in the way! Whether or not there is something happening on the stage, the place is perfect to enjoy with kids of all ages. The park equipment is all newly installed, Ada compliant and have historical themes, based on the rides that used to be here when this was an amusement park. The place is great, check it out and check out my pictures!

Came here during 4th of July and it was so much fun! Two very cool bands played on the stage which…read morewas such a cool experience. Plenty of food trucks and beer options too. Parking was right across the bridge and there were outhouses available as well

Fun park! Kids 3&6 loved it. Has benches, picnic tables, water fountain. Tennis courts are located…read moreright next to it.

Awesome park. 4 stars due to only porta potty bathroom and little shade. There is a covered area…read morewith 4 picnic tables, trash and a grill. Also a water fountain for humans and pets. There is a small basketball court with 2 hoops at different heights. The play areas are very cool. The pirate ship is an awesome feature. It even has a "kid powered" music feature that I have not seen before AND a plank that bounces. Behind this is an island style playarea. Lots of slides, climbing features and a couple bridges. The ground is the springy kind and there are various fake boulders and other stand alone climbing features. Behind the play area are little hills to run around on and probably good sledding come winter months.

This park was a stop on a road trip for a leg stretch break. It's awesome, there is everything you…read morecan think of for a park. They have plenty for little kids and big kids. There's also a trail. An hour passed before we blinked! We will be back and highly recommend putting this on your list if you chase parks like our family!

Can I be a kid again??? Even as the parent, this park is 10x better than I imagined it to be. It is…read moreimportant to note that Triumph Park is not only a playground but also a recplex of sorts with multiple ball fields, small lake with a fishing dock, and walking trails. But I am am here to talk about the playground portion because I was blow away! Everyone else must be as pleased and excited as I am because on a Friday evening the place was packed. Pulling up I was fearful I made the wrong choice seeing all of the cars and kiddos running around but there is so much to do on the playground and it is a large enough space that it still was enjoyable for my step daughter. I also want to note that my stepdaughter is upper elementary school age and parks are hit and miss given her size/age. Triumph Park playground is a HIT and reminds me of those expensive indoor obstacle parks you pay to go to - Did I mention this is a public park so it is FREE!? There is also ample parking since it is adjacent to the ball diamonds. One of my favorite parts is that the base (floor) of the playground is solid with a rubber mat or faux grass materials with padding underneath for a little cushion to protect your littles. Also no mess! - Who ever allowed sandbox/woodchip playgrounds anyways, yuck! I am not sure I can describe this next feature well but most of the structure is sort of built into the ground. The main portion is dug into a "hole" so the landscape itself is fun for the kids to run up and down, it is also lined with faux grass and cushion. (I told you I wouldn't describe that well, you will just have to go see it for yourself!). There is plenty of play spaces for little kids but the tall, tall slides for the big kids and towers to get to them are INSANE. I have never seen anything like it in a public, outdoor park. They also have really fun spins (literally) on a merry-go-round and teeter-totter, the kids really seemed loved these. I not sure how else to describe it other than I was extremely impressed. We will be visiting many times this summer and telling all of our friends!

What a great park! There are several playgrounds, gazebos, and leisure areas so you never feel…read morecrowded. It's kept very clean and well maintained. The local flower beds throughout the park are a nice touch too. Fishing in the Ioway Creek is quite fun as well. Even the wildlife says hello every now and then

Lovely park! I like to drive to this place when I feel down or have had a long day. Love to walk…read morearound, absorb in the park's beauty and have some quiet time to myself. Sometimes, I don't even get down from my car, just sit inside and look at the sunset in an amber sky and the park getting dark all of a sudden. I'll come back during summer and post better pics :)

Located only 20 minutes northwest of Ankeny on the western shore of Saylorville Lake, the 1600-acre…read moreJester Park Nature Center has a buffet of options. Whether it is a visit to their elk, hiking, biking, learning, cabins, birding, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing, they have a lot to offer! We visited on a moderate winter afternoon and enjoyed spending time with their elk, who roam the property's northwest end. They wander in an area, allowing nearby viewing and enhancing the entire experience. They also have an 18-hole golf course, a 9-hole course, and a driving range with instruction available. I'm returning!

Air riffle shooting was fun, as was the archery, the ice cream also helps! Summer has canoes,…read morefishing, etc. Staff helpful and friendly both times we have been.

This is our favorite park in Ankeny for the kiddo. It is a huge park with tons of play areas for…read morekids. It has a bunch of slides, swings, and climbing rocks. The facility has a small kids play area and a big kids play area. It has a concession area that is open on game days. It has a baseball field with a special surface for disabled kids so that they can play baseball. One of the other great parts of the park is that it is all handicap accessible. If you're going to pick a park to take your kids to in Ankeny I recommend this one the most.

The slides, swings and playground area was great. I brought my friend's 12 year old (who didn't…read morewant to leave) while I got my steps in. There were two decent sized shaded area with picnic tables. I only knocked off a star for the dead cockroach I saw. That being said, it is outside around lots of green things so it is understandable. I would still totally go back.

This place is awesome and always a destination when we need to touch Ledges State Park is one of…read moreour favorite places to take visitors when we want to show off just how beautiful this part of Iowa really is. It never disappoints. We've spent so much time here exploring, hiking, and driving through the water crossings -- which is always a blast, especially when you accidentally (on purpose) splash water all over the kids waiting nearby. So much fun. I have way too many pictures from this place, and somehow it still feels different every time we go. On our most recent visit, we brought Kim's parents to see the fall colors. We missed peak color by a bit, but honestly, it was still beautiful. Even when it's not at its "perfect" moment, Ledges is still worth the trip. If you want nature, scenery, and a spot that never gets old, this is it

Nestled in the Iowa Central Plains, just north of Des Moines, is a hidden gem called Ledges State…read morePark. Established in 1924, this 100-year-old park has beautiful vegetation and wonderful camping spots. Picking Chris are available for those. They just want to stop in and check out the area for the day. Camping spots are a mixed combination of primitive, electric only, and electric / water,/ sewer combo spaces. Bathrooms include showers and are kept in very neat and clean manner. Reservations for camping can be made online and there are a number of spots that are walk in only. June is definitely their high month so checking out availability ahead of time is recommended There are a number of hiking / running paths in the area that allow for all levels of ability. The park includes a boat ramp to the Des Moines river so bring your fishing poles too. Smaller streams in the area offer little swimming spots and splash pads for kids, but does require parental supervision. Camp spots typically include picnic table firing, and well cleared out area for your equipment. Check park rules for details. Leashed pets are allowed. Nice playground offers a great central meeting area for the kiddies. There are camp hosts on site that will immediately attend to any maintenance issue. Within short distance to some of the most excellent bike paths in Iowa including the famous high trestle bridge and definitely some awesome ice cream parlors at trailhead in small towns. The Iowa Arboretum is a short drive from the campground if you want to see some beautiful Flora and Fauna (there is admission fee). An abundance of aviary wildlife in the area for birdwatchers. Exceptionally quiet and a great spot for stargazers. Don't forget your bug spray!