Des Moines Playgrounds and Splash Pads
45 playgrounds across the Des Moines metro: 8 list a splash pad or sprayground, and 14 list toddler equipment or a preschool age range.
Best playgrounds by age
How these are picked: Ranked by how many amenities each listing records, most first, then by name. A listing with no amenities recorded is not ranked.
Toddlers and preschoolers
Listings with toddler equipment or a preschool age range.
All ages
Listings whose age range is all ages.
Splash pads and spraygrounds
8 playgrounds list a splash pad or sprayground, shown with what the listing says. Opening dates and hours aren't in our listings and water features close for the season, so check the park's page with the city that runs it before you go.
- Ashby Park PlaygroundDes Moines · Splash pool
- Bates Park PlaygroundDes Moines · Sprayground
- Burke Park PlaygroundDes Moines · Sprayground
- Chesterfield Park PlaygroundDes Moines · Sprayground
- Columbus Park PlaygroundDes Moines · Sprayground
- Greenwood - Ashworth ParkDes Moines · Description mentions a splash pad
- Sargent ParkDes Moines · splash pad
- Union Park PlaygroundDes Moines · spray ground with zero depth entry
Des Moines Playgrounds
Ashby Park Playground
Accessible playground with splash pool and nature trail
Ashfield Park Playground
Accessible playground with wading pool
Ashley Okland Playground at Ewing Park
Climbing-focused playground with various structures
Ashley Okland Star Playground at Ewing Park
All-inclusive playground within Ewing Park featuring more than 50 unique play elements and adaptive equipment for kids with special needs. Located in Des Moines' largest park.
Bates Park Playground
Accessible playground with sprayground
Beaverdale Park Playground
Accessible playground with walking path
Belle M. Turner Park Playground
Accessible playground with walking path
Big Creek State Park Playground
Large wooden playground next to beach with multiple levels and towers
Birdland Park Playground
Accessible playground with walking/bike path
Blank Park Zoo Playground
Zoo playground with various amenities
Brody School Park Playground
Playground with sports courts
Brook Run Park Playground
Accessible playground with walking path
Burke Park Playground
Accessible playground with sprayground
Chamberlain Park Playground
Accessible playground
Cheatom Park Playground
Playground with sports courts
Chesterfield Park Playground
Playground with sprayground and sports facilities
Colby Park
Columbus Park Playground
Accessible playground with sports courts and sprayground
Easter Lake Park Shelter #1 Playground
Evelyn K Davis Park
Evergreen Park
Newly updated park with playground and sports facilities
Ewing Park
Spacious park with playgrounds, an 18-hole disc golf course, a pond & a lilac arboretum.
Grandview Park Playground
Greenwood - Ashworth Park
Public recreation area with playgrounds, a splash pad & picnic shelters, plus a pond & rose garden.
Greenwood Park Playground
Ironwood Park (Pirate Ship Park)
Pirate-themed playground with ship and island fort features
Jester Park Natural Playscape
Nature-focused playground with natural elements and water features
JouJou DSM
Kids Empire Jordan Creek
Kids Empire Merle Hay
MacRae Park
Green space on a bluff with dramatic downtown views, tennis courts, a pond & a playground.
Miracle Park All-Inclusive Playground
All-inclusive playground with spaces for all abilities, featuring sensory stations, maze walkways, and accessible features
Playground
Playground For Kids
Playgrounds Cafe
Polk City Town Square Playground
Riverview Park
Carnival-themed all-inclusive playground with amusement park features
Rotary Riverwalk Park
Sandpiper Playground
Sargent Park
Nature-themed playground with natural elements
Stewart Square Park
Terra Park
Combined traditional playground and natural playscape with woodland theme
Triumph Park
15,000-square-foot all-inclusive playground within sports complex
Union Park Playground
Public park since 1892, with an old-fashioned carousel, water play area, BBQ grills & sports courts.
Walker Johnston Park
Multi-level playground with hill features and wooded area
Browse Playgrounds By Age Group
Find the right playground for your child's age in the Des Moines area
Browse Playgrounds By Amenity
Find playgrounds with specific features and amenities in Des Moines
Playgrounds & Parks in Des Moines, Iowa
This list covers playgrounds across Des Moines and its suburbs, from park equipment and splash pads to nature play areas. Each card says what the listing records about it: ages, shade, restrooms and amenities.
Each park is run by the city it sits in, so hours, seasonal closures and shelter bookings come from that city's parks department. Where we have them, listings say whether a playground has shade, restrooms, what the surface is and any accessibility notes, and they say "not yet confirmed" where we don't.
Use the search and filters above to find playgrounds by age range, location, shade, restrooms or amenities like splash pads and swings. Press Near me to sort the list by distance from where you are, or switch to the map. Each playground page has its amenity list, directions and the playgrounds closest to it.
Several of these playgrounds sit inside the metro's larger parks and along its trail network, including the natural playscape at Jester Park and the playground at Big Creek State Park. Our Des Moines outdoors guide covers those parks in full, with parking, trailheads, dog rules and what stays open through winter.
Des Moines Playgrounds - Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about playgrounds, parks, and family outdoor activities in Des Moines, Iowa.
What are the best playgrounds in Des Moines?
The picks at the top of this page are ranked by how many amenities each listing records, split into toddler and preschool picks and all-ages picks. Each playground has its own page with its location, the amenities it lists and its age range where one is recorded, so you can compare them on what matters to your family.
Are there splash pads or accessible playgrounds in Des Moines?
Yes. The splash pad list on this page shows every playground whose listing names a splash pad or sprayground, and the amenity filters find accessible equipment and other features. Splash pads are seasonal and their dates are not in our listings, so check the park operator's schedule before you go.
What ages are Des Moines playgrounds for?
Each playground page shows the age range recorded for it. Many parks have separate areas for toddlers and older children.
Can I reserve a park shelter for a party?
Shelters and pavilions are reserved through the city that runs the park, which differs between Des Moines and each suburb. Playground equipment itself is first-come, first-served.
What else is there for kids in Des Moines?
The Kids and Family events page lists upcoming family events across the metro, and the free events page lists everything on the calendar with free admission.