West Des Moines Parks & Recreation / Aquatic Centers

Stay in the loop all summer long! ☀️💦

Sign up for WDM Pool Alerts to get quick, easy updates sent right to your phone. Whether it's a weather delay, an unexpected closure, or special event updates, you'll be the first to know. 📲

How to opt-in:
Text POOL to (346)443-6773
OR
Scan the QR code in the image

Don't let unexpected changes ruin your pool day—sign up today! 👋

The countdown to summer is over—the fun officially starts now! ☀️🐾

Park Palooza is happening this Friday and Saturday, and you won't want to miss it. We are thrilled to host the high-flying DockDogs Competitions all weekend long—come watch these incredible pups majorly catch some air!

Plus, Saturday (9 am - 12 pm) is packed with free family activities, including:

🎨 Airbrush tattoos & Inflatables

🚒 Touch-A-Truck

✂️ Make-and-take arts & crafts

🛶 FREE Boat rentals & local food trucks!

Bring your family, your lawn chairs, and your excitement. See you there!

wdm.iowa.gov/ParkPalooza

West Des Moines, IA | Home Join us for a community celebration on Thursday, May 19, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Public Works Facility, 8850 Grand Avenue. Bring the family to explore Public Services equipment!

The 2026 WDMurals Exhibit is open! 🎨

Today is World Bicycle Day, making it the perfect time to hop on a bike and explore the new collection painted entirely by Iowa artists!

📍 Where to find them: The murals are positioned on the entrance and exit walls of trail underpasses, transforming concrete into an outdoor, bike-through gallery.

🗓️ Timeline: The 2026 collection will remain in place through April 2027, giving you plenty of time to see them all.

🏆 Vote for your favorite: Help an artist win! Vote for your favorite piece to receive the $500 Best in Show Award.

👉 Plan your route, read the mural descriptions, see artist information, and vote: wdm.iowa.gov/WDMurals

🎵 Don't have plans for Wednesday evening? Now you do! The West Des Moines Community Band is bringing an evening of music to the Jamie Hurd Amphitheater (4100 Mills Civic Parkway, WDM). Join us for a free, family-friendly concert this Wednesday, June 3, at 7:00 pm. Grab your lawn chairs and blankets and come enjoy a wonderful summer evening of community and song.

🍪 Bonus: Beverly Ann's of Saylorville will be on-site with delicious cookie options to satisfy your sweet tooth!

🚚🌮 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐤𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘! 🍦☕
After a successful debut year, Food Truck Friday is returning to West Des Moines City Hall! Every Friday this summer, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, enjoy a different mix of local food trucks each week featuring tacos, sushi, BBQ, pizza, coffee, ice cream, grinders, and more.

📍 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥
4200 Mills Civic Pkwy

🕘 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬:
• Breakfast & Coffee Trucks: 8 am – 1:30 pm
• Lunch Trucks: 11 am – 1:30 pm

✨Grab your coworkers, friends, family, and neighbors, and meet up at West Des Moines City Hall for the perfect excuse to step outside, support local businesses, and grab something delicious on your Friday break. Each week brings a new mix of flavors and vendors to try!

Please note there have been some vendor changes since our last post. Be sure to follow along for any further vendor changes, menu previews, and weather updates. 🌤️

Heading out to the beach at Raccoon River Park? We want everyone to enjoy the water safely and with peace of mind! ☀️

Before your family hits the sand, head over to our Life Jacket Loaner Station. We have free-to-use life jackets available right on-site so your little swimmers (and big ones, too!) can splash safely all day long.

How It Works:
1️⃣ Borrow for free: Grab the size you need right from the station.
2️⃣ Wear while swimming: Keep it securely fastened while enjoying the water.
3️⃣ Return to the rack: Hang it back up when you're done so the next family can use it!

This vital safety station is proudly made possible by the Friends of WDM Parks and Recreation. A massive thank you to them for their incredible generosity and continuous support in keeping our community safe and our parks fun for everyone!

We'll see you at the beach!

New summer plans unlocked! Traveling Trivia is hitting three different West Des Moines parks this season, and you’re invited.

The Quick Stats:
✅ FREE to play
✅ Teams of 1-8 (Bring the whole crew!)
✅ 3 Nights, 3 Parks
✅ Classic Paper-&-Pen Style (No screens, just vibes.)

Where to find us (7:00 – 8:30 pm):
📍 June 8 | Pearson Park
📍 July 13 | Wild Rose Park
📍 August 10 | Meadowview Park

Geared toward adults but family-friendly for the kiddos to tag along. Pre-registration is required to secure your team’s spot—hit the link in the comments to sign up now!

In less than a month, the Jamie Hurd Amphitheater is coming alive! 🎸🎬

Mark your calendars because Friday Night Live kicks off on June 19th. We have an incredible summer lineup packed with FREE live music, FREE outdoor movies, and a rotating schedule of your favorite local food trucks and sweet treats!

Take a look at what we have planned for you:

📅 6/19: Flying Silos (Music) + Roadside Tacos & Outside Scoop

📅 6/26: Zootopia 2 (Movie) + Liza’s Sushi & More & Loudi's Ice Cream

📅 7/17: Suede (Music) + Kulinary Khaos Food Truck & Home Sweet Cone Ice Cream

📅 7/24: Jurassic World Rebirth (Movie) + Yanni's & Sweet Swirls Ice Cream

📅 8/21: Juniper Street (Music) + Fruits N’ Such & Beverly Ann's of Saylorville

📅 8/28: Lilo & Stitch live action (Movie) + The Toasted Cone

🎵 Music acts hit the stage from 8–10 pm (Food at 7 pm + Alcohol Sales available!)
🍿 Movies start at sunset (Food at 7 pm + Free Popcorn!)

Gather your lawn chairs, blankets, and your favorite people. We’ll see you there! 🙌

ℹ️ Details about alcohol sales and venue policies can be found at the link in the comments.

Thank you to our wonderful sponsors, West Bank, for helping make this happen!

Splash into Summer at Park Palooza!

Get ready for a weekend of high-flying action and free family fun! Park Palooza is back at Raccoon River Park on June 5th and 6th, and this year is bigger than ever with the addition of DockDogs®—the world’s premier canine aquatics competition!

Whether you’re a dog lover, an outdoor adventurer, or just looking for the perfect family outing, there’s something for everyone. Best of all? Admission and all family activities are completely FREE!

EVENT SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, JUNE 5: DockDogs
• 4:00 pm: Onsite Registration & Practice
• 5:00 pm: Big Air Wave #1
• 6:30 pm: Extreme Vertical

SATURDAY, JUNE 6: Family Fun
• 9:00 am: FREE Family Activities
o Airbrush Tattoos & Inflatables
o Balloon Artists
o Touch-A-Truck
o Make-and-Take Arts & Crafts
o Free Boat Rentals
o Food Trucks

• 9:00 am – 4:00 pm: DockDogs Competition Continues
o 9:00 am: Onsite Registration & Practice
o 10:00 am: Big Air Waves #2
o 12:00 pm: Big Air Waves #3
o 2:00 pm: Speed Retrieve Finals
o 4:00 pm: Big Air Finals

WANT YOUR DOG TO COMPETE?
Think your dog has what it takes to make a splash? All breeds and sizes are welcome to register for a competition wave!
Register your dog at www.dockdogs.com/event/park-palooza-event/

Grab your lawn chairs, invite your friends, and come celebrate summer with us! www.wdm.iowa.gov/ParkPalooza

A huge thank you to the West Des Moines Community Foundation for sponsoring Park Palooza and making this fantastic community event possible!

🚨 Only 5 days left to register! 🚨

The clock is ticking, West Des Moines! Registration for the Summer 2026 Coed Indoor Volleyball League closes this Monday, May 25. Don't let your team miss out on the action this summer!

Whether you’re looking for high-level competition or a fun way to stay active with friends, we have a division for you.

When: Sundays, June 7 – August 9 (Game times: 2:30–5:30 pm)

Where: Valley Southwoods Freshman High School

Format: 8 games guaranteed (Round robin regular season + tournament). One "Up" Official provided for all matches. USVBA rules apply.

Divisions: Power A (Higher competitive level) & Power C (Lower competitive level)

Note: No matches on Sunday, July 5.

Fees:
$295 per team
+$6 per non-resident fee

👉 Sign up your team today at TeamSideline.com/WestDesMoines