Went ice skating as a family for my step-daughter's December birthday. We lucked out with it being…read morea mild winter day and had a very enjoyable experience. Since this was our second rink of the day, because the first one had faux ice and wasn't what we had in mind, it is worth saying that Brenton Skating Plaza has real ice! I did not notice while we were there that they do not zamboni it, but it all still seemed pretty smooth. It was busy and seemed to be a popular spot. You can rent your skates there and they also have personnel working on the ice. My favorite part is the downtown views from the rink - I can only imagine how magical it looks in the evening after dark. There are also great photo spots with the downtown backdrop and also a large Christmas tree. This will now be a annual thing for me.

It is summer time at the skating plaza. I have been ice…read moreskating here a few years ago. It was nice. Lots of people and good music. Tonight there was no ice, only red hot music concert! Since I was last here they installed a beautiful canopy over the plaza. So you can hang out on the arena under shade. The concert was Foster the People. We were excited. We arrived super early and went out to eat prior. Then made our way to the concert. The place was packed. Lots of people sitting in the grass, lawn chairs and blankets. We found a nice spot to stand or sit. There are adult beverages to be purchased and not only the regular bathroom but they brought in a number of portable bathrooms to match the sold out show. It was a perfect night on the river to enjoy the music and dance a little. The breeze off the river helps keep things cool. We had a good time. Things seem organized and well timed. I hope to attend another soon.

This park is awesome and expansive! Trails and fields, playground equipment and build outs…read moreeverywhere, forts and lookouts, and a skate park!!! I took my kids here today and we had a great time! There are plenty of places to sit, nice concrete trails perfect for walking, biking, scootering or skateboarding! The pond was still frozen, but I'm sure it's lovely when it defrosts. I like big parks like this because even if it's a hot sunny day and tons of people are here, there's still plenty of room to spread out and not feel like you're on top of each other.

What a great park! This park has everything: softball/baseball fields, soccer fields, tennis…read morecourts, pond, long walking/ bike paths, kids climber, and lots of slides. There is also a new community shelter that is a tornado safe room. The super lame part of this safe room is that it's locked!! It's only for private rentals and events. So if there is a tornado, make sure to book the shelter in advanced so you can use the safe room. The kids climber and slides are excellent. They are newer, safe plastic without any sharp metal parts protruding. There is even a huge metal slide that is built into the ground. It's like the old school slides we had as kids. It's so fun. The kids love it. I even tried it a few items. Let me tell you, as an adult that weighs more than 2 or 3 kids, you fly down that slide!! It's almost a little scary how fast you go as an adult. The kids are fine but adults who weigh more really take off. At the base of the slide, be ready to dismount because it launches you! I would have given this park 5 stars but the restrooms make it a 4. The restrooms are gross. While there are probably nice, clean restrooms in the shelter, it's only for private rentals or events. Most of the public restrooms are port-a-potties. At the open shelter toward the east next to the police station, there are restrooms with running water, but they are just as gross. Also, there is no soap in these restrooms. Even with the restroom status, this park is definitely a must for all ages.

Good park geese are a little too tame for my preference was hoping to be chased maybe lose a toe. I…read moreeven honked at them while I approached. They did not respond. Maybe nothing worth protecting.

The park looks good but not big enough I rate it 5 star the the down hill look smooth and I would…read moreagree going to prairie Ridge Skate Park!

This was a beautiful riverwalk with well maintained paths and bridges. There was also gorgeous…read morelandscaping and nearby gardens. The path is about 1.2 miles long, and great to walk, bike, and jog. The riverwalk connects the east and west sides of downtown via two pedestrian bridges, so it's handy to walk to local attractions. I loved how there were maps of the nearby trails and businesses. The river itself smelled fresh, and I didn't see any litter or trash floating around. Props to Des Moines, Principal Financial and the Iowa state government for making this happen!

Great Place to ride a bike or walk. Also enjoy a nice picnic and with a nice view to take some…read morepictures . Must Visit With Plenty Restaurants near by.

The views and it's a nice place to spend with family and dogs!! It haves a nice little water splash…read morefor the kids and great trails to walk

Wow! Beautiful lake and grounds, covered with grass and highly established trees. Walking and…read morebiking paths, along with a cool concession area, bathrooms and a park with swing set! I sat here and soaked up the warm air under a shade tree, drinking my coffee. No better way to end this work trip.

Love the Norwalk City Park. It's a great park! It's located right next to the Norwalk Library and…read morehas a cool little pond next to it. Very scenic and beautiful. I like taking my kids here because it's a very safe park. I don't have to worry about thugs or weirdos like I do at some of the south side parks. The kids love playing on the train caboose and I think that's a neat add on to an already very nice park. I let them play on the equipment a bit and then we will usually shoot some baskets as well. When we are done playing we will walk up to the library located on the same grounds and hang out there for a while! So convenient. In the winter time they convert the basketball court into an ice skating rink! So freaking cool! Toward the back of the park they also have a dog park for the furry friends. Something for everyone here :) This park has everything you need: Picnic Tables Playground Swings Train Caboose Basketball Courts Ice skating Dog park Library Pond

The roller boogie was wonderful! Staff were courteous and, attentive, and made routine safety…read moreannouncements!

IN ABSOLUTE HORROR AND DISBELIEF! My friends daughter works…read morehere and it is absolutely disgusting! She showed me videos of ROACHES IN THEIR FRIDGES AND OTHER FOOD STORAGE AREAS! Paying 300+ for my son's birthday party in a crumbling building full of bugs is just infuriating. On top of all of that I talked to the man in charge who just had a real arrogant attitude. He had a real charm story how it was his parents business before him. But at this point his parents would be ashamed of what this establishment has become. Also you can't even trust google reviews on this place because the owners spam report bad reviews till its taken down .

What a gem in the middle of the city! Nestled along the river, this garden is easy to visit yet…read morefeels tucked away. The path winds through various areas of the garden and also offers a few seating options. It felt organic and not so pre-planned. The views of the water, bridge and city make this spot even more enjoyable. Parking is very plentiful.

We spent a few days in the Des Moines area recently and there are definitely a lot of beautiful…read morespaces in the area. One of my favorites was the Robert Ray Asian gardens. We spent about an hour here walking through the gardens and appreciating the quiet, calm, and beauty of the area. There were lots of people walking and hiking and multiple people that stopped to take photos in front of the bridge at the end of the park. We also saw people fishing as it is located right next to the Des Moines River. This is a gorgeous spot to get out and be in nature, listen to the water and feel the sun on your skin. You can tell it's truly loved and cared for by the community and there were lots of other little pups for our dog to meet while we were there. My only regret is that I didn't grab some food before we stopped here so that we could have enjoyed a nice little picnic. If you are in the area it is definitely worth the stop.