The Directory
Kid friendly businesses, organizations and services in the Des Moines area.
Whether you live in Ankeny, Altoona, Clive, Des Moines, Grimes, Indianola, Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee, Windsor Heights, West Des Moines or beyond, find the local resources your family needs in in the dsm4kids Directory!
While all submissions are considered, inclusion in the Directory is based on relevance. Businesses or organizations outside of Central Iowa or primarily geared toward adults may not be listed.
If you are a business or organization and would like to submit a directory listing, please click on Submit Business Listing.
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Trails for hiking, biking & snowmobiling plus swimming, boating & fishing on the lake; no camping.
Birdland is one of the biggest multi-functional parks in Des Moines. This park is a great place to host any occasion or to take your boat out for a spin. The off street parking and accessible playground make this park easy to access and utilize
Park Amenities:
picnic tables
grills
playground
open air shelter
enclosed shelter
Marina Amenities:
boat ramp
fuel dock
restrooms
off street parking
recreation trail
AMENITIES:
Fishing
Parking Lot
Pond
Walking/Biking Trails
The centerpiece of this beautiful park on the southside of Des Moines is its 172-acre lake. Five picnic shelters and three children's playgrounds overlook the lake. A boat ramp provides access for anglers trying to catch the walleye, bass, and catfish stocked by the Conservation Board into the lake every year. During the summer, a swimming beach provide another wonderful way to enjoy the lake.
This 135-acre park rests on a portion of the former calvary post established on Army Post Road in 1903. Its centerpiece is a deep 14-acre lake, but the park also features two picnic shelters, a children's playground, and an arboretum.
Large, year-round area featuring a lake with boat ramp, playground, ice-skating rink, trails & more.
Lake Ahquabi offers a relaxing escape from the summer heat. Swimming, sunbathing, boating and fishing are all popular activities on the pristine manmade lake. With rental boats available, everyone can enjoy the water from a canoe, paddle boat or kayak. Wander along shady trails as you wind your way around the lake or explore the woods. Find your favorite spot in the park, and grill out with family and friends at one of the picnic areas. For a cold drink or snack, visit the boathouse for concessions.
A 115-acre man-made lake has a large sandy beach and offers unsupervised swimming. Boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboats are available for rent through the concessionaire. Bait is also available through the concessionaire.
A modern boat ramp is located at the northern end of the park. Another ramp is located in the campground. Lake Ahquabi is popular with anglers. A number of fishing jetties and a handicapped accessible fishing pier provide great places for a day of shoreline fishing.
"Ahquabi" is a Sauk and Fox word meaning "resting place," and it is a fitting name for this scenic 770-acre park. The park site was recommended by "Ding" Darling, nationally known Iowa political cartoonist and conservationist, and was dedicated in 1936. Many of its structures were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930's and remain available for the enjoyment of park visitors.
Within park
Bait, Beach, Bicycling, Bird Watching, Boat Launch Ramp, Boat Rental, Boating, Camping - Electric, Camping - Nonelectric, Camping - Youth Group, Canoeing, Concession, Cross Country Skiing, Day-use Lodge, Dock, Fishing, Dump Station, Firewood Sales, Fish Cleaning Station, Fishing, Hiking, Horseshoe Pits, Jogging/Running, Kayak Rental, Kayaking, Modern Campground, Mountain Biking, Paddle Boat Rental, Paddle Boating, Park Lake, Picnic Area, Picnic Shelter, Pier, Fishing, Playground, Restrooms, Retail, Firewood, Retail, Ice, Retail, Snacks, Showers, Snowmobiling, Swimming - Beach, Trails, Cross Country Skiing, Trails, Hiking, Trails, Mountain Bike, Trails, Snowmobile, Water Hydrants , Wildflower Viewing, Wildlife Viewing
Raccoon River Park, located in the southeast part of West Des Moines, is the "crown jewel" of the West Des Moines Parks system. The 631.61 acres of parkland provide active and passive recreational experiences, along with several hundred acres of natural areas for wildlife.
The Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park were once a coal mine. Today, the lakes and surrounding area serve both as a wildlife management area and a recreation destination. Visitors to Summerset can picnic, boat, fi sh and bike. A nearby shooting range helps hunters perfect their shot to use hunting in the nearby Middle River Wildlife Area. Mountain bikers can test their skills at any level in the mountain bike area. Summerset’s trout fi shery is a great spot to catch dinner.