Shady Playgrounds in the Des Moines, Iowa Area

Check out a list of the playgrounds with shade in Des Moines, Iowa and surriounding suburbs.

When summer temperatures hit and your kids still need to get outside and play, check out these shady playgrounds around the Des Moines, Iowa area! This list is partially generated off of other folks’ suggestions; if you disagree or have more to add, please just leave a comment and I’ll happily include it in the notes. Shade can also vary due to the time of day, if I know when the pictures were taken I’ve included that note as well! As I add pictures and update with new pictures, you can subscribe to my newsletter to stay in the loop.

I know it isn’t always an option to make it to a shady park, so I’ll share some of the things that keep us from getting sunburned (knock on wood) when we are at sunny playgrounds.

Adel

Kinnick Feller Park 

kinnick feller park adel iowa (1) kinnick feller park adel iowa (2)

 

Altoona

Haines Park in Altoona

haines park altoona iowa (2)

haines park altoona iowa (4)

Des Moines

Tower Park in Des Moines

Tower Park, Sprayground, Des Moines, Iowa, Des Moines Parks

Stewart Square Park in Des Moines

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[photo courtesy of Des Moines Parks & Recreation]

Greenwood Park in Des Moines

  • Toddler playground and sprayground are both in full sun

greenwood park des moines iowa

greenwood park des moines iowa

greenwood park sprayground des moines iowa

Chamberlain Park in Des Moines

chamberlain park des moines iowa (1)

 

chamberlain park des moines iowa (2)

Drake Park in Des Moines

  • No updated pictures.

Jordan Park in Des Moines

jordan park wading pool des moines iowa

McHenry Park in Des Moines

  • Sprayground is in full sun

mchenry park des moines iowa (3)

mchenry park natural playscape

mchenry park sprayground des moines iowa

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Urbandale

Golfview Park in Urbandale

2

[photo courtesy of Urbandale Parks & Rec]

Path

[photo courtesy of Urbandale Parks & Rec]

Lions Park in Urbandale

lions park urbandale iowa (8)

lions park urbandale iowa (7)

lions park urbandale iowa (6)

lions park urbandale iowa (2)

lions park urbandale iowa (1)

Coronado Park in Urbandale

[Picture courtesy of Christine G.]

[Picture courtesy of Christine G.]

 

Golfview West Park in Urbandale

golfview park west urbandale iowa

[photo courtesy of Urbandale Parks & Rec]

Colby Woods Open Space in Urbandale, Iowa

[Photo courtesy of Urbandale Parks and Rec]

[photo courtesy of Urbandale Parks & Rec]

Ashleaf Park in Urbandale

[Photo courtesy of Urbandale Parks & Rec}
[Photo courtesy of Urbandale Parks & Rec}

Walker Johnston Park in Urbandale

  • the main playground is mostly not, the baby swings are most of the day; but the toddler swings, wooden playscape, and the second conventional playground that is closer to Hillsdale Dr. are

[Photo courtesy of Urbandale Parks and Rec]
[Photo courtesy of Urbandale Parks and Rec]
walker johnston second playground hillsdale

walker johnston toddler playground shade

walker johnston park wooden playground

 

West Des Moines

Meadowview Park in West Des Moines

meadowview park west des moines iowa (3)

meadowview park west des moines iowa (2)

Legion Park in West Des Moines

  • The splash pad is in full sun, all-day
  • The shade is in the morning only

legion park in west des moines iowa (2)

legion park in west des moines iowa (4)

[Picture courtesy of West Des Moines Parks & Rec}
[Picture courtesy of West Des Moines Parks & Rec}

Clive

George Lundberg Park in Clive

george lundberg clive park

Linnan Park in Clive

  • The shade is in the afternoon only

[photo courtesy of Clive Parks and Recreation]
[photo courtesy of Clive Parks and Recreation]
Greenbelt Park (off 86th) in Clive

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17619225_10100483249516231_1955979128_n

[pictures taken in the morning]

Greenbelt Park (off 100th) in Clive

  • The shade is in the afternoon only

[photo courtesy of Clive Parks and Recreation]

[picture courtesy of Clive Parks & Rec]

 

 Map:

You can see the full map with all parks, hiking trails, places to get wet, etc. on this page. This is a map only of the shady parks!

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Check out a list of the playgrounds with shade in Des Moines, Iowa and surriounding suburbs.

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