30+ Free Des Moines Metro Wading Pools, Spraygrounds, and Fountains

Are you ready for summer weather and looking for free places to get wet around Des Moines? I have the list for you! Sharing free play fountains, spraygrounds, and wading pools with pictures. There is a link to a DSMOF page with more information about the site listed under each one. I’ll be doing round-ups of area pools, area beaches, and area creeks to creek stomp in as well, so subscribe to my newsletter so you don’t miss them! Be sure to stay safe and check out some of our favorite summer gear essentials in this post here.

If you click through you’ll see my notes on places if I’ve been there, but I have to say that my personal favorite is McHenry. Chime in with yours in the comments!

Fountains & Water Features

[Photo courtesy of Des Moines Parks and Rec]

Evelyn Davis Park Play Fountain in Des Moines

Sargent Park Play fountain in Des Moines

[Photo courtesy of Snyder & Associates]

Prairie Heritage Park in Altoona

Cowles Commons Lauridsen Fountain in Des Moines

Western Gateway Park in Des Moines

Wading Pools

Linnan Park Wading Pool in Clive

Jordan Park Wading Pool in Des Moines

Sayers Park Wading pool in Des Moines

[no photo yet!]

Bates Park Wading Pool in Des Moines

Pete Crivaro Park Wading Pool in Des Moines

Burke Park Wading Pool in Des Moines

Union Park Wading Pool in Des Moines

[no picture yet!]

Ashby Park Wading Pool in Des Moines

[no picture yet!]

Tower Park Wading Pool in Des Moines

PLEASE NOTE: The wading pool is permanently closed and the sprayground is under construction as of 5/28/2019.

[no picture yet!]

Ashfield Park Wading pool in Des Moines

Chesterfield Park Wading Pool in Des Moines

Lions Park Wading Pool in Urbandale

Stone Park Wading Pool in Des Moines

Jester Park Natural Playscape Wading Pool in Granger

MLK Park Spray/Wading Pool in Des Moines

[no picture yet!]

Drake Park Wading Pool in Des Moines

Spraygrounds

Columbus Park Sprayground in Des Moines

Fox Creek Splash Pad in Waukee, Iowa

Grandview Park Sprayground in Des Moines

Good Park Sprayground in Des Moines

McHenry Park Sprayground and Play Stream in Des Moines

Ashworth Sprayground in Des Moines

Woodlawn Park Sprayground in Des Moines

[no photo yet!]

Sheridan Park Sprayground in Des Moines

[Picture courtesy of West Des Moines Parks & Rec}

Legion Park Sprayground in West Des Moines

Dean Park sprayground in Ankeny

[no photo yet!]

Prairie Ridge sprayground in Ankeny (free only for a short window in the morning before the aquatic center opens!)

Sunrise Park sprayground in Ankeny

Crestbruck Park in Ankeny

Want a printed list with addresses and hours for easy access? Get yours here!

Notes!

• Possible sprayground at Fairmont Park, investigating for details!
• Raccoon River Sprayground in West Des Moines is CLOSED indefinitely, they plan to eventually remove it and replace it with no set date for construction.
• Fox Creek Park in Waukee will have a sprayground in the future, with no set date for construction (noted here).
• There is also a splash pad at the Adel pool, Clive Aquatic Center, and the Urbandale Pool but none of them are free.

You can see all of the above places on a map below! Find the main map, that includes these sites along with pools, hiking trails, playgrounds. etc. on this page.

I’d love if you pinned the image below, don’t forget this list so you can get outside and get wet!

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