Blue Heron is a 232 acre lake that is the center piece of the park and provides boat access for area fishing enthusiasts and water lovers. The entire lake is designated a no wake zone, thus providing a more passive recreational experience. The lake is managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and home to a wide variety of species of fish.

Swimming Beach

Need a place to let your dog run off some excess energy? Dogs of all shapes and sizes enjoy romping through the 10-acre fenced play area of the Raccoon River Park Dog Park. The facility is open daily, year-round, from 6:30 am until dusk and features areas for both large and small dogs. The park, located just to the east of the softball complex, is also a great place to meet other dog lovers and enjoy each other's pets. Users are required to purchase a Dog Park Permit or Day Pass to utilize the facility.

Informational Brochure and Dog Park Rules

Dog Park Map

Raccoon River Park Dog Park Ambassador Program

Dog Park Permits

*All dogs residing in the City of West Des Moines are required by law to have a City Pet License in order to purchase a Raccoon River Park Dog Park Annual Permit.

The City of West Des Moines offers a convenient way to purchase Dog Park Permits and City Pet Licenses through Barkpass. You can now purchase a Dog Park Permit, which grants you access to the dog park along with a Pet License.

To get started, simply follow these easy steps:

• Visit the Bark Pass website to get started
• Create a new account and input your dog's information
• WDM Residents will also be asked to purchase a City Pet License
• Complete payment
• Receive approval email (please allow up to 3 business days)
• Play at the park! 

Note: A new gate code system has been implemented to enhance security and ensure that only dog park permit holders can access the park. Each permit holder will receive the gate code via email upon purchase through the Barkpass system. The code will be sent to the email address used during the application process.

City Pet Licenses can be purchased online or in person at these locations:

West Des Moines City Hall
Parks and Recreation Department
4200 Mills Civic Parkway
8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday-Friday
(515) 222-3444 or (515) 222-3600

Raccoon River Park
Nature Lodge
2500 Grand Avenue
8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday-Friday or when the facility is open for rentals
(515) 222-3424

The Raccoon River Park Archery Facility is the first of its kind in Iowa and includes features such as:

• Enclosure walls/fencing
• Overhead ‘arrow curtains’
• Shelter over shooting area
• Staging area
• 12 shooting lanes
• Targets up to 40 yards distance

Archery Facility Brochure and Archery Facility Rules

ARCHERY FACILITY PERMITS

Day Passes and Annual Permits can be purchased online:

Day Passes and Annual Permits can also be purchased in-person at the following locations:

West Des Moines City Hall
Parks and Recreation Department
4200 Mills Civic Parkway
8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday-Friday
515-222-3444

Raccoon River Park
Nature Lodge
2500 Grand Avenue
8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday-Friday or when facility is open for rentals
515-222-3424

Please contact us at (515) 222-3444 or at ParkRec@wdm.iowa.gov with questions.

The Raccoon River Park is home to the West Des Moines Soccer Club. The soccer complex is located on the southwest side of the park and features a multi-field setup that provides a great setting for area youth of varying abilities to enjoy the sport. For information regarding joining a soccer team, please contact the WDM Soccer Club at (515) 222-0079 or visit www.wdmsc.org

Learn more about this great amenity.

The new inclusive playground provides more than 52,000 square feet of play equipment, seating areas, and landscape. Over 1,500 shrubs and perennials, and 40 trees, will allow children, adults and caregivers to experience the sensory aspects of plants as well as play amenities.

The playground design focuses on Universal Design which welcomes children and families of all abilities to learn, play, and grow together. All children are enabled to develop physically, cognitively, socially, and emotionally. Pods of various types of play feature motion, swings, sensory, themed play, and climb & crawl. Each method of play has different means of access, allowing kids to scramble up hills or use sloping paths to reach the top.

The design team was led by Genus Landscape Architects and Ingrid Kanics, a specialist who focuses on Universal Design and sensory play in community play spaces.

Public Art
The playground will feature a new permanent piece of public art that is being commissioned by the West Des Moines Public Art Advisory Council. The 14’ wide by 8’ tall sensory wall will be inspired by the natural elements of the park and will feature tactile elements such as wood, cork, clay pebbles, and marbles.

Boat Ramp 

The boat ramp and parking area just inside the entrance to Raccoon River Park provide lake lovers great access to Blue Heron Lake.

Situated along the western bank, sits an accessible fishing pier. The225 foot long pier provides excellent access for fishing enthusiasts of all ages and abilities.

With adjacent parking, and handicapped access to the pier, this park amenity is utilized heavily throughout the year. The pier is easy to find once you arrive at the park. Just take a left turn as you enter the park and you will see the pier on your right hand side.

The park also offers a 3.2 mile crushed rock/asphalt nature trail around the entire lake. The trail winds its way between the lake and the Raccoon River providing a natural experience that can rarely be found in an urban environment. The trail is perfect for a leisurely stroll or bike ride around the lake.

Our Environmental Education Program Guide outlines a variety of classroom and outdoor learning opportunities led by naturalist Jess Lancial. Programs are designed to support science and environmental education standards while engaging students in hands-on exploration of the natural world.

Teachers can choose from in-school presentations, on-site field trips, or guided outdoor experiences. Topics range from local ecosystems and wildlife to conservation practices and seasonal changes.

View the guide to learn more about available programs and how to schedule a visit or field trip for your class.

Birding at Raccoon River Park

Read a short article written for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union about the great birding at Raccoon River Park.

Did you know that Raccoon River Park has a Purple Martin nest box? It has been up for 3 nesting seasons now (2019-2021), and the 2021 season was quite successful. All 18 cavities in the box had Purple Martin nests, and 73 young were fledged out of the box this summer. Learn more about the Purple Martin.

Plants and Weed Control

Visitors to Raccoon River Park during the spring and early summer are sure to notice the sea of dandelions, either brilliant yellow or fluffy white.  The growth of dandelions, along with other weeds in the mowed grass areas in the park, is due to efforts to keep West Des Moines' drinking water supply safe. The park is home to several shallow water wells that supply drinking water to our residents. State regulations prohibit the application of chemicals, including fertilizers or pesticides, within 200 feet of the shallow wells and 100 feet of a deep well near the softball complex. The softball complex and soccer complex located in Raccoon River Park were planned to be far enough away from the wells to allow chemical treatment of the turf in these areas.  Otherwise, the rest of the park is off-limits to chemicals.

View a list of plants (grasses & forbs, trees & shrubs, vines, and herbs) that can be found in Raccoon River Park.

Even Water Public Art

Even Water is an eight-piece cycle suite of permanent sculptures installed in Raccoon River Park in 2019. It is fabricated from mirror-polished stainless steel and bronze. 

Water plays a critical role in a community’s quality of life, from public health and safety to recreation and beauty. Knowing what a watershed is and how we can each play a role in preserving its function and value is important, but rarely understood. The West Des Moines Public Arts Advisory Commission aspired to use a public art initiative to raise awareness of watersheds and everyday actions residents and businesses can take to improve water quality in a watershed. The Commission wants every person who experiences Even Water to be enlightened, empowered, and proud to live in West Des Moines.  

Learn more about Even Water.

Playground Sensory Wall 

The creation of the public art sensory wall was a collaborative effort that prioritized the involvement of individuals with autism. The artist, Hilde DeBruyne, recognized the value and importance of including the voices and perspectives of those who would benefit most from this artwork. To truly capture the experience of individuals with autism, DeBruyne worked closely with members of Kunzler Studios 'The Least of These Foundation' during the design and production process. This not only allowed for their unique insights and ideas to be incorporated into the final product but also provided them with a platform to express themselves and feel a sense of ownership over the artwork. By involving individuals with autism in the creation of the blue tiles that adorn the wall, DeBruyne ensured that the piece would be a true representation of their experiences and perspectives. This collaborative approach not only enhances the authenticity and impact of the artwork but also promotes a sense of inclusivity and empowerment for those involved. Through this project, DeBruyne has not only created a stunning piece of public art but has also fostered a sense of community and understanding for individuals with autism. This sensory wall stands as a shining example of the power of collaboration and inclusion in the world of art and serves as a meaningful and beautiful tribute to the unique experiences of those with autism.

Aqua Strata

This multi-pieced sculpture, located inside the Nature Lodge, was created using stained wood, plexiglass, and various metals, and was inspired by native Iowa animals and insects that are immediately impacted by the amount and condition of the water that flows through a watershed. A watershed is the water that flows over land as runoff and collects in streams, creeks, ponds, and rivers. The “floating” abstract totems communicate the connection of the patterns found in natural forms with the patterns and flow of the West Des Moines watershed map the sculptures stand upon. There are 9 watersheds and over 100 watershed tributaries in West Des Moines.

Each Aqua Strata totem and map section is adorned with students’ original watercolor paintings. The pigments used in Aqua Strata represent the visual journey of students when learning about the fibers in watercolor paper. The patterns of layered wood reference the stratified layers of soil that water flows through. It is a hope that this artwork will invite the viewer to question and investigate the significance and importance of water’s path in urban and natural environments.

Artist Bounnak Thammavong worked with teachers and students in West Des Moines Community Schools to create the painted artwork found on the sculpture pieces. Students used watercolors to paint pre-printed templates. Student names can be found on the painted templates. Thammavong then cut out the painted templates and adhered them to the bases and enclosed them in the plexiglass sculpture tops.