Des Moines, IA
2020 ParkScore® ranking: #34
Our analysis is based on four characteristics of an effective park system:
access, investment, acreage, and amenities.
access, investment, acreage, and amenities.
How we calculated Des Moines’s ParkScore rating:
Access

55 out of 100
Acreage

82 out of 100
Investment

50 out of 100
Amenities

56 out of 100
We're working to ensure there's a park within a 10-minute walk of home
of every person, in every neighborhood, in every city across America.
of every person, in every neighborhood, in every city across America.
Is Des Moines meeting that goal?
70%
of residents live within a 10 minute walk of a park.
National average 55%
Percent of residents within a
10-minute walk of a park by age
10-minute walk of a park by age
Children (0 - 19)
Adults (20 - 64)
Seniors (65+)
Percent of residents within a
10-minute walk of a park by income
10-minute walk of a park by income

Percent of residents within a 10-minute walk of a park by race/ethnicity

13%
of Des Moines's city land is used for parks and recreation.
National median 15%
Where in Des Moines are parks needed most?
Des Moines has 158 parks
We’ve mapped park access in 14,000 cities and towns across the country. Our free mapping platform helps you pinpoint where to focus park investments in your city.
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Des Moines Park Amenities Compared to the 100 Largest U.S. Cities
Basketball Hoops
40 th percentile

2.7 per 10,000 people
Dog Parks
60 th percentile

1.3 per 100,000 people
Playgrounds
47 th percentile

2.6 per 10,000 people
Bathrooms
58 th percentile

2.1 per 10,000 people
Recreation and Senior Centers
54 th percentile

0.8 per 20,000 people
Splashpads
95 th percentile

7.4 per 100,000 people
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Mayor Frank Cownie has pledged to adopt long-term, system-wide strategies to make sure every Des Moines resident has access to all the benefits parks provide.
"I have endorsed the vision that everyone deserves a park or open space within a 10-minute walk of home." — Mayor Cownie
Learn about the 10-Minute Walk campaign