Splash pads in West Des Moines, Iowa

Raccoon River Park is the West Des Moines crown jewel — 632 acres with a real swimming beach, paddleboat rentals, a destination playground, and a splash pad that lets you toggle between deep-water swimming and zero-depth spray play in the same afternoon. The pad has both toddler ground sprays and arching jets for big kids. Free parking is huge but fills by 11am summer weekends. Parent gotcha: the beach has a gradual drop-off but unattended sand toys disappear fast — keep gear close. Pack a cooler; the on-site concession is fine but lines stretch by lunch. Central Iowa's best beach-day combo, no contest.