Cohen Park

Cohen Park is a small neighborhood park located in Des Moines, Iowa, just south of the East Village area. The park underwent significant improvements and renovations in 2023-2024, transforming it into a unique recreational space for the community.

One of the standout features of Cohen Park is its bouldering area, which consists of three artificial cement boulders. These boulders are designed to cater to both beginners trying bouldering for the first time and more experienced climbers looking to improve their skills. The bouldering area has a woodchip ground cover for safety, though the use of crash pads is recommended.

The park also features an interactive Sutu wall, a high-tech play feature manufactured by Yalp, a Dutch company. This wall contains 16 illuminated LED panels that can detect ball contact through vibration sensors, making it suitable for various sports like soccer, tennis, and basketball. The Sutu wall comes with an online app that tracks available games, playing times, and the number of games played.

Cohen Park includes a half basketball court that shares space with the Sutu wall, maximizing the use of the small park area. Additionally, the park houses a refurbished and relocated historical Ensign Fountain, which was originally donated to Des Moines in 1906 and placed in the park in 1915. This fountain, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976, runs continuously and serves as a water source for local residents.

The park's recent renovations also incorporated integrated park and floodwater improvements, demonstrating a collaboration between the city's Public Works Department and Parks and Recreation Department. These enhancements aim to make the park more inclusive and accessible to all community members.