Water Works Park

Des Moines Water Works Park is a 1,500-acre urban park located southwest of downtown Des Moines, Iowa. It is one of the largest urban parks in the United States, nearly twice the size of New York City's Central Park. The park stretches from Fleur Drive west to 63rd Street, bounded by the Raccoon River on the north edge and George Flagg Parkway to the south.

The park serves a dual purpose as both a public recreation area and the first water source for Des Moines Water Works in meeting the drinking water needs of 500,000 Greater Des Moines residents. In the 1920s and 1930s, Des Moines Water Works acquired land upstream of the Raccoon River to protect the water source, which became Water Works Park.

The park features open wooded areas, trails, and picnic facilities. It is home to the Arie den Boer Arboretum, one of the world's largest collections of flowering crab apple trees with approximately 300 varieties. In recent years, the park has undergone renovations to enhance visitor experiences while maintaining its core function as a water source.

Water Works Park hosts various events throughout the year, including concerts at the Lauridsen Amphitheater, which was completed in 2019. The amphitheater can accommodate events with 2,000 to 25,000 participants. A connecting passageway to the adjacent Gray's Lake Park allows visitors to move between the two green spaces.