Shady Playgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa

by Kaci Kennedy

Shady Playgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa

When summer temperatures hit and your kids still need to get outside and play, check out these shady playgrounds around the Des Moines, Iowa area! Bookmark this guide as you explore the Des Moines metro parks.

Take a look at some other fun outdoor guides:

Des Moines

Drake Park

Address: 2300 Drake Park Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311

Drake Park is a classic Des Moines neighborhood park. The main playground equipment is shaded throughout most of the day. The sprayground has full sun.

Chamberlain Park

Address: 2134 Woodland Ave, Des Moines, IA 50314

Chamberlain Park is another classic Des Moines neighborhood park with fully shaded playground equipment. This neighborhood park, close to downtown and the Ingersoll area, is a perfect little escape from the hustle and bustle.

State Fair Playground

Address: 3245 E University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317

One of my family’s favorite shaded parks. The playground is free and open to the public during non-state fair times. The wooden train is a perfect place for imagination to come alive. My kids love the standard playground and the twisty wall. The train is shaded most of the day and the standard playground equipment is shaded during most of the day.

Stewart Square Park

Address: 1401 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50316

Located just east of the Capitol building, this playground is shaded most of the day. My monkey bar-loving children love coming to this park to climb around.

Greenwood Park

Address: 100 45th St, Des Moines, IA 50312

Greenwood Park’s 5-12-year-old playground is shaded most of the day. (The 2-5-year-old and playground are in full sun.) My kids love the playground equipment and sprayground here. I love how beautiful the park is. This is also one of our favorite local places to go hiking.

Urbandale

Lions Park

Address: 72nd Street and, NW Aurora Ave., Urbandale, IA 50322

Lions Park is my favorite shady park in the metro. The three main playground equipment structures are shaded most of the day by giant trees. They are close enough together that adults can talk during a playdate. The splash pad is in the open sun, but there are artificial shades over multiple benches and picnic tables around the splash pad.

Rocklyn Park

Address: 70th St & New York Ave, Urbandale, IA 50322

Rockyln Park is a newly updated quaint park. The playground equipment is smaller but perfect for younger children, especially ones who love to climb. Around the park is also a creek but hidden out of view for kids who may wander.

Golfview Park

Address: Aurora Ave & Hammontree Dr, Urbandale, IA 50322

Golfview Park is only accessible via Urbandale’s trail system. We park near the intersection of Hammontree Drive and 95th St to access the trail. This small playground is surrounded closely by trees. You feel like you have traveled to the middle of nowhere, it is absolutely lovely.

West Des Moines

Pinedale Park

Address: 3405 Woodland Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50266

Pinedale Park is shaded throughout most of the day (early evening in full sun.) This park is a great park for younger crowds. The 2-5-year-old structure is bigger than the standard size, there are multiple smaller slides and multiple ways to climb up. My kids also love the bouncers at this park.

Willow Springs

Address: 5685 Wistful Vista Dr, West Des Moines, IA 50266

Willow Springs Park was newly updated in 2023 with a fun hot-air balloon theme. This playground is partially shaded (with the shade mostly in the late afternoon/early evening.) My kids love that this playground has many unique features for them to discover as they are playing.

Peony Park

Address: 1100 63rd St, West Des Moines, IA 50266

Peony Park is a hidden gem shady park. This park has both large trees and multiple shade sails throughout the playground. This playground is simple but inviting with inclusive elements, unique climbing elements, excellent 2-5 playground structure, and ocean/land colored poured in rubber surfacing.

Pleasant Hill

Doanes Park

Adress: 4900 Doanes Park Rd, Pleasant Hill, IA 50327

Doanes Park’s 2-5-year-old and 5-12-year-old playground structures are fully shaded by large trees most of the day. My monkey bar-loving children especially love this playground. The splash pad and climbing pyramid are in a different area of the park and are in full sun. However, there is a large open-air shelter very close to both of these features.

Altoona

Haines Park

Address: 3rd Ave SE, Altoona, IA 50009

Haines Park has large shade trees throughout the whole park. The playground structure is partially throughout the day. This playground is a climber’s dream! The new splash pad is one of the only local splash pads that are shaded; it is shaded from late afternoon on.

Clive

George Lundberg Park

Address: 1450 NW 78th St, Clive, IA 50325

George Lundberg Park in Clive is the most quaint neighborhood park with a traditional play structure that is fully shaded by gorgeous tall trees. My kids and I both love the quietness of this park.

Linnan Park

Address: 8500 Alice Ave, Clive, IA 50325

Linnan Park is a large neighborhood park that has shade off and on throughout the day on different parts of the playground. This playground always seems to make my kids’ imagination come alive. They also love the globe spinner.