• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Explore Des Moines
    • Winter in Des Moines
    • Our 10+ Favorite Des Moines Parks
    • Nature Areas and Parks in Des Moines
    • Des Moines Bike Trails Guide
    • Principal Riverwalk
    • Best Hiking Trails in Des Moines
  • Camping & Cabins
    • Best Fall Camping Near Des Moines
    • Camping Checklist [+ PDF]
    • Camping With Kids
    • Ultimate List of RV Essentials
    • Easy Camping Food Ideas
    • Iowa State Parks With Cabins
    • Des Moines Campground Guide
    • A Guide to Des Moines RV Parks
    • Cabin Rentals Near Des Moines
  • About
  • Contact Us
Des Moines Outdoors

Des Moines Outdoors

A Guide to Greenwood Ashworth Park

DSMOutdoors

Greenwood Park Lagoon

Greenwood Ashworth Park is a 140-acre park in the heart of Des Moines. There’s something for everyone here, from a dense forest and pond to trails and a swimming pool!

Greenwood and Ashworth are officially two separate parks, combined to provide a ton of outdoor recreational activities. 

A Brief History of Greenwood Ashworth Park

Greenwood Park became Des Moines’ first park in 1894 after park commissioners purchased the land. A rose garden and outdoor amphitheater were added in the 1930s. And the Des Moines Art Center opened its doors in 1948.

In 1996, the vision of artist Mary Miss became a reality when Greenwood Pond: Double Site (Greenwood Park Lagoon) became an outdoor classroom. The surrounding boardwalk offers easy access for an up-close experience. People of all ages learn first-hand about the pond’s wetland area, wildlife, and ecosystem.

Ashworth Park was donated to the city of Des Moines in 1924 by the Ashworth family, who came to Iowa in 1851. Charles H. Ashworth and his brother gifted the land, with the condition that it would be a city park with a pool.

Three Cairns
Midwest Cairn of the “Three Cairns” project (behind the Art Center, near the Rose Garden)

Things to Do at Greenwood Ashworth Park

The Rose Garden

The Clare and Miles Mills’ Rose Garden is 4.5 beautiful acres filled with hundreds of varieties of roses. Stroll through over 2000 roses of all shapes and sizes. It’s a gardener’s paradise but also the perfect spot for photos or a family outing. Entrance to the garden is free, and it’s available for rental for weddings and other events too!

The rose garden is just south of the Des Moines Art Center. Access it on the southwest side of the Art Center, off of the Myron and Jacqueline Blank Parkway. 

Sylvan Theater

The Sylvan Amphitheater is on a sloping landscape surrounded by mature oak trees. It’s on the west side of 45th St, close to Greenwood Park Lagoon. 

When opened in 1931, the theater held a standing audience of 1500—renovations in 2004 created seating for 200 people. The theater is on the National Register of Historic Places. Event rental is available.

Rose Garden
Claire and Miles Mills Rose Garden
Sylvan Amphitheater
Sylvan Theater

Greenwood Park Lagoon

The Greenwood Park Lagoon, also called Greenwood Pond, is a combination of urban wetland, art, and open-air classroom rolled into one. It’s on the west side of 45th Street, past the amphitheater. 

Visitors enjoy walking the boardwalk and trail surrounding the pond. And kids love exploring around the water’s edge. Fishing is also a popular activity; the Iowa DNR also stocks the pond with bass, bluegill, and catfish.

Greenwood Park Lagoon
Greenwood Park Lagoon

Greenwood Park Playground and Sprayground

Kids love the playground and sprayground area of the park! The popular sprayground was added in 2015 and is the perfect place to cool off on hot summer days. Featuring spraying rocks, complete with “fossils,” it offers summer fun for all ages. To get there, turn left (east) off 45th Street and go up the hill by the Greenwood Pond area (follow the signs).

Ashworth Pool

Ashworth pool is Iowa’s very first municipal pool. It was reconstructed in the 1980s and features a baby pool and a large, 50-meter pool, with lanes, diving boards, and water basketball hoops. It’s on the east side of 45th Street, at 101 SW 45th Street in Des Moines. For information on hours and admissions, visit the Des Moines Parks and Recreation page.

Tennis Court

A tennis court is by the playground and spraygrounds. Follow signs near the pond to the spraygrounds and school (up the hill on the east side of 45th Street).

Shelters

Enclosed and open shelters are near the playground. They’re available for rental through Des Moines Parks and Rec.

Des Moines Art Center

In 1948, the Des Moines Art Center opened on the north side of Greenwood Park. It’s expanded over the years and is home to a variety of inspirational and fascinating art exhibits. Admission to the museum is free. 

The Art Center also provides learning opportunities and is host to a wide range of events each year. 

Greenwood Park Sign
Corner of Grand Ave & Myron and Jaqueline Blank Pkwy
Greenwood Park Shelter
Shelter and Tennis Courts on the east side of the park

Trails at Greenwood Ashworth Park

When it comes to trails, there’s something for everyone in and around this great park. There are paved, gravel, and dirt trails for biking, hiking, and walking. 

A gravel trail circles the pond, and on the north side, a paved path leads to the Rose Garden.

A paved sidepath runs along 45th Street, ending on the south side of Greenwood pond. South of the pond, a narrow sidewalk is on the east side of the road for pedestrians to get to the pool.

On the south side of the park, you’ll find the Bill Riley Trail, a paved trail perfect for biking and walking. The trail intersects with Walnut Creek Trail just south of the park. From there, you can continue for miles and miles in any direction.

Center Trails are singletrack dirt trails through the park’s mature forest. Mountain bikers and hikers enjoy the adventure of heading into the woods on these trails. 

Greenwood Park Trail
Greenwood Park Trail from the Rose Garden to the Lagoon
Bill Riley Trailhead
Trailhead for Bill Riley Trail in Ashworth Park

Map of Greenwood Ashworth Park

Other Things to Do Nearby

The historic Salisbury House & Gardens is less than a mile from the park. Stop in for a self-guided tour to learn more about its unique architecture, and experience the beautiful gardens.

For an immersive experience, spend a night or two at the Butler House on Grand. This Bed and Breakfast is right across the street from the park!

Drive a mile and a half west of the park, you’ll find the area’s largest bowling alley. Val Lanes has 36 bowling lanes and a snack bar too! It’s at 100 Ashworth Road in West Des Moines.

Des Moines Water Works Park and Gray’s Lake Park are only three miles away via the Bill Riley Trail (and three miles by car). These parks offer a ton of great outdoor recreational activities. You can find miles of bike trails, picnic areas, and fishing, kayak rentals, and more. 

For a beautiful woodland hike, check out Brown’s Woods Forest Preserve, less than five miles from Greenwood Park.

Visit Greenwood Ashworth Park Today!

Greenwood Park is at 4500 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50312. Get to Ashworth Park by driving through Greenwood Park on 45th Street. The official address for Ashworth Park is 100 45th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50312.

Park hours are 6:00 am to 10:00 pm, seven days a week.

Free parking is at the Art Center, the pond, near the shelters and playground, and Ashworth Pool. Street parking is along 45th Street and at the Myron and Jacqueline Blank Parkway (west of the Art Center near the rose garden). Restrooms are at the shelters and Ashworth Pool.

Ashworth Pool
Ashworth Pool

Related Articles

Wetland Bridge Trail

Annett Nature Center Park: A Terrific Spot To Be Outdoors in Central Iowa

Little Paint Creek Campground

Yellow River State Forest: A NE Iowa Forest with Tons of Rustic Outdoor Adventures

facebookShare on Facebook
TwitterTweet
PinterestSave

Filed Under: Fishing, Parks

Primary Sidebar

About Des Moines Outdoors

Des Moines Outdoors is a site dedicated to helping you find the best of everything outdoors in the state of Iowa. We’re native Iowans that, for over 25 years, camped, hiked, biked, and explored our home state. We encourage you to do the same.

There’s so much more to see and do in Iowa than many people imagine! Our goal is to help visitors and residents alike experience the best of our beautiful state.

Search

More Outdoor Fun in Iowa

Sign up for our seasonal newsletter on the best things to do and places to see!

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

    No spam, just four newsletters each year.

    Built with ConvertKit
    Winter scavenger hunt printables
    outdoor gift guides
    Rv Essentials

    Recent Articles

    • Tennis & Pickleball Courts in Des Moines: Find an Outdoor Public Court Near You
    • Winter Hiking Gear: Best winter hiking boots, pants & other gear you need
    • Trout Fishing in Iowa: Best trout streams and lakes, fishing tips, and more
    • Animal Tracks in Snow: Identifying the Most Common Animal Tracks
    • Midwest Winter Getaways: Top 10 Winter Road Trips in the Midwest

    Categories

    Footer

    Categories

    Archives

    DISCLAIMER/DISCLOSURE

    We make no express or implied claims or warranties regarding this website or results from using the information, content, materials, products, or services on DesMoinesOutdoors.com.

    Everything you read on this site is for entertainment purposes only. We do our best to keep up with the latest info on parks, trails, and other outdoor activities. But things change, and we don’t always know. 

    Outdoor activities can be dangerous and unpredictable. Use of the information on DesMoinesOutdoors.com is at the users’ risk. Users recognize this risk and agree to hold us harmless for any liability from the use of information on DesMoinesOutdoors.com, including, but not limited to, bodily injury, death, property damage, sickness, or disease. We assume no liability for the use of this website, any information on the site, or any inconvenience or injury resulting from information on the activities or places on this site.

    This site may contain affiliate links. See the full disclosure here.

    Copyright © 2023 · Des Moines Outdoors