Birdland Park — Attraction in Des Moines

I love Birdland Park walk/bike trail with many parks within walking distance. (THIS REVIEW INCLUDES UNION PARK, DING A LING DARLING PARK, RIVERVIEW PARK, McHENRY PARK and CAPTAIN ROY'S RESTAURANT/BAR). Just south of the boat dock, you can eat/drink at Captain Roys Restaurant/bar. There in the same lot, is the boat ramp to the Des Moines River. Walk or bike the trail along the river & you will see ducks, boats/jet ski's, people fishing & if you are lucky, eagles. ONE of the close parks is Ding A Ling Darling right across the street north of boat dock with a large enclosed shelter to rent, that is right along the lagoon with a small playground area, and just across the street east and up the hill, you have the SECOND park, Union Park with the Musical Carousel (50¢), a large enclosed rental shelter, Giant Rocket Slide, tennis court, swing sets & two kiddie playgrounds with a swim area with benches (in the sun) & several round tables (in the shade), and also an open shelter with restrooms, right next to the pool. There is another another small enclosed rental shelter which is closer to the Rocket Slide. You also have Riverview Park, McHenry Park & Birdland Swimming Pool (and Tennis Courts), if you are willing to walk/bike the trail west a couple miles. While on the trail, before you get to the 6th Avenue bridge, you will need to cross the street & go over the small hill, then you will be at the Birdland swim pool & tennis courts. If instead you keep walking the trail you will pass the Grubb Football Stadium (North High School) and will soon meet up to the Riverview Park playground for kids (& handicap kids), with a band shell, a walking bridge that goes over the lagoon, a side walk that circles the park area, and up the hill from there, you will see an open air shelter, that is McHenry Park (with three shelters, two open air & one enclosed), a splash pad and playground, a baseball diamond with a swing set...

Birdland Park is located next to Union Park, and I think Union Park is a better choice. Birdland is on the river and has a marina for people who need to dock boats, and it also has a shelter house available for rent.

When we were there, there were spent fireworks around the parking lot, and the dumpster was overflowing. The playground was nice for young kids, but some of it was dirty. That sounds like a weird critique of an outdoor park, but I mean that the plastic windows on the playground were sprayed with orange liquid.

I think it could be a nice place for a group who rents the shelter, but it seems like it needs better upkeep. Union Park has more kids and more for kids to do, including a splash pad, playground, rocket slide, and carousel, so I'd recommend going...

If you like fishing there are a variety of fish species including Northern pike in the fishing side of the Marina. The bridge makes it so you can fish without getting your shoes and gear extra dirty. I call Birdland my " grab bag fishing spot" because I never know what I will hook into. The only down side is the fluctuating water levels. The fish get quite finicky if the water is too low or too high. I love the park area and the bike trails too. I usually bring my fishing gear, my bike, and my martial arts gear because I can do all of that here. Overall it is a very nice spot for pretty much everything. It is hard to find a spot like this in the city. Thumbs up...