Union Park — Attraction in Des Moines

Union Park in Des Moines is one of the city’s most charming, family-friendly parks. With a mix of nostalgic attractions, green space, playgrounds, and special events, it’s a great place to spend a few hours (or a whole afternoon). Here are some fun things to do — plus tips — if you plan to visit: What’s There & What to Do Heritage Carousel One of the stars of Union Park is the hand-carved Heritage Carousel. It has 30 animals and two chariots, all beautifully painted and carved. Rides are very affordable (kids pay around 50¢; adults about a dollar). It’s a great nostalgic experience, especially for kids. And many visitors love it just for its beauty and craftsmanship. The Heritage Carousel Travel Iowa Rocket Slide & Playground The park has an iconic “Rocket Slide” — a towering vintage slide that many Des Moines residents recall from childhood. It’s part of the playground setup, which includes swings, climbing equipment, etc. For hot days, there's also a splash pool / wading area for kids to cool off.

Picnicking & Green Spaces With 51 acres (including mature trees, open lawns, shaded areas) there’s plenty of space to spread a blanket, have a picnic, toss a frisbee, or just relax.

Sports & Courts For more active fun, there are tennis courts, basketball courts etc. Good for families, groups of friends, or just getting out for some exercise.

Formal Gardens & Scenic Walks The park includes some gardened spaces and pleasant walkways. Even just strolling through gives a chance to appreciate mature trees, garden beds, classic park design.

Seasonal Events Union Park hosts events occasionally — concerts, community gatherings — and special events at the carousel. Keeping an eye on the schedule can be worth it.

The Heritage Carousel Tips for Visiting Best time of day: Mornings or later afternoon tend to be less crowded, more comfortable in summer. What to bring: Picnic gear, sunscreen, water, maybe swimsuits/towels for kids (if you plan on the splash pool). Check timing: Carousel hours are usually weekend 11 am-7 pm during certain seasons.

The Heritage Carousel Parking: There is parking nearby; plan for some walking from the lot to playgrounds etc. Union Park offers a nice mix of nostalgia and everyday fun — great for families, casual visits, or even...

This park was so much fun to visit. My girls enjoyed the carousel 🎠, the unique playground equipment and the splash pad that doubles as a shallow toddler pool! My children were offered a free lunch here as well as part of a free lunch program, for children who are school aged in Des Moines. That was so so neat since I was in the middle of taking my children's sandwich orders to go make them lunch while they continued to enjoy this swimming area at the park when I was invited to have free sandwiches with them, on site! My daughter really loved playing on the playground equipment bc it was truly unique to any equipment we've ever played on and didn't want to leave even after a few hours of play she still was not quite ready to leave when we were. The restrooms were relatively clean considering they were public, park restrooms and they're single restrooms that hold one person or family at a time with a lock behind you. The women's restroom includes a changing table as well that was clean looking. Parking here was not far from the play areas and was decorated by beautiful displays of flowers and foliage. I saw fliers for some fun, neat, family friendly events that I would attend if I lived in Des Moines, I would take my children to go see and do since they seemed worthwhile. If you're thinking of visiting this park then you should definitely check it out as it is 100% an awesome experience and will not disappoint your little ones! Des Moines is a fun...

Union Park is a very nice park with plenty of activities for the whole family.

They have three different playgrounds, including the famous Rocket Slide, two different sets of swings (one for small children), a tennis court, one of the new splash pads that all of the Des Moines city parks are implementing, a carousel, and plenty of Green Acres 2 just enjoy a little bit of Mother Nature.

I unfortunately do have to give this place four stars instead of five because the ground was covered with litter when I was there... And I kind of have a feeling that this is the norm. I realize that's more because of the disrespectful park visitors, rather than the people who take care of the park, but still not a nice sight to see.

Will definitely be visiting again soon, but probably in the early mornings before it...