Valley View Park

Park Overview

Nestled near Jordan Creek Mall in West Des Moines, Valley View Park spans an impressive 80 acres of community space. This expansive park is being developed in phases, with recreational areas for both locals and visitors.

As one of West Des Moines' largest green spaces, Valley View strikes a thoughtful balance between preserving natural environments and creating fun, usable areas for people. The clean, family-friendly atmosphere makes it popular with residents looking to enjoy the outdoors.

Environmental Features

What's really cool about Valley View is how it prioritizes the land's ecological health. The park incorporates native plantings and innovative stormwater management systems throughout its design. It shows how development can work with nature rather than against it.

You'll find several walking paths with different routes fantastic for a leisurely stroll or an easy hike. Just a heads up - while the open layout creates great recreational space, you might want to bring a hat on sunny days as shade can be limited when the temperature climbs.

Aquatic Center

The Valley View Aquatic Center is definitely a highlight here. It features a leisure pool with spray toys, a relaxing lazy river, exciting water slides, and a 25-yard competitive pool complete with diving boards and drop slides for those seeking a bit more adventure.

You'll discover the aquatic center at the corner of 81st Street and Bridgewood Boulevard, just a quick half-mile jaunt west of Jordan Creek Town Center.

Sports and Recreation

Sports enthusiasts will feel right at home with the park's extensive recreational facilities. The eight dedicated pickleball courts are particularly impressive - they're well-lit for evening play and have fostered quite a welcoming community of players.

The park doesn't stop there. It also offers basketball courts, tennis courts, four sand volleyball courts, and even a cricket pitch. While the cricket ground is appreciated by local players, it could use more consistent maintenance.

If you're into more open-field activities, you'll appreciate the large playfields with backstops, meant for soccer or baseball. And on breezy days, these open spaces create ideal conditions for flying kites.

Amenities

If you're planning a gathering, Valley View has a nicely designed shelter that includes connected restrooms, built-in serving tables, electrical outlets, and water access. The area has multiple picnic tables and on-site grills for outdoor get-togethers.

Clean restroom facilities are available across the park, with well-constructed permanent facilities near the shelter area. If you're over by the pickleball courts or other activity zones, you'll come across portable toilets conveniently placed.

Getting around is easy with ample parking within the grounds, so you won't have to worry about long walks to reach your activity of choice.

Development

Valley View Park is very much a work in progress, with new features continuously being added as part of the city's development vision. We particularly like how they've incorporated natural berms and plantings around certain areas like the basketball courts - it adds aesthetic appeal while making the space more functional and defined.