Due to the falling temperatures and freezing weather, Polk County Conservation has turned off water services in the campgrounds.
The Jester Park Nature Center will remain closed until further notice to align with Polk County’s COVID public facility operations plan. However, the Jester Park Outdoor Recreation & Wellness Center is open due to the open air nature of this facility.
UPDATE: JULY 27, 2020 | Parks, trails, and campgrounds are open! Read below for the most up-to-date COVID-19 notifications.
Does your company offer Volunteer Paid Time Off (VTO)? Join us as we collect seed from plants ready to harvest from one of our county parks. Come and go between your allotted hours.
Spiders are some of the most commonly feared and misunderstood creatures in this world. Discover how spiders are actually fascinating animals, including their unique adaptations and the important role they play in ecosystems.
Explore the wonder and beauty of Jester Park at night under a full moon. Feel free to dress up in your Halloween costumes!
Polk County Conservation has made the decision to close the Jester Park Outdoor Recreation & Wellness Center to the public on Monday, October 26. We will continue to monitor public health recommendations related to COIVD-19 and reopen the facility when it is safe to do so.
OWLS is going virtual. Some can fly, dig, and swim, but we all have one thing in common, we’re all mammals, including us. We’ll discuss the characteristics that make mammals a unique class of animals and review the diverse selection of species living here in Iowa.
Beginning on Wednesday, October 14th, the interior vestibule at the Jester Park Nature Center will be open to the public during park hours seven days per week. Visitors will be able to obtain park brochures, trail maps, and use the restroom facilities.
Let your imagination run wild with this fun, nature-themed story time! Hear a story followed by the naturalist’s choice of an activity such as an animal encounter, puppets or a craft.
Discover how horses help humans heal mentally and emotionally through the Jester Park Equestrian Center's free demonstration for first responders & health care workers, Retreat With Horses.
Join us as we discuss the wild nightlife in Jester Park. A short hike will follow as we search for some of these nocturnal creatures.
