Celebrate the Olympics with Polk County Conservation

Watching the Olympics can inspire you to start a new hobby or adventure. Start yours with Polk County Conservation. Whether it's biking, swimming, or even skateboarding, you can join in on all the summer Olympic fun. Here are the Olympic sports you can learn at your own, local county park!

Archery

Enjoy archery at the Jester Park Outdoor Recreation and Wellness Center. For ages 10+ learn how to shoot bow and arrow, learn cover eye dominance, archery safety rules, equipment, and proper shooting techniques. 

Learn where and how you can take aim by clicking here.

Canoe Sports

Easter Lake Park, Jester Park, Yellow Banks Park, Thomas Mitchell Park, and Fort Des Moines Park are all perfect canoeing locations. Rentals are available at some of these locations, practice your skills or spend time with friends on the water. 

Click here to learn where rentals are available and watch a video series on local river paddle routes.

Cycling

Cycling can be enjoyed be people of all ages and abilities! From road, mountain, to recreational use, Polk County Conservation cooperatively manages several trails throughout the county that provide excellent cycling opportunities.

Find a trail, click here. 

Equestrian

The Jester Park Equestrian Center is located in Granger, Iowa, on the southwest side of Saylorville Lake and just two miles south of the Jester Park Nature Center. Here you can simply meet and pet the horses or take your first trail ride. Kids can attend semi-annual horse camps.

Come out to enjoy our horse programming, educational displays, hiking trails, public events, and more!

• Horses Helping Heroes
• Services and Programs
• Facility Rentals
• Volunteering

Swimming

Practice your swimming skills at Easter Lake Park. The beach is open from Sunset to sunrise, During the summer recreation season, Polk County Conservation staff are regularly monitoring the water in Easter Lake.

Click here to learn more about the water quality at Easter Lake before you take your next dip. 

Shooting (Air Riffle)

Target shooting is a lifelong sport and can be practiced for most at an early age and continue through adulthood. Learn the basics of air rifle target shooting from our certified staff. Come have a great time with us learning how to shoot!

To learn more, click here. 

Skateboarding

The Lauridsen Skatepark is a world-class park that has hosted some of the same Olympians you see competing this year. Though competition-ready, the park was designed with the community in mind, so it includes a range of features that make skateboarding accessible to beginners too.

Located in the heart of downtown Des Moines, the skatepark sits on five acres at the northern edge of the Principal Riverwalk – just east of the Wells Fargo Arena and Iowa Events Center. 

• HOURS & RULES
• SKATEPARK FEATURES

Volleyball

Volley, set and spike! This game can be as laid back or competitive as you desire. There's no stadium seating at these courts. Instead, we offer a peaceful setting with incredible views of nature. Visit one of these Polk County Conservation Board Parks and serve up a game of volleyball!

• Easter Lake Park has five regulation size sand volleyball courts. Shelters one through four have courts that can be reserved as part of a shelter reservation. If another party has not reserved the shelter, the courts are offered on a first come first serve basis. The fifth court is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, and is located near the soccer field. Volleyballs are not provided for any of the five courts.
• Fort Des Moines Park has one regulation size sand volleyball court. The court at Shelter #2 can be reserved as part of a shelter reservation. If another party has not reserved Shelter #2, the court is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Volleyballs are not provided.
• Jester Park has two regulation size volleyball nets at Shelters #2 & #3 which are included with a shelter reservation or are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Volleyballs are not provided.
• Thomas Mitchell Park has one regulation size sand volleyball court. The court near Shelter #1 can be reserved as part of a shelter reservation. If another party has not reserved Shelter #1, the court is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Volleyballs are not provided.