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A popular location for boats, swimmers, and fishing enthusiasts. The lake is much smaller than Saylorville. Trails, shooting range, and picnic facilities on-site.
Big Creek State Park is a 3,550-acre (1,440 ha) public recreation area located 15 miles (24 km) north-northwest of Des Moines in Polk County, Iowa, United States. The park's features include an 18-hole disc golf course, hiking trails, a swimming beach, a fishing jetty and boat ramps.
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One of central Iowa's most popular places for water activities, including boating, swimming, and fishing. Also has camping facilities, hiking trails, wildlife areas, and two golf courses--Tournament Club of Iowa (designed by Arnold Palmer) and Jester Park--nearby.
United States Hockey League (USHL) Tier 1 team member. Very close to the ice no matter where one sits.
Arguably the nation's top outdoor track & field event. Past participants include Michael Johnson, Bruce Jenner, Gwen Torrence, Natasha Kaiser-Brown, and Jeremy Wariner.
Drake University sports, competing in most sports as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference and also in the Pioneer Football League for that sport only.
The Center boasts a permanent collection of contemporary art from the 19th and 20th centuries, including works from Edward Hopper, Jasper Johns, Georgia O'Keeffe, Henri Matisse, and Francis Bacon. It also boasts a restaurant with a 5-star rating from The Des Moines Register, featuring a different menu weekly and open for lunch only.
Particularly popular during cold Iowa winters. Special events and learning modules all throughout the year. Connected to the parking lot is the Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens with a featured Asian pavilion, built in honor of the Asian Americans who immigrated to Iowa in the late 1970s and of former Gov. Ray.