Evelyn K Davis Park

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Last Updated: December 4, 2025

Evelyn K Davis Park is a 110-acre park located in Des Moines, Iowa.


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Summary

The park features a variety of amenities including a community center, nature trails, picnic areas, and sports fields. One of the main attractions of the park is the lake, which offers fishing and boating opportunities.

Visitors to the park can enjoy a variety of activities, including hiking, biking, and bird-watching. The park is also home to a number of unique sculptures and artistic installations. One of the most popular attractions is the "Stargate" sculpture, which features a large metal ring that appears to float above the ground.

Evelyn K Davis Park is a great place to visit year-round, but the best time to visit is during the summer months. The park is busiest during this time, and visitors can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities and events. In the winter, the park offers cross-country skiing and snowshoeing opportunities.

Overall, Evelyn K Davis Park is a beautiful and unique destination in Iowa. Whether you're looking to explore nature, enjoy outdoor activities, or simply relax and unwind, this park has something to offer for everyone.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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