Easter Lake Grand Reopening

Easter Lake Park has undergone A LOT of changes in the last six years and it is finally time to celebrate! For starters the lake is much deeper and clearer. Approximately 600,000 cubic yards of silt was removed from the lake through the dredging process. You can actually see water underneath the covered bridge! (Before dredging it was completely silted in underneath the bridge.)

To extend the life of the lake numerous silt detention basins were constructed upstream on Yeader Creek before it flows into Easter Lake. These detention basins catch silt and water as water moves across the landscape.

The new 4.1 mile Mark C. Ackelson Trail around the lake provides scenic views and space for all trail users. The trail has many bridges, but one bridge you don’t want to miss is a 440’ bridge that spans the western arm of the lake.

Come celebrate these improvements with us on Sunday, June 23 from 1-5PM. Activities will take place on the lake’s north side near the beach, located off of Watrous and Evergreen Avenue in Des Moines.

Here are some of the fun activities we have planned for the day:

• Grand Opening Ceremony @ 1:30 PM
• Bike Ride with Mark C. Ackelson @ 2 PM
• Rain Garden Talks @ 3 & 4 PM
• Walk with a Doc – Dr. Groos of Unity Point Health @ 3:30 PM
• Pontoon Boat Rides
• Canoeing
• Seed Ball Making
• Pond Studies
• Insect & Scavenger Hunts
• Fish Identification
• Hands-On T-Shirt Screen Printing *$15 for Adult Shirts | $10 for Youth Shirts
• Fishing Pole Casting
• Water Quality Testing
• Native Plant Giveaway
• Free Water Bottles Courtesty of UnityPoint Health-Des Moines*
• Free Ice Cream Sandwiches Courtesy of Hy-Vee Euclid*
  *Water bottles & ice cream while supplies last