Des Moines · Iowa · United States
Lauridsen Skatepark
Lauridsen is a public skatepark on Des Moines’ Principal Riverwalk, owned by Polk County and managed by Polk County Conservation. For a first visit, separate the skating address from the parking approach and check whether a special event changes ordinary access. This guide uses the park operator’s own location, rules and FAQ pages; it does not claim a personal visit or endorse a competition-level line for a new rider.
Sources checked:
- Published address
- 901 2nd Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50309, United States
- Setting
- Outdoor skatepark beside the Principal Riverwalk
- Inline access
- The operator FAQ explicitly permits quad roller skates, but does not separately name inline skates. Do not treat those equipment categories as interchangeable permission. Ask Polk County Conservation about inline admission and current event restrictions before an inline-specific trip.
Before you travel
The operator publishes daily access from 6am to 10:30pm, with weather-dependent year-round use. Ordinary public skating is free; special events and some programming can have fees. Check your date before assuming normal access. The FAQ lists lights and restrooms, but does not give a separate restroom timetable. Carry your equipment: the operator does not offer rentals. Confirm any essential facility before relying on it.
Find the location
Use 901 2nd Avenue for the skatepark. The operator gives 1111 Illinois Street for the dedicated parking lot north of the park, with the same opening hours. Plan the last walking section between the lot and skating area separately. Keep the east side of West River Drive clear for emergency access, as the FAQ instructs; do not turn that edge into a drop-off or waiting space.
Exact map point unconfirmed; use the address search and check the result.
Search this location on OpenStreetMap ↗About this map point
The checked sources provide a written location, not independently verified skatepark entrance coordinates. This guide stores no precise map point. Inspect the address-search result and the final pedestrian approach before entering an active riding area. A parking address and a skatepark address can identify different parts of the same visit.
Read the shared-space rules before riding
The rules describe an unsupervised facility and strongly recommend protective equipment. They prohibit unauthorised obstacles, glass, alcohol and motor vehicles, and specify plastic rather than metal BMX pegs. Read the complete posted rules on arrival, including the pet restriction, instead of relying on this summary as an exhaustive list. Advice to wear equipment is not evidence of a staffed coaching or rescue service.
Choose a manageable part of the park
Begin by observing where riders enter, connect lines and leave. A venue capable of hosting major events can contain sections that do not suit your current skills. Pick one familiar feature after checking its approach and stopping room; leave the rest out of the session if necessary. Keep companions and cameras outside crossing lines. Public access does not guarantee an empty course or a dry, undamaged surface.
Separate ordinary access from programmes
The operator directs programming enquiries to Skate DSM. Check an individual activity’s date, price and equipment before arranging a lesson or group visit; the general FAQ is not proof of inline tuition. Keep the park’s contact and a return-route plan with your trip notes. Explore BladeFeed Spots or the linked Ankeny guide if an event or weather changes your session, and record any confirmed correction with its source and date.
Frequently asked questions
Is quad permission also explicit inline permission?
No. The checked FAQ names quads, not inline skates; confirm the latter with the operator.
Is the parking address the skatepark address?
No. The operator publishes a separate Illinois Street lot address; plan the final connection on foot.
Another Iowa skatepark guide
Sources and record limits
This is a desk-researched planning profile, not a personal visit, review, safety inspection or live opening-status feed. Unknown details stay unknown. Check current access with the operator.
Include the park name, source link and date in your correction. Do not send private visitor details.