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Admission into Jester Park
& the Nature Center is FREE

Calendar & Events

Educating the public about conservation and outdoor recreation is a key component of Polk County Conservation's mission. See what fun public program or event is taking place at Jester Park! 

Fall Makers Market

The Jester Park Nature Center’s Locally Grown, Raised, & Created Fall Makers Market is a handcrafted marketplace where you can support local merchants in a beautiful park setting.

Grow Wild

Polk County Conservation’s largest annual event is being re-imagined to bring you even closer to nature in the broadest of daylight. Catch a butterfly, see a live raptor, study pond ecosystems, investigate prairie insects and flowers, meet a live raptor, learn about sustainability, and so much more in one of Iowa’s most beautiful, wild parks. Come grow wild with us!

A Foraged Feast

Join Django and Polk County Conservation for an al fresco dinner event at Jester Park! Celebrate the bounty of Iowa’s natural lands with a menu highlighting wild ingredients foraged from the park. Django Chef Partner Derek Eidson will be preparing dishes over live fire fueled by wood sustainably collected on-site. Barn Town Brewing (West Des Moines) will be providing beer, including a special fruited sour made just for this meal with Jester Park’s wild blackcap raspberries. Get your tickets today for this unforgettable event!