Walker Johnston Park Playground

The hill slide here is genuinely one of the cooler features you’ll find at a playground in Urbandale — it’s a metal slide built right into the slope, and kids absolutely lose their minds for it. Beyond that, there’s a solid lineup of other slides plus swings, and the whole area is spacious enough that you’re not tripping over other families even on a busy afternoon. The open grass field gives kids room to just run, which honestly counts for a lot. Connects nicely to the local trail system too, so it’s easy to make a longer outing out of it. Good for kids roughly 2 to 12, and worth the trip if you’re anywhere on the west side of Des Moines.