The Jefferson

Parks and trails

Parks and trails near The Jefferson

The south side keeps its green space close. A county lake with a loop trail, a city park with a lilac arboretum, and the metro's signature lake are all a short drive from SE 14th Street.

Easter Lake Park

2.8 miles southeast. Easter Lake Park is run by Polk County Conservation and centers on a 165-acre lake inside a roughly 468-acre park. The four-mile Mark C. Ackelson Trail loops the water; the county finished it in 2018 after a long lake restoration that dredged the lakebed and rebuilt the shoreline. Fishing, paddling and walking, with the rules set by Polk County Conservation.

Easter Lake in south Des Moines
Easter Lake Park. Photo: juanalbertogarciarivera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

Ewing Park

2.2 miles south. A large City of Des Moines park known for its lilac arboretum and wooded drives, with picnic areas and trails. The city sets the hours and posts them at the park.

Gray's Lake Park

4.9 miles northwest, toward Fleur Drive. The city's signature lake park, with a lighted bridge and a loop path around the water. It is a drive rather than a walk from here, but it is the one most people name when they talk about a Des Moines lake.

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Questions people ask

What parks are near The Jefferson?

Ewing Park (2.2 miles), Easter Lake Park (2.8 miles) and Gray's Lake Park (4.9 miles), all by road.

Is there a walking trail near The Jefferson?

Yes. Easter Lake Park, 2.8 miles away, has the four-mile Mark C. Ackelson Trail looping the lake, built by Polk County Conservation.

Who runs Easter Lake Park?

Polk County Conservation. It centers on a 165-acre lake restored over several years, with the loop trail finished in 2018.

Can you fish near The Jefferson?

Easter Lake, 2.8 miles away, is a fishing lake managed by Polk County Conservation. Iowa fishing licenses are set by the Iowa DNR; check its current rules.

Distances are road miles from 3712 SE 14th Street, measured with OpenStreetMap routing in October 2026. The site keeps no distance module of its own, so the route planner is the source. Park facts from Polk County Conservation and the City of Des Moines, October 2026.

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