Everyday Adventures at Sleepy Hollow Enliven the Community, Every Day
You can witness people experience moments of connection, laughter and adventure on the 600-foot-long hill at Sleepy Hollow each day the park is open. Sitting on the border between Des Moines and Pleasant Hill, this 30-year-old park is experiencing a renaissance (funny, given the park hosts an actual Renaissance Faire in the spring and fall each year).
The renewed energy at Sleepy Hollow is due to recent investments in the park by Polk County Conservation, which installed a giant turf surface on the property in 2023. This turf hill makes traditional snow-based skiing, snowboarding and tubing possible at the peak of summer. And it invites people of all ages to enjoy forms of recreation that are traditionally too expensive or too far away for most community members.
“The park's urban location is a huge asset to the community. Consider that skiing or snowboarding can be as easy to access as a 15-minute drive or a two-minute bicycle ride. And with the turf surface, you won’t even have to wait until the snow flies,” said Jeff Condon, Polk County Conservation’s Leisure Services Manager.
Though the turf-surface hill is a gem, it’s just the first of many improvements planned for the space which will make everyday adventures at Sleepy Hollow even easier to access. Currently, Polk County Conservation is working with an architecture firm and a ski destination development group to create a master redesign of the park. This will include several new ski runs for winter season, modernized ski lifts and snow making equipment, a new lodge with restaurant and many free park amenities like a natural playscape and Fourmile Creek-based recreation.
“We know prospective residents value access to outdoor activities, and Sleepy Hollow provides a year-round opportunity to experience winter sports right here in Greater Des Moines. This is a key placemaking attraction in our region for all to experience and we are excited to see even more features added in coming years,” said Tiffany Tauscheck, President & CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership.
Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in late 2026 with winter-based recreation fully operational in fall 2027. Once open, the space will not only be a year-round recreation destination, but a community hub. This will be a place where clubs, friend-groups and business colleagues can meet to build relationships and make plans — big and small.
“While interviewing, I had the opportunity to tell a prospective employee about Sleepy Hollow’s current and future plans and the job candidate perked up and got excited,” said Robert Riley, Chairman at Riley Resources Group and Feed Energy. “It’s these kinds of spaces and projects that make Des Moines a place worth moving to. Quality of life is high on candidates’ list of considerations when looking at jobs.”
The parkland design and future operations will be informed by input from area residents and current visitors, as well as local community service organizations that may benefit from using the park. Two public input meetings were held in late October 2025. Additionally, project coordinators will be making presentations to city leaders and business groups to find out how Sleepy Hollow can meet their needs.
When the redesign and construction are complete in 2027, Sleepy Hollow will be humming with activity every season of the year. It will be a place where everyday adventures inspire connection and community for all.
To learn more about the project plans and its impact on Des Moines, contact Kami Rankin, Deputy Director of Polk County Conservation at Kami.Rankin@PolkCountyIowa.gov.
Or, if you’re simply looking for information on current operating hours, skiing and snowboarding on the turf hill or rental of the lodge for holiday parties, visit SleepyHollowSportsPark.com.
Throughout Greater Des Moines’ (DSM’s) 12-county region, a thriving economic environment is attracting more Investors to do business. Learn more about other recent development projects in the region.