The Ankeny Brief

Like much of the metro, Ankeny PD uses Flock Safety automated license-plate readers (ALPRs) - cameras at select intersections that photograph passing plates and basic vehicle details (make, color, type) to flag cars tied to active investigations. It's a public-safety tool and, for a lot of towns right now, an open privacy question. We're not here to pick a side - just to point you to the receipts.

• Footage is held 30 days on Flock's standard setting, then deleted - unless it's tied to an open case
• Every search is logged and needs a stated law-enforcement reason; the images aren't public
• Cameras sit on public rights-of-way, not private property

New to this? We break the whole thing down - what the cameras capture, how long the data's kept, and both sides of the debate: the full guide to Flock cameras in Ankeny →

Ankeny took a real hit on June 11 - 60mph gusts and quarter-size hail brought down trees and damaged roofs, siding, and vehicles across town. If it happens again, here's who to call:

Permits, big projects, and where the orange barrels are - all from City of Ankeny & Iowa DOT records.

• City issued 245 permits worth $22.6M in June (the newest report posted)
• Biggest: $5.9M school addition at 1102 NW Weigel Dr
• $1.1M new retail building, NE 36th St
• $984K Axis Therapy building alteration, S Ankeny Blvd
• 32 new houses broke ground - Jerry's Homes led the pack with 15

Getting around while it's built:

• South Ankeny Boulevard (Peterson Dr-1st St) - 2-year rebuild, expect lane closures
• I-35 - new northbound lanes Ankeny to Huxley; NE 158th Ave bridge back open after its rebuild
• Live construction map →

• FY2026 city budget: $198M total
• $152M (77%) to run the city day-to-day
• $46M (23%) for capital projects
• Property-tax levy: $9.90 per $1,000 - lowest of any metro city over 5,000 people
• (the city's just one slice of your bill - county, DMACC, DART & schools levy the rest)

Where this year's money is going:

The $46M capital budget funds these; the Council's stated goal is upgrading essential infrastructure while holding the levy flat.

• City Council meets Monday evenings, 5:30pm - Council Chambers (1250 SW District Dr) or the Kirkendall Library, depending on the week
• Open to the public, with time for public comment
• Agenda posted the Friday before: Agendas & Minutes →

Here's what actually lands on it - the decisions that shape a fast-growing town:

• Biggest item on the table: a full rewrite of the city's zoning & subdivision code - the rulebook for how Ankeny grows
• Expected to wrap summer 2026
• Will reshape density, parking & what can be built where for years to come
• Starting soon in the Brief: agenda items that actually touch your life - a rezoning near you, big spending, anything worth a heads-up - with the packet linked so you don't have to dig

Ankeny's big enough to span several overlapping districts - here's who holds each office right now (mid-2026):

Not everyone in Ankeny is in the same state Senate/House district - look up your exact one by address.

2026 is a turnover year locally:

• Sen. Bousselot is running for a different seat (District 23), leaving District 21 open: John Hollinrake (R) vs. Rep. Matson (D)
• Matson moving up from the House leaves District 42 open: Heather Stephenson (R) vs. Amy Tagliareni (D)
• Sen. Ernst isn't seeking reelection, leaving the U.S. Senate seat open: Ashley Hinson (R) vs. Josh Turek (D)

Full dates & ballot details below.

• Ankeny CSD Board of Education: 7 members, elected at-large, unpaid 4-year terms
• Current members: Katie Claeys, Stephanie Gott, Joy Burk, Shelly Northway, Amber Romans, Erin Lee Schneider & Jeff Schumacher
• Meetings open to the public, with time for public comment
• Schedule & agendas: School Board page →

Want to get involved at your kid's building? Every elementary runs its own Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) - Ashland Ridge, Crocker, East, Northeast & Northwest all have one; details at ankenyschools.org/parents/pto.

First up: an Ankeny-only special election on Tuesday, Sept 8. The single question on the ballot is whether to adopt a 1-cent local option sales tax, which would take Ankeny's sales tax from 6% to 7%. The city says half the revenue would go to property tax relief and half to capital projects (streets, parks, trails, facilities, debt). Groceries, rent, gas, prescriptions and vehicles would not be taxed.

The city is holding public information meetings through the summer, including Thursday, Aug 6 at noon (Albaugh Family Senior Community Center) and Wednesday, Aug 12 at 5:30pm (Council Chambers). Details: ankenyiowa.gov →

Then the general election is Tuesday, Nov 3. (The June 2 primary set the matchups.)

• On the 2026 ballot: Governor
• U.S. Senate & House
• Other statewide offices
• The Iowa Legislature
• County races

Bring a valid photo ID (Iowa voter-ID law). Key dates:

Polk County Election Office: 2309 Euclid Ave, Des Moines · (515) 286-3080. We'll run a plain-English ballot guide closer to November.

Nearly 30 congregations in town - yours not listed? Add it →

The stuff every resident ends up googling, answered in one place - or browse the full Ankeny guides index →

• Cascade Falls Aquatic Center (2350 SW Prairie Trail Pkwy) - largest municipal pool in Iowa: lazy river, five slides, zero-depth area, Iowa's first FlowRider surf machine
• Prairie Ridge Aquatic Center - the neighborhood option, free weekday mornings (Mon-Fri, 10-11:45am)
• Both run Memorial Day through Labor Day

Four neighborhood splash pads are free all summer - just push the button to start the water. (On reduced noon-6 p.m. hours right now under the Stage II water alert.)

• Ankeny Parks & Rec - youth soccer, basketball, volleyball, softball, flag football, swim lessons
• i9 Sports - more seasonal leagues
• Sign-ups: ankenyiowa.gov →
• School district feeds Hawks & Jaguars teams from there

• B&B Theatres Ankeny 12 & B-Roll Bowling (1580 SW Market St) - 12 screens incl. SCREENX, MX4D & the Grand Screen
• Plus bowling, an arcade & Sterling's restaurant under one roof
• This week's showtimes →

Now playing: Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Toy Story 5, The Odyssey and Moana.

• Jester Park - free to see the resident bison & elk herds, paddle a beginner pond, explore the nature center
• AHeinz57 - Ankeny's own pet rescue, always worth a stop if you're dog people

Need a vet? Ankeny has more per capita than most towns its size:

The Kirkendall Public Library runs a full Summer Library Program every year - story times, a book giveaway, and a closing pool party at the end of July - all free. This year's wrapped July 30; the fall calendar picks up with the school year.

Dotted around town are the pink & lime-green "A Helping Hand in Ankeny" pantry boxes - take what you need, leave what you can, no questions asked. Known locations by area:

North - 2425 N Ankeny Blvd (in front of the Coldwell-Banker building)

Southeast - 1100 SE Sharon Dr (by St Paul Lutheran) · 2081 SE Windover Dr · 602 SE Delaware (United Church of Christ) · 317 SE Trilein Dr (Presbyterian lot, south of East Elementary) · 801 SE Belmont Dr

West - 423 W 1st St (at Walnut St) · 1510 W 1st St (Ankeny Funeral Home lot)

Southwest - 517 SW Des Moines St (Holy Trinity Lutheran) · 517 SW Elm St

Northwest - Mel Ray Trailer Park (by the mailboxes, Polk City Dr & Polk City Ct) · 1313 NW Beechwood · 4807 NW 5th St

Boxes move now and then - the current list is kept by the A Helping Hand in Ankeny Facebook group.

Know a family gem we're missing? Recommend it →

• High Trestle Trail trailhead: N 1st St, Ankeny
• Half-mile, 13-story bridge over the Des Moines River valley - go at dusk for the blue lights
• Links to Gay Lea Wilson, Neal Smith, Oralabor Gateway & Chichaqua Valley trails, then the Raccoon River Valley Trail - 120 mi continuous paved loop
• Plus 40+ city parks and the 7.5-acre dog park
• Flat, paved, stroller- & beginner-friendly; for dirt and hills, the metro's singletrack trails are a short drive

Want an e-bike?

Ten minutes northwest:

• Two swim beaches - Oak Grove's the best for families
• A 24-mile paved trail
• 11 campgrounds
• Fishing: walleye, wiper, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie & northern pike

• Big Creek State Park (Polk City, 15 min north) - largest beach in Iowa's state-park system, 1,300 ft of sand
• Kayak, paddleboard & pontoon rentals, an 18-hole disc golf course, a fishing jetty
• Paved Neal Smith Trail runs 27 mi from the beach through Saylorville to Des Moines
• Jester Park (1,661 acres, since 1958) - bison & elk herds, nature center, 8+ mi of trails, horseback riding, mini-golf, cabins, archery/kayak rec center
• The Des Moines River tailwaters below the Saylorville dam are a go-to for anglers

Some of central Iowa's best fishing sits a short drive from town - no closed season, just a license.

• Saylorville Lake - walleye, wiper, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie & northern pike; the Des Moines River tailwaters below the dam are a go-to
• Big Creek State Park - a fishing jetty plus bank & boat access
• Jester Park - a stocked beginner pond, easy for the kids
• Neighborhood ponds too - our Fish Finder maps 17 lakes & ponds within 30 minutes →

License required (Iowa DNR), no closed season. The full breakdown is in the Ankeny fishing guide →

Three good basecamps within 20 minutes, from full-hookup to rustic walk-in tent sites:

Sites run roughly $12-30/night - reserve early for summer weekends. (Iowa has no open "off-road"/dispersed camping nearby; Jester's primitive walk-in tent sites are the most rustic option.)

Want something different? Hipcamp lists 220+ options within a short drive - here are the 10 closest:

• Otter Creek Golf Course (4100 NE Otter Creek Dr) - the city's 18-hole course, par 71, 47 bunkers, 17 ponds, once Iowa's Course of the Year
• Driving range & practice greens; tee times at ottercreekankeny.com or 515-965-6464
• Briarwood Club of Ankeny - the private option
• Jester Park adds mini-golf & a driving range for a casual round

• A short drive out: Woodland Hills (north DSM), Tournament Club of Iowa (Polk City), Beaver Creek (Grimes, 27 holes), Toad Valley (Pleasant Hill)
• In town, private: Ankeny Golf & Country Club
• Rained out? BackSpin Indoor Golf & Bar and NetPar run simulators year-round

Ankeny is stacked with places to play - most free and first-come:

Want a team? Ankeny Parks & Rec adult leagues run through the year - softball, sand volleyball, kickball, pickleball and bags. Register at ankenyiowa.gov/register or call 515-963-3570.

Always confirm legal dates, zones, and tags at iowadnr.gov. Public land close to home: Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt. Fishing needs only a license - no season.

Already wrapped this year: Ankeny SummerFest (Jul 10-12) and RAGBRAI (Jul 18-25) - back next summer.

More a short drive away in the metro: axe throwing at Lumber Axe (Des Moines), arcades, and indoor ranges.

The Prairie Trail Sports Complex has indoor basketball, pickleball, volleyball and tennis with drop-in times and leagues - the go-to when it's too cold or wet to play outside.

• Ankeny Parks & Rec adult leagues - softball, sand volleyball, kickball, pickleball, bags
• Kirkendall Library - book clubs & programs
• Summer group rides out of the metro bike shops

Runners have a home too:

Run a club we should list - car club, garden club, anything? Tell us →

Worth planning a whole day or evening around:

Beyond the lakes north of town (see Outdoors), these are the metro's signature green spaces:

No ticket needed - great when you just want to wander:

When you want more than Ankeny's own (excellent) lineup:

A little farther, but easy round-trips and a true change of scenery:

Pack a bag. Within a half-day's drive: a world-class zoo, Mississippi river towns, Iowa's lake country, and a baseball field in a cornfield.

The full rundown - with what to do and who each trip is best for - is in our day trips & weekend getaways guide →

Drive times are rough door-to-door estimates from central Ankeny - add a little for downtown parking or game-day traffic. Got a favorite spot we're missing? Recommend it →

Mexican - Guadalajara, Fiesta Jalapenos, Flame Cantina

Italian & pizza - Portofino's, Nonna's Pizza & Pasta

Breakfast & brunch - Egg Bistro, Early Bird Brunch, Main Street Cafe

Steak & date night - Filet Steakhouse, Tribute Eatery & Bar

Sports bars & patios - Whiskey River, Cabaret, 30hop, Mullets, Trailside Tap

Seafood, sushi & ramen - Waterfront Seafood Market, Toyo Ramen

BBQ & Irish - Jethro's BBQ, Magee's Irish Pub

Asian - Toyo Ramen, Wasabi (sushi & hibachi)

Wings & pub grub - Buffalo Wild Wings, Wig & Pen Pizza Pub, Sports Page

The full rundown: best restaurants in Ankeny →

• 7 Brew (4.7★) - the current drive-thru go-to
• Hyper Energy Bar (1101 S Ankeny Blvd) - 120 flavors, double drive-thru
• Dutch Bros - coming soon at 315 NW 36th Dr

Sit-down favorites - Porch Light Coffeehouse, Cafe Diem, Blue Bean, Smokey Row, Twisted Bean

The full local coffee scene, ranked drive-thru to sit-down: the best coffee in Ankeny →

New spot opening? Tell us → - we run a "new this month" feature.

Always worth a look - current standing deals (we refresh these weekly):

Kids eat free (with an adult meal) - Guadalajara & Flame Cantina (all day), Mullets, Sports Page, and IHOP (4-10 p.m.).

Happy hour - Whiskey River (weekdays 3-6, plus free chips & salsa + $3.50 domestics on Fridays), 30hop's craft-cocktail hour, Jethro's ($7 select apps + 50% off draft beer/liquor/wine/domestic cans, Tue-Fri 3-6 & Sun 4-close), and Wasabi's Happy Sushi Hour (M-F 3-6pm dine-in, $2 off draft beer & $3 off martinis).

Maniac Monday - B-Bop's: $2.39 single burger, every Monday.

Wing Tuesday / Boneless Thursday - Buffalo Wild Wings: Tuesdays, buy an order of traditional wings and get the second 50% off (dine-in, free Rewards account required); Thursdays, buy an order of boneless and get the second free (dine-in or ordered through the BWW app or site).

Wednesday BOGO - Casey's Rewards app: buy-one-get-one-free on Casey's Favorites (varies by week - check the app for what's included).

Got a deal or happy hour we should list? Add it here → - and owners, your specials run free.

• DMACC's main campus is right here - its theatre program stages 4-5 free public productions a year
• Kirkendall Public Library - the Summer Library Program wrapped July 30; year-round programming keeps running (chess, D&D, book clubs, author talks)

Ankeny schools back students from preschool through 12th grade with a full Student Services team:

• Special education - individualized IEPs & specially designed instruction
• 504 plans, talented-and-gifted, at-risk support, ESOL for multilingual families
• Special Education Service Delivery Plan written in the open, public comment taken each year
• Questions: Director of Special Education, 515-965-9604

Out in the community, the free Miracle League (see Families) gives kids with special needs their own accessible ball field - everyone plays, every game.

The crosstown rivalry: Ankeny High (Hawks) and Ankeny Centennial (Jaguars). Centennial's Quiz Bowl team has won back-to-back Iowa state titles - taking its first ever from Ankeny High, then defending it in a record ten-overtime final over Johnston.

On the field, both are big-school contenders in the CIML (Central Iowa Metro League), Iowa's deepest conference, and frequent state qualifiers across the major sports. The Hawks brought home a Class 4A football state title in 2020. One town, two large schools - the head-to-head games (football kicks off late August) are the tickets to have.

For the weekly game scoreboard - scores, playoff runs, and where the Hawks and Jags sit in the standings - see the Sports section → Deeper day-to-day coverage of both schools lives at Ankeny Fanatic and each school's athletics site.

Pulled fresh from the public sale maps - we refresh this list weekly in season:

No sales posted for Ankeny this weekend on the live maps - check back closer to the date, or browse the links below.

See the full live map (and post your own) at gsalr.com or GarageSaleFinder - but the real action is on Facebook: Ankeny Community Swap & Meet (87K members) is where most sales and finds post first.

The Uptown Ankeny Farmers Market is the anchor - Saturdays 8 a.m.-noon, May 23-Sep 26 at the Market & Pavilion (715 W 1st St), ~55 vendors. For roadside sweet corn and melons:

More on Patch's Ankeny sweet-corn map and the state's licensed farm-stand directory.

Beats & Eats at the AMP (715 W 1st St) is the easiest place to graze - select Thursdays, 5-7:30 p.m. in June & July, with a different rotating lineup of trucks, live music and kids' activities every week.

Beats & Eats is done for the year. The city runs it on select Thursdays in June and July only (this year: June 11, 18, 25 and July 9, 16, 23), so the trucks are back next summer. Thursday nights now belong to Thursday Night Acoustics at The District at Prairie Trail.

Ankeny licenses 40+ trucks. The regulars, by craving:

Tacos & Mexican - Tacos Don Juan, Tacos Meza, Amigos, Nina's, Gorditas Villa Madero, The Walking Taco

BBQ & comfort - Jethro's, Comfort Food, Loaded, Off the Griddle, Flame, Charlotte's Kitchen

Around the world - Karam's Grill (Mediterranean), The Eggroll Ladies, Sugarcane Fusion, On the Hook Fish & Chips, Graziano's (Italian)

Sweets & treats - The Outside Scoop, Sweet Swirls, Loudi's, Let's Go Cookie Dough, Daylight Donuts, Whip Delight

Cold drinks - Kona Ice, Tropical Sno, Jack Frost Drink Lab, Iowa Beer Bus, Roasted Mary's

For everyday lunch, Tacos Don Juan parks in the Sportsman's lot on SE Oralabor Rd. Track who's where on StreetFoodFinder or the city's licensed list. Running a truck? Tell us → and we'll feature it.