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The smaller, neighborhood-scale pool of the two, at 1220 NW Prairie Ridge Drive. It's built for families: zero-depth entry (walk in like a beach), two water slides, a kiddie slide, a lily-pad walk, a splash park, and heated water. General hours run noon-6 p.m. daily in season.
The bigger, newer of the two, at 2350 SW Prairie Trail Parkway in Prairie Trail on the southwest side. It opened in 2010 and has a lazy river, a FlowRider surf machine (42" and taller), a diving well with a drop slide and 1- and 3-meter boards, the Swirl Bowl slide, a zero-depth entry pool, a kiddie slide, a lap pool and heated water. Open swim runs noon-7 p.m. daily in season. Kids under 9 need an adult with them.
The city's rental page lists birthday party tables only at Prairie Ridge, not Cascade Falls: parties there are booked for two hours, 12:30 to 2:30 pm or 3:30 to 5:30 pm. Cascade Falls can be rented for a private party after public hours, 7:15 to 9:15 pm, by section. The city lists the fees per section per hour (resident / nonresident): lap pool and diving well $280 / $420, lazy river and slides $375 / $565, zero-depth pool $175 / $265, and the FlowRider $110 / $165 (half off when booked with another section). Reservations open on the first business day in March, arrangements must be made at least 10 days ahead, and youth groups need one adult chaperone for every 10 children. Details and the rental agreement are on the city's Rent the Aquatic Center page, or call Parks & Recreation at 515-963-3570.
Ankeny keeps free splash pads at four neighborhood parks (Crestbruck, Dean, Sunrise and Watercrest), open Memorial Day through Labor Day, 8 a.m.-8 p.m., so if you just want the little ones to cool off for 20 minutes you can skip the pool. They're button-activated: press the pad and the water kicks on, so they only run when someone's using them. Locations and any closures are on the City of Ankeny Splash Pads page.
Pool hours change with the season, staffing, and swim lessons, and both centers close for storms. Call the cancellation hotline at 515-963-3575 if the sky looks iffy, and check the city page for that day's open-swim times. Season passes (a good deal for regulars) are sold through Ankeny Parks & Recreation.
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Yes. The neighborhood splash pads are free all season, Memorial Day through Labor Day. The splash park inside Prairie Ridge is free only during the Mon-Fri 10-11:45 a.m. window; otherwise it's included with pool admission.
You can pay daily admission at the gate. Season passes are available if you'll be going often, and they usually pay for themselves in a handful of visits.
Both pools usually open around Memorial Day weekend, and they close at different times. In 2026, Prairie Ridge closed Aug. 12, while Cascade Falls ran daily through Aug. 23, then weekends only, and closed Sept. 7 (Labor Day). Both are closed for the season now. Splash pads run through Labor Day.
The city's rental page lists birthday party tables only at Prairie Ridge Aquatic Center. Cascade Falls can be rented after public hours, 7:15 to 9:15 pm, by section, with reservations opening the first business day in March and arrangements made at least 10 days ahead. Call Ankeny Parks & Recreation at 515-963-3570.
Open swim is noon to 7 pm daily in season, with lap swim and water walking Monday through Saturday from 10 to 11:45 am and Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 7:15 to 8:45 pm. In 2026 the city has Cascade Falls closed for the season and says it reopens next May.
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