Grinnell's parks and recreation system is a cornerstone of the community, made up of 10 parks, 170+ acres of parks and open space, and over 50 recreation programs for youth, families, and adults throughout the year. From the bustling Grinnell Athletic and Recreation Center, which hosts 1,300 visitors monthly from October to April, to the Grinnell Aquatic Center's 28,000 summer visitors, our facilities bring people together to learn, play, and grow.

To ensure that the city's parks, facilities, and programs are valued both now and into the future, Grinnell created a Parks and Recreation Master Plan to set a clear vision for the future.

What is the Parks and Recreation Master Plan?

The Parks and Recreation Master Plan is a comprehensive, long-range strategy to help the city assess, improve, and strategically grow its recreational amenities and programs. Together with professional consultants the process will include the following steps:

• Listen: community input is the foundation of the plan.
• Inventory and assess: each park, program and policy will be evaluated and benchmarked against national standards and communities similar to Grinnell.
• Establish a vision: the community's input, combined with the information from the inventory and assessment, will help guide the vision for Grinnell's parks and programs.
• Provide a Roadmap: the plan will outline specific goals, priorities, policies, and potential funding sources for the years to come.

How to Get Involved

Help shape the future of Grinnell's parks and recreation system. Community input will help create a plan that reflects the needs and dreams of the entire community.

• Residents were encouraged to share their feedback on what they love about Grinnell's parks and recreation programs, what can be improved, and what they would like to see in the future. The survey has expired, but survey results are available.
• Public meetings and events: the City of Grinnell and its consultant, RDG Planning & Design, hosted public meetings and outreach events in early 2025. 
  • Community Open House #1 was on March 6th. RDG reviewed the findings of the community survey and conditions assessment. The community was offered to provide feedback on playgrounds, trails, shelter design, signage, and recreation opportunities through a visual listening exercise. View the results of the exercise.
  • Community Open House #2: RDG presented revised park plans, strategies, and priorities.