Brenton Skating Plaza

Des Moines, IA · Public skating times & prices

Downtown Des Moines' outdoor rink, opened in 2006 with a gift from the Brenton Foundation

Public skating at Brenton Skating Plaza: the next 7 days

Currently out of season The City of Des Moines' page for the plaza says: "From November to March, the facility offers open-air skating for all ages." It gives no 2026-27 opening day; its operating hours are Monday to Thursday 5-9 p.m., Friday 5-11 p.m., Saturday noon-11 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Official schedule update

Address
520 Robert D. Ray Dr., Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone
515-283-4233
Website
dsm.city
The Brenton Skating Plaza sign beside the rink in winter (Google Maps listing photo) — Brenton Skating Plaza
The Brenton Skating Plaza sign beside the rink in winter (Google Maps listing photo) Photo: Google Maps listing · Source
The lit Brenton Skating Plaza ice at night with the downtown Des Moines skyline behind (Google Maps listing photo) — Brenton Skating Plaza
The lit Brenton Skating Plaza ice at night with the downtown Des Moines skyline behind (Google Maps listing photo) Photo: Google Maps listing · Source

Skating on the Principal Riverwalk

Brenton Skating Plaza is an outdoor ice-skating facility in downtown Des Moines, on the Principal Riverwalk along the Des Moines River. The City says it opened in 2006 thanks to a gift from the Brenton Foundation, and offers open-air skating for all ages from November to March.

The plaza runs more than public sessions. Free Learn to Skate clinics are held through the season, and Parks and Recreation offers adult broomball on Sunday evenings starting in early December. Private rentals give exclusive use of the facility, for up to 210 attendees.

Weather decides the schedule. On warm days the plaza opens at sundown between 55 and 59 degrees and closes for the day at 60 to 65; in the cold it closes when the forecast is under 5 degrees, or the wind chill below 0, for most of the open hours.

Before you head out.

Admission, rentals and arrival details, researched from official rink information. Source checks stay current for 30 days.

Admission

General admission is $12 for adults (13+), $8 for children (6-12) and seniors (60+) and $3 for children 5 and under; Des Moines residents with proof of address pay $10, $6 and $2.

Source checked · · Official source

Skates & rentals

Skate rental is $6 a pair ($5 with the Des Moines resident discount) and an optional shoe check is $1 a pair.

Source checked · · Official source

Booking & check-in

Skaters can fill out the waiver online to save time at the door; the page also shows how many skaters are on the ice, and weather cancellations come by text: message BRENTONSKATING to 84483.

Source checked · · Official source

A source check records what the rink published on that date. Session-specific booking details take precedence.