by Marcus Brooks

Created on: July 05, 2009   Last Updated: July 22, 2009

Des Moines, Iowa is a family-friendly city. There are a variety of activities to do for adults and their children. These activties are free and safe and can be done most of the year. They're a way to get children to be active outside and away from the Playstation, Wii and Xbox.

PLAY SOCCER AT DIFFERENT LOCALES

Youth soccer is a popular activity with kids ages 6 and over. There are dozens of areas around Des Moines and the suburbs for kids to play soccer. Here are some locations where nets have been erected.

Dowling High School (1700 block of Buffalo Road, WDM)

Franklin Library (5500 block of Franklin Avenue, Beaverdale)

Grand View University (1500 Morton Avenue)

Near Blank Park Golf Course (SE 5th and County Line Road)

Drake University Football Field (27th and Forest Avenue)

GO SWIMMING ON EASTER LAKE (Indianola Avenue/ Easter Lake Road)

Easter Lake is a stretch of water that is a run-off of the Des Moines River. There is a wooded area and a man-made beach. Kids can go swimming in the water or explore around the park itself. There are also docks for small boats. Easter Lake is a favorite spot for fishermen during the spring, summer and fall seasons.

WATCH FREE KIDS AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY MOVIES DOWNTOWN (In-between Grand Avenue and Locust Avenue, Des Moines)

The Simon Estes Amphitheatre sits nearby the Embassy Suites Hotel. On Friday nights, parents can bring their children down to listen to live bands or watch G or PG-rated movies for free on a billboard screeen. The event is made for citizens to come together and give people an alternative to staying home or partying at nightclubs, bars and strip joints.

PLAY LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL OR SOFTBALL (6200 Hartford Avenue, South Des Moines)

Amateur athletics is big during the warmer months. Young boys between the ages of 9-15 can play Pop Warner or Little League Baseball. Young girls can participate in Powder Puff and Little League Softball. The games take place during the June and July months on most evenings during the week and all day on weekends. In July, tournaments begin in earnest. Teams are financed by business sponsors.

PLAY AT NUMEROUS PARKS AROUND DES MOINES

There are numerous parks for families to bring their kids. Some offer swings, merry-go-arounds and other things for children to play with. Others offer more than that.

Birdland Park (E Pennsylvania Road/Cornell Avenue)

Birdland is an attraction for both swimmers and boaters during the summer months. The Des Moines River curves along

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