Spring Has Sprung And The Lilacs Are Blooming In Des Moines

Press release from the City of Des Moines:

April 29, 2021

DES MOINES, IOWA — April 29, 2021 - The 74-year-old Ewing Park Lilac Arboretum (5300 Indianola Road) is on the brink of bursting into beautiful color and fragrance this weekend. We invite central Iowans to come enjoy the aroma of this beautiful 35-acre display featuring 1,000 lilac bushes showcasing over 300 varieties of everyone’s favorite spring flower.

The lilac display opens Thursday, April 29 and will peak over the next two weeks. Harry Piper Parkway will be open to vehicles one way only from Indianola Road west to McKinley Avenue. The lilac overlook parking area will be open daily 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

In 1937, the former 357-acre Ewing Farm became the city’s largest public park. The City of Des Moines dedicated and began developing 35 acres of the park to a future lilac garden in 1939 and the arboretum first opened for public enjoyment in 1947.

Parks and Recreation is committed to doing our part to slowing the spread of COVID-19. Please do not visit the lilacs if you are exhibiting symptoms. Please take your temperature prior to coming to the arboretum and stay home if you have a fever of 100.4 or higher. Any person who is experiencing symptoms of coronavirus, who has been in contact with anyone with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis in the last 14 days, who is awaiting COVID-19 test results or has been asked to quarantine is asked to stay home. Please observe the CDC’s guidance on personal hygiene prior to visiting the park. Observe the CDC’s minimum recommended physical distancing of 6 feet from other persons at all time and share the trail with others. View our COVID-19 protocols here.

This press release was produced by the City of Des Moines. The views expressed here are the author’s own.