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Denison Parks & Recreation

Denison Parks & Rec Department oversees all of the city parks, the Denison Aquatic Center with the mini-golf course, and the sand volleyball courts near the pool. For a full list of facilities, click here

Throughout the year, they also have several classes and events. Some of the sports leagues they oversee are adult flag football, sand volleyball, indoor volleyball, swim teams, adult softball, little league, and more. 

Sam Ellis, the Parks & Rec Director,  is a member of Iowa Parks and Recreation Association (IPRA). Sam is a NRPA Certified Parks and Recreation Professional and a NRPA Certified Playground Safety Inspector. He has been with the City of Denison since May 2022.

The department also has two other full-time employees. Stephanie Henningsen is an instructor and the assistant aquatics director. The program director position is currently open.

The governing board for Denison Parks & Recreation Department is the Parks and Recreation Commission.

To visit the Denison Parks and Recreation site, set up your account, and start signing up for events, click here.

Sam Ellis

Parks & Rec Director

City Parks

The City of Denison has eight city parks, listed below. For more information about each park, scroll through the photos at the left.

Doty Park, 1017 5th Avenue North
Johnson Park, 110 North 20th Street
Maxwell Park, 1303 Bohnker Hills Road
Morningside Park, 7 Morningside Drive
Tuckers Park, 2210 9th Avenue North
Tuckers Pond, 2710 6th Avenue North
Union Park, 324 North 17th Street
Washington Park, 210 South 17th Street

The open park shelters are available on a first come, first serve basis. The two enclosed shelters, at Morningside Park and Union Park, are available to rent from April through September. The cost is $20 per day, with a $50 deposit. Reservations can be made at City Hall. To see a calendar of rental dates, please click here.

Athletic and Sports Facilities

Denison Aquatic Center, located  at 710 North 16th Street, has an indoor six-lane pool with a sauna and a spa; an outdoor pool with a diving board, beach entry, and two slides; a children’s activity area with a frog slide and fountain; a miniature golf course; three sand-volleyball courts; and a gazebo.

Northside Recreation Complex, located near the Denison High School and Denison Aquatic Center on North 16th Street, is a state of the art sports complex with soccer, baseball, softball and football fields.

The Tennis Court Complex, located just south of the Denison High School and across from the Denison Aquatic Center, was renovated recently, with two additional courts added for a total of 8 courts. The facility is lighted and able to be used by the public.

Little League Complex, 9 acres owned by Denison Youth Foundation and leased to the City of Denison, is at 2210 Parkview Drive. The complex contains two baseball fields.