Get to Know: Grimes
Minutes from the Des Moines metro, Grimes is a growing town that offers great neighborhoods and housing options, job opportunities and fun. It’s the future home of the GrimesPlex, a 50-acre sports complex that will include retail, restaurants and hotel development. Developments like GrimesPlex add opportunity and fun for youth in the area, while creating a convenient location for sports families in the region. Attractions like Pole Position Raceway Des Moines, which features indoor go-karts approaching 45 miles per hour, Climb Iowa and Sky Zone Trampoline Park give anyone athletically inclined or looking to get active something fun to experience in Grimes. Eat local at Food Depot Bar and Grill, where you can shop local, too, in the grocery/frozen foods section, too. Attend Governors Days, Grimes’ largest community event, held in the summer during the month of June at the Grimes South Sports Complex. In the fall of 2023, visit Grimes’ updated library building, which will feature a sensory room and other inclusive components.
Grimes at a Glance
Grimes in one sentence: Grimes is a vibrant, young and growing community that retains a community feel, with access to all the amenities of the DSM region.
The top five best things about Grimes: The top five best things about Grimes are its well-respected school districts, family-oriented focus, proximity to Interstates 80 and 35, Grimes sweet corn and the continued growth of the city and how that translates into new business and career opportunities and investments for Grimes residents.
Hidden Gems and Unexpected Finds in Grimes: Old School Pinball & Arcade, tucked in the historic central district of Grimes (Governors District), is a quaint destination that has the best collection of pinball machines in Iowa … and beyond.
Community Traditions and Annual Events: Grimes Governors Days is a celebration of community that takes place every summer.
Best Ways to Get Connected: From the local rotary club to multiple church denominations and locations, Grimes offers many ways to get involved.
Big Things on the Horizon for Grimes: The City of Grimes is in the process of building the largest multi-sport turf facility in the Midwest — GrimesPlex. A new outdoor splash pad will be located at Grimes Waterworks Park and will be the largest in the region. Also on the horizon is a new state-of-the-art public library, currently under construction and anticipated to open in late 2023. The Grimes Leadership Academy is anticipated to launch in 2023.
If you’re coming to check out the community, be sure to spend your day ... eating, getting active and exploring! Grimes has an increasing array of local restaurants and well-known franchised restaurants from which to choose, including high-end dining to fast food to some of the BEST ice cream around! When it comes to engaging in fun, healthy activities, bike trails, go-karting and indoor rock climbing are just a few of the ways to do so. Explore the Governor’s District, sports complexes and local festivals as well as the statue of Governor James W. Grimes, the third governor and a prominent senator from Iowa. Restaurants to visit include Destination Grille, Food Depot, Mustang Grill and Pour Choices. Recreational destinations include Climb Iowa, Emerge Academy, Pole Position and Skyzone.
Some of the ways Grimes advances diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI): The Grimes community works to identify and acknowledge potential unconscious bias. Institutions (i.e. school, city, chamber) are involved in a variety of associations that offer professional development opportunities on DEI topics. The Grimes Leadership Academy will also touch on DEI initiatives in the workplace.
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