Cascade Falls Aquatic Center is said to be the largest publicly owned waterpark in the Des Moines, Iowa, area. It includes a recreational pool with a tot play structure; a lazy river with a customized waterfall; a plunge pool area for a slide tower with five water slides; and a Flow Rider stationary wave machine.
The 8-lane-by-25-yard lap pool fills competitive swimming and fitness needs. One unique feature is the artificial rockscape diving tower including a three-meter diving platform and a one-meter diving springboard.
The completed facility has 21,880 square feet of water and has helped alleviate overcrowding at other local pools. When planning, designers created a natural look and included several features to improve operational efficiency. One challenge was the fact that the facility is build on the site of what was once a military munitions plant, with old fuel tanks buried underground.