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Recreational pond with a flagstone patio, seating, and open lawn beyond

Recreational Ponds

Recreational Swim Ponds in Des Moines and Central Iowa

Swim and relax in clean, natural water right in your own yard.

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Natural pond with stepping stones, boulders, and pink creeping phlox along a paver walkway

Your own natural refuge

If you live in town, a place to relax in nature can be hard to find. A recreational pond brings that refuge home. There is no need to travel for beautiful scenery when it is right in your backyard. Often called a natural swim pond, a recreational pond is a wonderful way to spend time with family, combining the fun of a swimming pool with the natural beauty of a planted pond.

Backyard pond with a waterfall next to a cedar pergola with patio seating

A fun, safe place for the whole family

A recreational pond is eco-friendly and chemical-free, so it is a safe alternative to a chlorinated pool for people and pets alike. Plants and rock keep the water clean instead of chlorine, so everyone can make the most of sunny days and enjoy a swimming pond to their heart's content, right in the comfort of home. Get the whole family outside and spending more time together.

Safe, chemical-free swimming

A recreational pond has no chlorine, no salt system, and no harsh chemicals. The water is cleaned by plants, gravel, and beneficial bacteria, so there is nothing to sting your eyes, dry out your skin, or fade your swimsuit. That makes recreational ponds a natural fit for families with kids and for dogs who love to jump in.

Safety is part of every design. We plan depth, gentle entry points, steps or a beach edge, and how your family will use the water, then shape the pond around it. As with any place to swim, children should always be supervised. Families in Des Moines, Ankeny, Johnston, and across Central Iowa choose a recreational pond because it feels like swimming in a clear mountain lake without leaving home.

How a recreational pond stays clean

The secret is a system that works the way nature does, only faster. Water is drawn into an intake bay, where a skimmer catches leaves and surface debris before it can sink. Pumps then move the water to a wetland filtration area, a planted bed of gravel where beneficial bacteria and plant roots strip out the nutrients that feed algae.

The cleaned water flows back into the swim area over waterfalls, which keeps it moving and adds oxygen. Because the full volume circulates constantly, the water stays clear naturally, season after season. It is the same biological approach we use in every ecosystem pond, scaled up for swimming.

Swim pond vs a swimming pool

A traditional pool is built around hard walls, bright blue plaster, and a steady supply of chlorine. A recreational pond, sometimes called a natural swim pond, looks like it has always been part of your landscape, with boulders, aquatic plants, and water lilies around the edges. You skip the ongoing chemical costs, and in place of a covered pool in the off season you have a water garden that draws birds, dragonflies, and wildlife all year.

A pool still makes sense for some families, especially if lap swimming is the main goal. For homeowners in Ames, Indianola, and the surrounding communities who want a place to swim that is also beautiful to look at, a recreational pond offers the best of both. See recreational ponds and other finished work in our portfolio, or get a ballpark number in minutes with the Price Out Your Water Feature estimator.

How it works

A simple, stress-free process

Your yard should be a place where you can fully relax. We have built a simple process that delivers the result you want with zero stress.

  1. 01

    Get in Touch

    Connect with us through our form or give us a call. Tell us what you have in mind and we will schedule an on-site consultation.

  2. 02

    We Build It

    Once we agree on the estimate and timeline, we draft the contract and start building your recreational pond.

  3. 03

    Love Your Recreational pond

    When the work is done, we walk the finished project with you. Then enjoy your beautiful new outdoor space.

See Our Full Process

Investment

Recreational pond prices

Want to create a corner of paradise in your backyard? We are here to turn your outdoor space into a retreat.

Recreational pond with water lilies and a lounge chair at the water's edge

Basic Recreational Pond

$103,000

A 15 by 30 foot pond, 4 feet deep, with a wetland filtration system, intake bay skimmer, and waterfalls.

Deep blue recreational pond ringed with boulders and ornamental grasses

Average Recreational Pond

$150,000

A 20 by 25 foot pond, 6 feet deep, with a wetland filtration system, intake bay skimmer, and waterfalls.

Large recreational pond with a paver path, fire pit seating, and a sandy entry

High-End Recreational Pond

$200,000+

A 25 by 30 foot pond, 6 feet deep, with a wetland filtration system, intake bay skimmer, and waterfalls.

Prices are averages and may vary with the size of your project and your choice of features. You will receive an exact quote after an on-site consultation.

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Recent work

Inspiration from real Iowa yards

Browse our recent work for inspiration on your own backyard upgrade.

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300+

Fountainscapes and pondless features installed and upgraded

500+

Ponds installed and upgraded

2,000+

Ponds repaired

Google Reviews

Happy customers are the proof

5.0 out of 5 from 51 Google reviews

“I’ve worked with Just Add Water for two water features. They have always been good listeners and eager to get the work up to my specs. The Just Add Water Team are very creative and love what they do! They take on any challenge, find a solution and get it done! If you are looking for a professional approach to beautify your yard, I highly recommend Chris, Will and their team for the project!”

John OlsenGoogle review, June 2020

“Jan and I were one of Just Add Waters first customers! After enjoying the pond for a few years, we decided to have another put in. We love just sitting by the ponds and relaxing. We enjoy seeing the wildlife visit especially the ducks each spring. Just Add Water provides all the maintenance we need, and the service is great. If we have a problem, they respond immediately. The team is like family. Gary & Jan Higbee”

Gary HigbeeGoogle review, February 2023

“Just add water is an understatment when it comes to building backyard water features! Chris is a water master who makes a beautiful backyard look easy! You would do well to have these guys build your dream oasis or give you solid advice to try it yourself.”

Dawna DeakinsGoogle review, February 2023

“After touring numerous Just Add Water ponds and water features, it is quite apparent they are experts in their field. Their products are spectacular and they genuinely care about their customers' experience.”

Shana DavisonGoogle review, September 2018
Read More Reviews

Related

Real Central Iowa projects, planning tools, and more ways we can help beyond recreational ponds.

Estimator

Price Out Your Water Feature

Pick a feature, size, and options and see a price range in a few minutes.

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Aerial view of an ecosystem pond with a patio and gravel border

Portfolio

Browse our portfolio

Ponds, waterfalls, fountains, and lighting we have built across Central Iowa.

Learn more

From the Knowledge Center

How we design and build ponds, waterfalls, and streams across Central Iowa.

Read Pond Building articles

Recreational Ponds FAQ

Frequently asked questions

  • Recreational ponds are chemical-free, so there is no chlorine to irritate eyes or skin, which makes them a popular choice for families and pets. As with any pool or body of water, children should always be supervised. During design we talk through depth, entry points, and how your family plans to use the pond so it fits your needs.

  • A recreational pond keeps itself clean naturally. Water is pulled through an intake bay skimmer that catches debris, then pumped through a wetland filtration area where gravel, beneficial bacteria, and plants remove nutrients, before flowing back in over waterfalls. That constant circulation keeps the water clear without chlorine.

  • A traditional pool relies on chlorine or salt and hard, bare walls. A recreational pond, sometimes called a natural swim pond, uses plants, rock, and natural filtration instead of chemicals, so it looks like part of the landscape and draws in birds and wildlife. You get a place to swim in the summer and a beautiful water garden to enjoy the rest of the year.

  • The recreational ponds we build in Des Moines and Central Iowa start around $103,000 for a 15 by 30 foot pond, 4 feet deep. An average 20 by 25 foot pond, 6 feet deep, runs about $150,000, and larger 25 by 30 foot ponds start around $200,000. Each includes a wetland filtration system, an intake bay skimmer, and waterfalls.

    Price out your recreational pond

Have a different question? Call (515) 208-4099 or see our full FAQ.

Swim your worries away in a recreational pond

Tell us about your yard and we will price out your water feature, or reach out for a full quote.

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