Lions Park Shelter

PLEASE NOTE !!!

The City of Urbandale is excited to be starting construction of a new splash pad at Lions Park the week of September 18, 2023.  We anticipate the project to be completed by early summer 2024.

An area on the NORTH and EAST sides of the Lion Ralph Whitten shelter will be fenced off due to the construction.  Lion Ralph Whitten Shelter will not be affected by the construction, and other areas of the park will remain open for use.

The Ralph Whitten Shelter at Lions Park is one of three enclosed facilities available for rent in Urbandale. The shelter is nestled within one of Urbandale’s most iconic and centrally located parks. The Ralph Whitten Shelter is a perfect place to hold a business meeting, a community meeting, and a small family gathering or wedding reception. The space is around 1,600 sq. ft. and can accommodate up to 100 people and has approximately 10, 8-foot rectangular tables and 75 chairs. A kitchen is included in the rental with a stove/oven, 2 under-the-counter, 5.5 cu. ft refrigerators and 1 household-size refrigerator with freezer. The shelter is also heated and air conditioned. The shelter is located in Lions Park, at 72nd Street and Aurora Avenue.

All time slots INCLUDE your set-up and clean up time.

Click here for a video tour of the Lion Ralph Whitten Shelter

Monday - Sunday Rental Rates 

• 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. - $130 Urbandale resident, $170 non-Urbandale resident
• 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. - $130 Urbandale resident, $170 non-Urbandale resident
• 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. - $225 Urbandale resident, $265 non-Urbandale resident

In addition to the rental rate, a $200 refundable deposit is required.

If you are interested in renting the facility Monday-Thursday, please call our office for availability.

How Do I Rent? 

Starting Tuesday, January 5, 2021, all customers (residents of Urbandale and non-residents of Urbandale) were able to reserve the Lion Ralph Whitten Shelter ONLINE and also 365 days in advance through our online registration system.    

The full rental fee, plus a $200 refundable deposit is required at the time of reservation. The deposit is refunded 2 weeks after the rental, providing all the rules and regulations are followed. 

Questions?  Call Urbandale Parks and Recreation at 515-278-3963

Mobile Food Vendors / Food Trucks during Private Facility Rentals 

If you are utilizing a mobile food vendor / food truck(s) during your private facility rental through Urbandale Parks & Recreation, your food vendor must contact the Urbandale Fire Marshal at 515-278-3970 for an onsite inspection. (This must be scheduled in advanced for the day of the rental).  

Renter assumes ALL responsibility and liability of food vendor(s) / food truck(s) at their rental.  Food Trucks should be licensed, carry adequate insurance, and pass a fire inspection.  Renters are responsible for the collection and retention of this information for their benefit.  

Vendors can set-up and operate only during the scheduled hours of the rental and provide their own necessary utilities.  Vendors must park in a designated parking stall (lined parking space in parking lot). More than 2 mobile food vendors during your rental requires permission from the Urbandale Parks and Recreation Department.

Credit/Debit Card Service Fees - Effective January, 2019

Please be aware that a non-refundable credit/debit card service fee of 3.95% applies to all in-office and over-the phone credit/debit card transactions with the City of Urbandale (including Parks and Recreation). To avoid the credit card transaction fee, simply pay on you own device, or you can also pay by check or cash in office. Watch our website for further updates. Thank you!