Urbandale Bought a Finished Gym. Its Class Schedule Is Still Being Built.

On Friday, February 27, 2026, the City of Urbandale finalized the purchase of a gym at 4020 121st Street. The building went up in 2017, so the city didn't have to design anything, put it out to bid or wait through a construction season. The two courts were already lined. Parks and Recreation staff told their commission in March that they expected to start renting those courts by the end of that month.

That shortcut explains why Recreation Station feels a little lopsided this fall. The building is ready, but the program list isn't yet. If you head over for the open house on Friday, October 16, that gap tells you what to expect from the place right now and what's still on the way.

What the city got on day one

The best description of the building is in the March 11, 2026 Parks and Recreation Commission minutes, which list what Urbandale bought:

The math is simple. The gym takes up about 81% of the building. The room set aside for classes is less than 6%. Most of what Urbandale bought was a big open court, and the smallest piece is the one that has to be converted before it can host anything.

The city's facility page lists what's on the gym floor: basketball, volleyball, courts lined for pickleball, restrooms, a water fountain, parking and ADA accessibility. It describes the wellness area as space that "will support future classes and programs."

Why rentals came before classes

Buying a finished building put the steps in a different order than a new build would. Here's how 2026 has played out so far:

1. February 27: The city finalizes the purchase.
2. March 11: The Parks and Recreation Commission votes unanimously to recommend court rental rates. Staff say they're still working on an operations plan.
3. March 17: The rental recommendation is scheduled to go to the City Council.
4. September 8: The city posts that Parks and Recreation offices have moved into the building.
5. September 28: The city announces a public open house.
6. October 16: The open house runs from 4 to 6 p.m.

The first thing on that list after the purchase was a rental price, not a class lineup. A court with lines already painted can be rented right away. A fitness class needs a finished room, instructors and a schedule. So far the city has had seven months to work on the second list. It hasn't needed any construction time for the first.

The rental numbers, and what's still unconfirmed

Staff recommended $50 an hour for one court and $100 an hour for both. They also recommended no discounts for any group or organization and said that matches how other area communities handle gym rentals. The commission approved the recommendation and sent it to the City Council meeting on March 17.

Our research didn't confirm whether the council adopted those rates as written. Treat $50 and $100 as the recommended numbers and check the current rate before you book. The department's number is 515-278-3963.

The no-discount part matters for anyone organizing a team. A youth league coach, a church volleyball group and a few neighbors who want a weekly pickleball hour would all pay the same hourly rate under the recommendation.

The facility page speaks to that crowd directly: "Whether you're a coach looking for practice space, a team needing a reliable court, or a group that wants room to play, Recreation Station offers a convenient and flexible place to get moving."

What changed for your errands in September

You'll probably notice the office move before you notice the gym. Since September, Recreation Station is where you go for Parks and Recreation front-desk help, key pickups and drop-offs, and other department business.

If you've rented a park shelter or another city facility before and picked up a key somewhere else, the pickup point is now 4020 121st Street.

The city also says the building is part of a bigger plan. Its facility page describes Parks and Recreation as "growing into a larger hub for activity, wellness, and connection" and says the department is "excited for future class offerings and rentals at this location." The word future keeps showing up in the city's language about the building. Rentals are what's ready now. Classes are what the department is planning.

Where Parks and Rec's October programming is happening

Until the wellness room is finished, the department's hands-on programs are still happening in other buildings. Two days after the open house, Parks and Recreation is running its Arts in Action Festival at the Urbandale Library, not at Recreation Station.

The festival is on Sunday, October 18, from 1 to 4 p.m., with four workshops in one place: cyanotype sunprinting, wet-felting, painting, and Western and Asian art techniques. You don't need any experience, and you'll meet the artists while you make something. The city's Artists in the Community page has more on the program behind it.

Put those two events together and you have a full weekend. You could tour the new gym Friday afternoon and try sunprinting at the library on Sunday. Both events come from the same department.

Living History Farms rounds out the rest of the fall. Its events page currently lists:

Living History Farms frames its October 10 programming as part of the country's 250th anniversary. Its Halloween event is billed as "one weekend only," and the last tickets are sold 30 minutes before closing. These dates come from the venue's current listings, so check them before you head out.

Questions worth asking at the open house

At the open house, the city promises games, activities and time to explore the building. It's also the easiest way to get answers the city hasn't posted yet:

• When will the 1,200-square-foot wellness room open for classes, and what kinds of classes are planned?
• Will there be drop-in open gym or pickleball times, or will the courts be rental-only for now?
• What is the current hourly court rate, and how far ahead can you book?
• Can a group reserve a standing weekly time slot through the winter?

The answers will show whether Recreation Station stays mostly a rental court with the city's front desk inside, or becomes the activity hub the city's facility page describes. The building was ready the day Urbandale bought it. The class schedule is what's still being built.

If you go to the open house on the 16th and come away curious about the west side of Urbandale, I'd love to hear what you found out about the wellness room and the court schedule. I'm always glad to talk about what's changing around town, whether you're settled here for good or starting to wonder about your next chapter. You can reach me through Laura Major. Let's Connect.