Weekends
Things to do downtown
The things to do here are the kind you repeat, because they are close. A ballgame, a sculpture park, a riverwalk, and a market on the street. All of them downtown, most of them a walk.
A ballgame
Principal Park is 0.5 miles south, at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers. It is the home of the Iowa Cubs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. A home game is a short walk from Court Avenue, with no parking lot to fight. The team sets the schedule and tickets; the Iowa Cubs' site has both.
Art and the river
The Pappajohn Sculpture Park, 1.1 miles west, is a free open-air sculpture park run by the Des Moines Art Center. The Principal Riverwalk, a few blocks east, is a 1.2-mile trail along the Des Moines River with two pedestrian bridges. Both are walks rather than drives.
The market and the evening
On a Saturday morning in season the Downtown Farmers' Market is on Court Avenue. In the evening the restaurants and bars of the district are at street level. Court & Marketplace rents one- and two-bedroom homes across both buildings, 308 and 312 Court Ave, with an in-unit washer and dryer in most homes and bulk internet included with rent. Live floor plans and today’s pricing are on the availability page.
Questions people ask
What is there to do near Court & Marketplace?
Catch an Iowa Cubs game at Principal Park (0.5 miles), walk the free Pappajohn Sculpture Park (1.1 miles) or the Principal Riverwalk a few blocks east, and shop the Saturday Downtown Farmers' Market on Court Avenue in season.
How far is Principal Park from Court Avenue?
About 0.5 miles south by road, a short walk. It is the home of the Iowa Cubs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.
Who are the Iowa Cubs?
The Iowa Cubs are the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and play at Principal Park in downtown Des Moines. The team sets its own schedule and tickets.
Is there anything to do downtown without a car?
Most of it. Principal Park, the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, the Principal Riverwalk, the Farmers' Market and Court Avenue's restaurants are all walks from the buildings.
Principal Park and the Iowa Cubs affiliation are from the team and Wikipedia; sculpture park and riverwalk facts from the Des Moines Art Center and the City of Des Moines. Distances are by road from 308 Court Ave, measured with OpenStreetMap routing, October 2026.
More about living here
- Living in the Court Avenue District
- The Downtown Farmers' Market, out the door
- Parks and trails near Court Avenue
- Groceries and everyday errands downtown
- Eating and drinking on Court Avenue
- Getting around from Court Avenue
- Court Avenue Lofts and Market Place Lofts: which is which
- The floor plans, explained
- The fitness center, business center and lounge
- Pet-friendly apartments on Court Avenue
- How to apply at Court & Marketplace
- Working from home on Court Avenue
- What residents say about Court & Marketplace
- The Court Avenue District guide
- All questions