This week in Ankeny
Off work and want to do something? Here's the week at a glance — the standing stuff you can count on, plus what's on right now.
Every week, count on these
On right now & coming up
Bigger Iowa weekends (RAGBRAI, the Balloon Classic, the State Fair) are down in Outdoors.
The housing market
Every figure here is real, from Polk County Assessor records, refreshed weekly.
Median by month: March $351,795 → April $299,900 → May $336,000 → June $339,000 — spring spiked, then settled into a steady summer floor.
By the quadrant
Most active streets this year: NE 19th, NW 17th, and NE 12th.
Just closed
New in Ankeny
Every business newly registered in town, freshest first — straight from the state's public record.
We love featuring businesses started by Ankeny grads and lifelong locals. Own one — or know one? Reply and we'll spotlight your story here.
What's being built
Permits, big projects, and where the orange barrels are — all from City of Ankeny & Iowa DOT records.
The city issued 263 permits worth $73.6M last month — led by the new $41.5M school, a $9.5M Baker Group office addition on SE Corporate Woods Dr, and a $4.28M manufacturing plant on SE Northstar. On the home front, 28 new houses broke ground, Greenland Homes and DS Solid neck-and-neck at six apiece.
The biggest project in town is the $41,450,789 school on N Ankeny Blvd (permit to Stahl Construction). We follow that public money milestone by milestone — straight from the record, no spin.
Getting around — road work right now
South Ankeny Boulevard (SE Peterson Dr to First St) is a two-year rebuild — utilities, new pavement, turn lanes, a raised median — so expect lane closures through that corridor. Out on I-35, new northbound lanes are going in from Ankeny to Huxley, with the new NE 158th Avenue bridge opening this month. Live map: ankenyiowa.gov/construction.
Where Ankeny eats
The highest-rated spots in town, by aggregate review score (mid-2026).
The caffeine index
Top of the list: 7 Brew (4.7★) for the drive-thru crowd, plus local favorites Porch Light Coffeehouse, Cafe Diem, Blue Bean, Smokey Row, and Twisted Bean.
New spot opening? Tell us — we run a "new this month" feature.
New & coming soon
Newer spots worth a try: Tribute Eatery & Bar (1615 SW Main St — classic sandwiches with a twist) and Oceanside Grill on N Ankeny Blvd. On the way: Cinnaholic (build-your-own cinnamon rolls) is opening an Ankeny location.
Deals & specials
Each week we round up local food deals — happy hours, kids-eat-free nights, and grand-opening specials. Restaurant owners: send us your specials and we'll run them free.
Schools & learning
Ankeny is a school town — a third of residents are raising kids here.
Top-rated elementaries: Prairie Trail, Northeast, and Crocker. The new $41.5M school is being built to keep up with the growth.
Ankeny schools run a Summer Meal Program — free meals for any child 18 and under, no sign-up and no income check. Sites and times post on the district's Nutrition Services page; you can also dial 211 (or 1-866-3-HUNGRY) or use the federal Summer Meals Site Finder.
Beyond K–12
DMACC's main campus is right here — and its theatre program stages 4–5 free public productions a year. The Kirkendall Public Library runs a full Summer Library Program (book giveaway this week, pool party July 30).
Hawks vs. Jaguars
The crosstown rivalry: Ankeny High (Hawks) and Ankeny Centennial (Jaguars). Centennial's Quiz Bowl team are back-to-back Iowa state champions — they won their first-ever title over Ankeny High, then defended it in a record ten-overtime final over Johnston. Football kicks off late August.
Our town, by the numbers
Biggest name in town: Casey's General Stores — an Iowa Fortune 500 (2,950 stores, 40,000+ employees) — is headquartered right here.
Safe streets
Your tax dollars
The FY2026 city budget is $198M — about $152M to run the city day-to-day and $46M for capital projects. The city property-tax levy is held at $9.90 per $1,000 of taxable value — the lowest of any Des Moines-metro city over 5,000 people. (The city is just one slice of your bill — the county, DMACC, DART, and the schools levy the rest.)
Where this year's money is going:
The $46M capital budget funds these; the Council's stated goal is upgrading essential infrastructure while holding the levy flat.
Election center (it's a voting year)
Check your registration through the Polk County Auditor; we'll run a plain-English ballot guide closer to November.
Worship in Ankeny
Nearly 30 congregations in town — yours not listed? Reply and we'll add it.
Get outside
Ankeny sits in the middle of one of the best paved-trail networks in the country, ten minutes from a 26,000-acre lake.
The trails
The High Trestle Trail starts here — the Ankeny trailhead is on N 1st St — and runs to its half-mile, 13-story bridge over the Des Moines River valley (go at dusk for the blue lights). From town it links to the Gay Lea Wilson, Neal Smith, Oralabor Gateway, and Chichaqua Valley trails, then onto the Raccoon River Valley Trail — a 120-mile continuous paved loop. Plus 40+ city parks and the 7.5-acre dog park.
Saylorville Lake
Ten minutes northwest: two swim beaches (Oak Grove's best for families), a 24-mile paved trail, 11 campgrounds, and fishing for walleye, wiper, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, and northern pike.
More water close by
Big Creek State Park (Polk City, 15 min north) has the largest beach in Iowa's state-park system — 1,300 feet of sand on Big Creek Lake — plus kayak, paddleboard and pontoon rentals, an 18-hole disc golf course, and a fishing jetty. The paved Neal Smith Trail runs 27 miles from the beach down through Saylorville to Des Moines. On Saylorville's west shore, Jester Park (1,661 acres, a local favorite since 1958) has the beloved bison & elk herds and nature center, 8+ miles of trails, horseback riding, mini-golf and a driving range, cabins, and an archery/kayak rec center. And the Des Moines River ties it all together — the tailwaters below the Saylorville dam are a go-to for anglers.
Hunting seasons (2026–27)
Always confirm legal dates, zones, and tags at iowadnr.gov. Public land close to home: Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt. Fishing needs only a license — no season.