Find Fun & Fitness in Marshalltown, IA
Marshalltown offers residents activities that promote a healthy lifestyle.
Fun and fitness go together — like sunshine and smiles — in Marshalltown. Regardless of your age or ability, there is an activity here to enjoy while improving your health and wellness. Tie up your athletic shoes and hit the trails, wallop a pickleball, hop on a horse, make a splash in a pool, dunk a basketball, exercise with a friend, take a swing with a golf simulator – all just a sample of the many options available to help clear out the stress of the day, get your heart rate up and renew your spirit.
Activities for All
More than 25,000 people annually take advantage of the 22 parks, 24 miles of trails, 25 to 30 programs for adults and children and hours of indoor activities offered in the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, managed by Marshalltown Parks and Recreation.
“I love parks and recreation because we can provide a wide variety of affordable programs, services, events and facilities that reach people ages 1 to 101,” says Geoff Hubbard, department director and Marshalltown native. “I enjoy seeing a young child learn to swim, a senior couple taking a walk on our trails and a group of co-workers playing in our adult sports leagues. We truly have something for everyone.”
A popular new addition to the department’s lineup is the adult and youth basketball leagues. A new launch of the adult group in 2022 created a full league of 16 teams. Partnering with high school basketball coaches, the parks and recreation staff also began youth basketball leagues for first through sixth graders, with 230 players participating.
Horses, Healing and Health
Both the two-legged and four-legged crew at Wolfe Ranch of Quakerdale, a ministry partner of Quakerdale Family Services, strive to provide a unique and different experience for each person who enters the gate.
At the ranch, you can take riding lessons, go on trial rides, rent their facilities — the perfect location for a horse-themed birthday party — and volunteer. It also offers many different children’s camps and the annual Christmas in the Stables event.
The facility plays an important role in the health and wellness of Marshalltown by offering in-office counseling, equine-assisted learning and equine-assisted psychotherapy to help youth and their families communicate and relate to each other in a respectful, caring way.
Including horses in their practice is an insightful and amazing experience that many times provides exactly what someone needs to be able to confront the pressure and pain in their life, says Executive Director Beth Andrew.
“Wolfe Ranch is a place to find peace and relaxation. But it’s the staff, board members, volunteers, prayer partners and donors who make the ranch what it is,” Andrew says. “The people here believe in and are dedicated to its mission: Encouraging hope, faith and growth in the families and communities we serve.”
Tools for Balanced Life
Busy mom Lauren Borcherding perfectly captures why the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA is an important partner that helps keep her energetic family active and healthy.
“The Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA has been a haven for my family and me. My oldest son, who participates in the Fit Kids after-school program, refers to it as our ‘second home’ because we’re here for everything: workouts, preschool, youth sports and swimming, not to mention all the extras like open swim and other events,” Borcherding says. “We love the community focus and support, plus the values the Y represents.”
In addition to the Fit Kids program for ages K-12, the Marshalltown Y offers group swim lessons; Strong Kids, a weekly program that incorporates strength, flexibility and cardio activities; and Crossfit Kids, with access to an extensive collection of exercise equipment.
A new piece of equipment perfect for families and groups is the TruGolf Multisport Simulator. It has numerous options for golf, soccer, footgolf, hockey, baseball, zombie dodgeball and other sports.
Adults can benefit from fitness-on-demand classes delivered in a digital format, aquatic offerings, the Y’s weight-loss program and access to personal trainers. Downloadable information about nutrition, water intake and other helpful hints is also available, helping members live a balanced life.
Get to Know Marshalltown, IA
Want to learn more about living and working in Marshalltown, IA? Check out the latest edition of Livability Marshalltown, IA.
