A permit is required to swim outside the roped beach area or to operate an open water swimming support watercraft at Blue Heron Lake in Raccoon River Park.  Please review all rules before proceeding.

1. Open water swimming is allowed by permit for training/fitness purposes only.  Permits will not be issued for casual recreational swimming.
2. Open water swimming is only allowed from dawn to dusk during park hours.
3. A maximum of six (6) swimmers is allowed in a group.
4. Each group or individual must be accompanied by a watercraft support boat, canoe or kayak unless lap swimming within 20 feet of the buoy rope that designates the beach swimming area.  Support watercraft required when swimming before or after annual installation of beach buoy rope; approximately Labor Day to Memorial Day).
5. The operator of the support watercraft must be 18 years or older.
6. All swimmers under the age of 18 must be supervised by an adult.
7. The support watercraft must have one Coast Guard-approved Type III Personal Flotation Device (PFD) for the operator of the watercraft and one Type III PFD for EACH swimmer in the group they are accompanying.
8. Each swimmer must wear a fluorescent orange or yellow swim cap whether or not accompanied by a support watercraft.
9. A cell phone must be carried by the operator of the watercraft while accompanying the group of swimmers.
10. An identification buoy must be carried on the support watercraft to be used to identify the location of any downed swimmer.
11. Each swimmer and support watercraft operator must sign a release of liability form prior to participating in open water swimming.
12. Each swimmer must obtain an annual permit from the City of West Des Moines Parks & Recreation Department prior to participating in open water swimming.  The permit must be available to present upon request of City staff or park security personnel.
13. The permit may be revoked if any rules are violated and can be terminated by the City without notice for any reason.

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Which are you applying for?

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Which are you applying for?

Support Watercraft Operator

Swimmer

Both

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Permit Holder Full Name

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Permit Holder Full Name

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Permit Holder Guardian Full Name 
(If permit holder is under 18.)

Permit Holder Guardian Full Name (If permit holder is under 18.)

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Permit Holder Phone Number

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Permit Holder Phone Number

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Permit Holder Email Address

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Permit Holder Email Address

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Permit Holder Address

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Permit Holder Address

Street

Apt./Unit

City

State

Zip Code

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Permit Holder Birthdate

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Permit Holder Birthdate

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Release of Liability

I hereby acknowledge that I (or my child) voluntarily have applied to participate in open water swimming at Blue Heron Lake in Raccoon River Park owned and operated by the City of West Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department.  I understand that the act of open water swimming necessarily involves risks of injury, including death, to me (or my child).  I understand that the aforementioned risks are entirely my responsibility and I expressly assume all of these risks.  It is my understanding that no agent or employee of the City of West Des Moines will supervise the open water swimming activities occurring at Blue Heron Lake at any time. 

By signing this release of liability and using Blue Heron Lake for open water swimming, I hereby fully and forever release and discharge the City of West Des Moines, the Parks and Recreation Department, and their public officials, volunteers, employees, contractors, and agents from any claims, demands, damages, rights of action or causes of action present or future, whether the same be known or unknown, anticipated or unanticipated, resulting from or arising out of my (or my child's) use or intended use of Blue Heron Lake for open water swimming.  I therefore, expressly assume all risks associated with using Blue Heron Lake for open water swimming in an unsupervised manner.

Additionally, I (or my child) agree to  defend, indemnify and hold harmless the City, its public officials, employees, agents, contractors, volunteers, and assigns from any and all claims, demands, causes of action, liability, loss, damage, or injury, both to person and property, arising out of, related to, or connected with arising from my (or my child's) use or intended use of Blue Heron Lake for open water swimming, whether such claims arise from my actions or those persons providing watercraft support to me.  This indemnification applies to and includes, but is not limited to, the payment of all penalties, fines, judgments, awards, decrees, attorney’s fees, expert witness fees, investigation fees, settlements, related costs or expenses, interest, and any reimbursements incurred by or assessed to the City, its officials, employees, agents, contractors and assigns.  I (or my child) agree to provide the City with prompt notice of any such claim, demand, or action so that the City may, at its option, defend or settle such claim, demand, or action.  The firm shall have no right of coverage under any existing or future City insurance policies. 

The Hold Harmless and Indemnification Agreement will be effective upon execution and of indefinite duration unless otherwise terminated by the City, at the City’s sole discretion.  The terms of this Agreement shall be binding upon firm’s successors and assignees. 

I (or my child) have carefully read this release of liability and understand and fully agree with its contents.  I (or my child) also have received a copy of the Open Water Swimming rules, and I (or my child) agree by my signature below to fully comply with these rules. 

*By signing, I (or my child) verify all of the above information is accurate, that I (or my child) have received and read of copy of the Open Water Swimming rules and agree to abide by them at all times, and that I (or my child) have carefully read the Release of Liability and fully agree with its contents.

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Release of Liability I hereby acknowledge that I (or my child) voluntarily have applied to participate in open water swimming at Blue Heron Lake in Raccoon River Park owned and operated by the City of West Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department. I understand that the act of open water swimming necessarily involves risks of injury, including death, to me (or my child). I understand that the aforementioned risks are entirely my responsibility and I expressly assume all of these risks. It is my understanding that no agent or employee of the City of West Des Moines will supervise the open water swimming activities occurring at Blue Heron Lake at any time. By signing this release of liability and using Blue Heron Lake for open water swimming, I hereby fully and forever release and discharge the City of West Des Moines, the Parks and Recreation Department, and their public officials, volunteers, employees, contractors, and agents from any claims, demands, damages, rights of action or causes of action present or future, whether the same be known or unknown, anticipated or unanticipated, resulting from or arising out of my (or my child's) use or intended use of Blue Heron Lake for open water swimming. I therefore, expressly assume all risks associated with using Blue Heron Lake for open water swimming in an unsupervised manner. Additionally, I (or my child) agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the City, its public officials, employees, agents, contractors, volunteers, and assigns from any and all claims, demands, causes of action, liability, loss, damage, or injury, both to person and property, arising out of, related to, or connected with arising from my (or my child's) use or intended use of Blue Heron Lake for open water swimming, whether such claims arise from my actions or those persons providing watercraft support to me. This indemnification applies to and includes, but is not limited to, the payment of all penalties, fines, judgments, awards, decrees, attorney’s fees, expert witness fees, investigation fees, settlements, related costs or expenses, interest, and any reimbursements incurred by or assessed to the City, its officials, employees, agents, contractors and assigns. I (or my child) agree to provide the City with prompt notice of any such claim, demand, or action so that the City may, at its option, defend or settle such claim, demand, or action. The firm shall have no right of coverage under any existing or future City insurance policies. The Hold Harmless and Indemnification Agreement will be effective upon execution and of indefinite duration unless otherwise terminated by the City, at the City’s sole discretion. The terms of this Agreement shall be binding upon firm’s successors and assignees. I (or my child) have carefully read this release of liability and understand and fully agree with its contents. I (or my child) also have received a copy of the Open Water Swimming rules, and I (or my child) agree by my signature below to fully comply with these rules. *By signing, I (or my child) verify all of the above information is accurate, that I (or my child) have received and read of copy of the Open Water Swimming rules and agree to abide by them at all times, and that I (or my child) have carefully read the Release of Liability and fully agree with its contents.

I agree to the Release of Liability statement listed above.

I do not agree to the Release of Liability statement listed above.

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I submitted and agreed to the above information on this date.

Thank you for your application. Look for an email with your official permit attached to come in the next 48-72 hours.

West Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department
515-222-3444

1. To receive a copy of your submission, please fill out your email address below and submit.
2. Email Address

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