What's happening
The day-by-day rundown of everything worth leaving the house for.
This Week in Johnston
Off work and not sure what to do? We keep the whole week in one place so you're not digging through five Facebook pages. Here's what's on, plus the stuff you can count on every week.
This week
The day-by-day board for this week fills in with the weekly refresh. In the meantime, the rhythm you can count on every week is right below, and dated one-offs are under Coming up.
Every week, count on these
Coming up
Bigger Iowa weekends and metro day trips are down in Worth the Drive.
This Week's Spotlight
Five hand-picked local things this week - a spot to support, something to do, a hidden gem, a new opening, and a local doing good.
Roots95 Craft Kitchen & Bar
Chef Arturo Mora's artisanal New American and Latin menu at the Chambery Blvd end of town: fresh, thoughtfully sourced small plates and a daily happy hour that locals plan dinner around.
The Yard at Johnston Town Center
Skip the same old night in. The Town Center's outdoor gathering space runs three free summer series: Tunes at Twilight on select Thursdays, Movies on the Yard on select Fridays, and Sounds of the Summer on select Saturday nights. The full rundown is in This Week.
The Cork 50131
A wine bar with 120 wines by the glass tucked into the Merle Hay corridor: the kind of low-key date-night spot that hasn't shown up on anyone's "best of" list yet.
Cheba Hut
The unconventional, laid-back sandwich shop's "toasted" subs landed on Merle Hay Rd, a newer name in the sub-shop rotation alongside Pagliai's Pizza.
ChildServe
Headquartered right here in Johnston (5406 Merle Hay Rd): respite care, an Adaptive Therapy Playground, and adaptive activities for kids with special healthcare needs. Volunteers and donations welcome.
Nominate any Johnston business, nonprofit, or hidden gem for next week - recommend it here → (or reply to any issue). It's always free; we never charge to be featured.
Our Town, Our Leaders
Biggest name in town: Corteva Agriscience - the Johnston campus has been home to the Pioneer seed brand for a century, and Corteva has named Johnston the future headquarters of Vylor, its new independent seed & genetics company, once the corporate split completes later this year.
Safe streets
After a storm
Northern Polk County, Johnston included, sees its share of severe summer weather and flash flooding along Beaver Creek. If it happens, here's who to call:
What's being built
Permits and where the growth is - straight from the City of Johnston's monthly building report.
- City issued 48 permits worth $10.27M in its most recent monthly report (March 2026)
- Biggest chunk: 21 new townhomes from Genesis Homes on Marigold & Iris Ct ($6.74M)
- Plus 4 new single-family homes ($1.44M)
- One commercial build-out: a new $908,000 building at 5445 West Pkwy
- Two new residential pools permitted ($240K combined)
The story of the year isn't a permit, it's Vylor's headquarters. Corteva's century-old Johnston campus (birthplace of the Pioneer seed brand) becomes the corporate home of its seed-and-genetics spinoff once the split closes. We'll track hiring and any new construction on the campus as it happens.
Capital projects underway:
- Improvements planned at Greenwood Hills Park and Crosshaven Park
- NW Beaver Drive trail extension
- New Prairie Point Dog Park (6 acres), with day passes on sale online while the grand opening is scheduled
- Full development-projects list →
Your tax dollars
- FY2026 city property-tax levy: $11.4379 per $1,000 - unchanged from last year
- Higher than neighboring Ankeny ($9.90) and Urbandale ($9.98), roughly in line with Grimes ($11.19)
- (the city's just one slice of your bill - county, DMACC, DART & schools levy the rest)
At City Hall - what the Council is working on
- City Council meets the 1st & 3rd Monday of the month - work session 6pm, regular meeting 7pm, City Hall (6221 Merle Hay Rd)
- Open to the public, with time for public comment
- Agendas: Agenda Center → or BoardDocs →
Council seats are at-large, not by ward. Here's what actually lands on the agenda:
Who represents you
Here's who holds each office right now (mid-2026):
Sen. Blake, a Johnston-area Democrat, flipped this seat from a 20-year Republican incumbent in 2024 and was elected Senate Democratic Whip in May 2026. Rep. Andrews ran for Governor in the 2026 GOP primary and continues representing District 43.
School board
- Johnston CSD Board of Education: 7 members elected at-large, plus 2 non-voting student representatives
- President Jennifer Chamberland, Vice President Soneeta Mangra-Dutcher
- Newly elected Nov. 2025: Rexford Davidson, Kaycee Schippers & Justin Smith
- Board meets at the district office, 6510 NW 62nd Ave
- Schedule & agendas: School Board page →
Election center (it's a voting year)
The general election is Tuesday, Nov 3. (The June 2 primary set the matchups, including the open U.S. Senate race and the crowded governor's field.) No city council or school board races this year - those run on Johnston's odd-year cycle (next: 2027).
- On the 2026 ballot: Governor
- U.S. Senate & House
- Other statewide offices
- The Iowa Legislature
- County races
- Sen. Ernst isn't seeking reelection, leaving the U.S. Senate seat open: Ashley Hinson (R) vs. Josh Turek (D)
- Rep. Nunn is seeking reelection in IA-3 against a Democratic field led by state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott
Bring a valid photo ID (Iowa voter-ID law). Early voting begins Oct 14; registration/mail-ballot deadline Oct 19; same-day registration allowed on Election Day with ID & proof of residence.
Worship in Johnston
Yours not listed? Add it →
Living in Johnston - quick answers
The stuff every resident ends up googling, answered in one place - or browse the full Johnston guides index →
For the Kids
Johnston is a family town top to bottom - here's where to take them, rain or shine.
Make a splash
- Splash Pad at the Johnston Town Center (6245 Merle Hay Rd) - free, sensor-activated, 27 water features; Memorial Day-Labor Day, 10am-8pm
- Johnston has no city outdoor pool (the old Camp Dodge pool closed in 2001). The closest lap option is Summit Middle School Pool (9500 Windsor Pkwy), an 8-lane competitive pool run through Johnston Community Education: lap swim, private lessons & Parent-Child Aquatics. 515-986-0951
- For a true water park with slides & a lazy river, Ankeny's Cascade Falls (largest municipal pool in Iowa) is about 15 minutes away
Rainy-day rescue (indoor)
Youth sports & leagues
- Johnston Parks & Rec - youth track & field, T-ball, outdoor soccer, basketball
- Johnston Little League & Johnston Girls Softball run independently
- Youth golf at Button Hole, ages 7-17
- Sign-ups largely run through Johnston CSD's Community Education / Eleyo portal
- The school district feeds the Johnston Dragons from there
Movie night
AMC Classic Johnston 16 - 16 screens with RealD 3D and assisted-listening devices, free self-parking.
Animals & vets
Free at the library
The Johnston Public Library (6700 Merle Hay Rd) runs a full Summer Reading Program - kids, teens and adults each get their own track, plus a Thursday Night Book Club, a Teen Book Club, and an Audiobook Walking Club that meets at Terra Park.
Free food pantry
The Johnston Partnership for a Healthy Community runs a daily food pantry - non-perishables, fresh bread, produce and personal-care items, no ID required. 515-528-2379.
Adaptive & inclusive programs
ChildServe (5406 Merle Hay Rd), headquartered right here in Johnston, offers respite care, an Adaptive Therapy Playground, and adaptive activities for kids with special healthcare needs. Families looking for an inclusive sports league can reach the Miracle League fields in Urbandale or at Principal Park in Des Moines, both a short drive away.
Know a family gem we're missing? Recommend it →
Family guides: things to do with kids · pools & splash pad · parks & playgrounds · dog parks · daycare & preschool
The Johnston Dragons
Johnston High competes as the Dragons in the CIML (Central Iowa Metro League), Iowa's deepest conference.
In the trophy case
The Dragons' banner history includes 7 state baseball titles, 4 girls' basketball titles, 3 boys' cross country titles, and back-to-back Class 4A boys' soccer state titles in 2023 and 2024. Johnston's drama program and three competitive show choirs are standouts too.
The weekly scoreboard - scores, standings and playoff runs - lands here in season once we wire it to the official results feed.
Follow schedules, scores & standings at Johnston Dragons Athletics.
Sports guides: Johnston high school sports · sports complexes & youth sports
Trails, lakes & Saylorville
Where to hike, bike, fish, and cool off, minutes from town.
Get Outside
Johnston has 45+ miles of its own trails, a namesake park with a stocked fishing lake, and Saylorville Lake just up the road.
Terra Park
- Terra Park (6400 Pioneer Pkwy) - an 8-acre fishing lake stocked with largemouth bass, channel catfish & bluegill, plus a fishing pier, 3 pickleball & 2 tennis courts, playground, outdoor fitness stations, and a summer Art Walk featuring local artists
- Fully ADA-accessible, with adult changing stations in the restrooms
- Connects directly into the Beaver Creek Natural Resources Area and its trail network
The trails
- Beaver Creek Greenbelt Trail - Johnston's most popular trail for running & biking, following the creek through town
- Johnston Interurban Trail - built on the old Inter-Urban Railway corridor (used 1906-1948), running into Des Moines
- Trestle to Trestle Trail (3.7 mi, opened 2007) - connects toward the restored Wakonsa Bridge in Beaverdale, linking onward to the Neal Smith Trail and the Des Moines River trail system
- Beaver Creek itself is a designated Iowa state water trail, alongside the Des Moines River
Saylorville Lake
A short drive northwest of Johnston:
- Bob Shetler Recreation Area sits right on Saylorville's shore near Johnston - swim beach, bike trail access & reservoir fishing
- Saylorville Lake Marina (Polk City) - pontoon & tritoon rentals, Apr-Oct
- Big Creek State Park and Jester Park (bison & elk herds) are both within about 20 minutes
Camping near town
All part of the U.S. Army Corps' Saylorville Lake system, within about 20-30 minutes:
Reserve early for summer weekends, May-October.
Golf
- Hyperion Field Club (7390 NW Beaver Dr) - Johnston's only course, private, 18 holes, par 72, designed by Tom Bendelow in 1910
- 37 more courses (16 public, 8 municipal, 13 private) within 20 miles
- Bombers Golf & Family Entertainment District (5225 Merle Hay Rd, now targeting Dec 2026 after funding delays) will add a Toptracer driving range & putting course
Disc golf, pickleball & dog parks
Johnston Parks & Rec also runs adult programs - call 515-727-8091 for current leagues and facility rentals.
Hunting & fishing
Standard Iowa DNR seasons apply around Johnston, same as the rest of central Iowa. Polk County Conservation also runs a controlled urban bowhunt for antlerless deer at several county parks each fall to manage the urban deer population - check polkcountyiowa.gov for participating sites and dates. Terra Park's 8-acre lake is stocked and open to fishing with a valid Iowa license.
Iowa's big summer
Already wrapped this year: RAGBRAI (Jul 18-25), Hinterland (Jul 30-Aug 2) and the National Balloon Classic (Jul 31-Aug 8) - all back next summer.
Outdoors guides: trails & bike paths · Terra Park · Saylorville Lake · parks · golf · disc golf · pickleball
Rainy Days & Nights Out
When the weather turns - or the kids are finally in bed.
Make a night of it
More on the way: Bombers Golf & Family Entertainment District (indoor golf, bowling, arcade) has broken ground but hit funding delays, with the target completion now December 2026. Ignit's planned adjacent entertainment district is also still under construction.
Get active indoors
Ignit (208,000 sq ft, opened Feb 2025) has an indoor track, a full-size indoor soccer field, and 8 multi-purpose courts - the go-to when it's too hot, cold, or wet to play outside. Crown Point Community Center, next to Terra Park, and Simpson Barn at Johnston Commons are both rentable community spaces.
Clubs & leagues
- Johnston Running Club - youth track & field, cross country and winter conditioning since 2011
- Johnston Public Library - book clubs incl. a joint Silent Book Club with the Grimes library
- Johnston Parks & Rec adult programs - call 515-727-8091
Run a club we should list - car club, garden club, anything? Tell us →
Indoors & night-out guides: movie theater · live music & The Yard · hotels
The Housing Market
No Zillow guesses here. We pull every figure straight from Polk County Assessor records, refreshed weekly.
Median by month: January $428,000 → February $356,000 → March $380,500 → April $367,170 → May $360,000 → June $403,240 - a dip in spring, then climbing back through early summer. Johnston's median runs well above Ankeny's ($324K): this is the more established, higher-end side of the metro's north side.
Most active streets
Watermeadow Cir (11 sales), NW 106th St (7), Poppy Ct (6) and Buckley St (6) led the year, mostly new-construction pockets on Johnston's west side.
Just closed
Housing & moving guides: the housing dashboard · neighborhoods · cost of living · apartments & rent · moving to Johnston · public transit & DART
Beyond Johnston - Pile in the Car
Johnston sits close-in on the metro's north side, closer to downtown Des Moines than most suburbs. Here's the metro and the easy day trips, with rough drive times from town.
Big days out
Worth planning a whole day or evening around:
Outdoors around the metro
Beyond the lakes north of town (see Outdoors), these are the metro's signature green spaces:
Free in Des Moines
No ticket needed - great when you just want to wander:
Eat & drink worth the drive
When you want more than Johnston's own lineup:
Worth a Saturday - day trips
A little farther, but easy round-trips and a true change of scenery:
Make a weekend of it - 2 to 4 hours away
Pack a bag. Within a half-day's drive: a world-class zoo, Mississippi river towns, Iowa's lake country, and a baseball field in a cornfield.
The full rundown - with what to do and who each trip is best for - is in our day trips & weekend getaways guide →
Drive times are rough door-to-door estimates from central Johnston - add a little for downtown parking or game-day traffic. Got a favorite spot we're missing? Recommend it →
Nearby guides: Saylorville Lake · Terra Park · day trips & getaways · where to stay
Where Johnston Eats
Where we'd send you to eat: the highest-rated spots in town by aggregate review score (mid-2026).
By cuisine - a starting lineup
Mexican - Flame The Taqueria, Pico De Gallo, El Mariachi, Amigo
Italian & pizza - Marino's Italian, Pagliai's Pizza
Breakfast & brunch - The Happy Egg, Cozy Cafe
Steak & date night - Trostel's Greenbriar
Sports bars & patios - 1908 Draught House, Zeke's Rooftop & Grill
Sushi & Japanese/Thai - Wasabi, De Rice Thai and Japanese Cuisine
BBQ & comfort - ShortE's BBQ, Charlotte's Kitchen
New American / Latin - Roots95 Craft Kitchen & Bar
The full rundown: best restaurants in Johnston →
The caffeine index
- Blue Bean Coffee & Coworking (6205 Merle Hay Rd) - 4.5★, coffee + a work zone
- Caribou Coffee (5260 Merle Hay Rd) - drive-thru + indoor seating
- Starbucks (5560 Merle Hay Rd) - Johnston's first freestanding location
- Cozy Cafe (8385 Birchwood Ct) - coffee alongside all-day breakfast
The full local coffee scene: the best coffee in Johnston →
New spot opening? Tell us → - we run a "new this month" feature.
New & coming soon
Deals around town
Always worth a look - current standing deals (we refresh these weekly):
Kids eat free - Cozy Cafe (all day, with an adult entrée) and ShortE's BBQ (up to age 12, with an adult meal).
Happy hour - Wasabi (weekdays 3-6pm) and Roots95 (daily 4-6pm, $8 small plates & $5 taps).
Got a deal or happy hour we should list? Add it here → - and owners, your specials run free.
Food guides: what should we eat tonight? · best restaurants · pizza · Mexican · breakfast & brunch · coffee
Schools & Learning
Johnston Community School District is one of the highest-ranked in the state, and one of the reasons families move here.
Johnston Senior High School carries a Niche A− and ranks #6 among Des Moines-area public high schools. Its current building opened in 2017 (an $81M project from a 2013 bond) and serves roughly 1,800 students in grades 10-12; freshmen attend Johnston Middle School.
DMACC Career Advantage
- Johnston High juniors & seniors can earn free DMACC college credit, at the high school, on DMACC's campus, or online
- 1,059 Johnston students took DMACC classes last year with a 92% pass rate
- 8 Johnston seniors earned a full DMACC Associate degree before high school graduation in 2026, four times the year before
Support for every learner
Johnston Middle School and Johnston Senior High both run Gifted & Talented programs and Project Lead The Way curriculum alongside AP coursework and standard special-education/504 support.
Dragons athletics
Johnston High's mascot is the Dragons, competing in the CIML (Central Iowa Metro League), Iowa's deepest conference. The trophy case includes 7 state baseball titles, 4 girls' basketball titles, 3 boys' cross country titles, and back-to-back Class 4A boys' soccer state titles in 2023 and 2024.
Johnston's drama program and three competitive show choirs are also standouts in the district.
Follow schedules, scores & standings at Johnston Dragons Athletics. The weekly scoreboard lives in the Sports section →
School guides: schools & boundaries · daycare & preschool · the library
New in Johnston
The Johnston Chamber of Commerce runs the town's business directory and hosts ribbon-cutting events for new openings.
The single biggest business story in Johnston right now: Corteva's century-old campus, birthplace of the Pioneer seed brand, becomes global headquarters for Vylor, Corteva's new independent seed & genetics company, once the corporate split closes later in 2026. Expect hiring news on the existing campus in the months ahead.
We love featuring businesses started by Johnston locals: Charlotte's Kitchen started here before expanding across the metro. Own one, or know one? Tell us your story → and we'll spotlight it here.
Now hiring
A weekly snapshot of real openings within about five miles of town - pulled from public job listings. Tap any role to see pay and apply.
Speech Language Pathologist - AEGIS Therapies · $83,200-$104,000Apply → Registered Nurse / LPN - Bishop Drumm Retirement Center · $55,940 est.Apply → Laboratory Technician - BC Forward · $59,166 est.Apply → Software Engineer (100% Remote) - Genesis10 · $110,659 est.Apply → Senior Premier Banker - Wells Fargo · $117,631 est.Apply → Strategic Sourcing Manager - Corteva Agriscience · $104,029 est.Apply → Payroll Supervisor - ChildServe · $57,005 est.Apply → Property & Evidence Technician - City of Johnston · $64,084-$82,555Apply → Graphic & Digital Designer - HR Green · $62,448 est.Apply →Business guides: what's newly opened · jobs & largest employers
Sales, Stands & Markets
A neighborhood farmers market, patio deals, and the weekend treasure hunt.
Johnston Farmers Market
Running since 1989, the market sets up Tuesdays, 4-7pm, at the Johnston Town Center (6221 Merle Hay Rd, between City Hall & the GrandStay Hotel), May through the first week of October. Produce, cheeses, honey, baked goods, crafts, garden art, live music, and usually a BBQ or food truck. SNAP/EBT, FMNP and WIC accepted at most stalls.
Details & vendor list: cityofjohnston.com/FarmersMarket
This weekend's garage sales
We refresh this list weekly in season:
No sales posted this week - check the live maps below.
Check gsalr.com or GarageSaleFinder for the live map.
Concerts & movies at The Yard
Johnston Town Center's outdoor gathering space runs three free summer series, all at 6245 Merle Hay Rd, no tickets required:
Full schedule: johnstontowncenter.com/events
Running a food truck or a market stand we should feature? Tell us →
Market guide: the Johnston Farmers Market
Recommend a spot
This whole thing is better with you in it. Know a great restaurant, a hidden gem, a deal, a can't-miss event or garage sale - or run a local business yourself? Send it our way. The best picks land in the Brief, and the spotlight's always free.
Recommend a spot →Prefer email? Just send it to [email protected].