Picnic In The Park

Bates Park, located at Third and Clark St, has one of the highest crime rates of any park in the Des Moines metro area. Because of its “off the beaten path” location, Bates is especially prone to prostitution, drug trafficking, and gang activity.

Each year, running May through October, on one Sunday a month, Two Rivers holds free cookouts for the residents of the Bates Park neighborhood.

The goal of Picnic in the Park is to meet people’s physical needs via the cookout and to meet their spiritual needs via conversation and prayer.