The Dawson Aquatic Center opened in the summer of 2008. It is located adjacent to Highway 212 on the east end of Dawson. The daily hours for open swim are Monday - Friday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m and 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday the hours are 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is $3 for an afternoon, $2 for the evening, and 55 & older $1.50. A punch card for ten swims is $27. Family passes $150 for the immediate family to include mother, father, & children, individual pass $75, and 55 & older season pass $50. Swim Lessons $30 per session. Lap swim Tuesday & Thursday 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. Have some fun and visit our wonderful swimming pool.

There is a campground located on Hwy 212, reservations are on a first come first serve basis. The fee is $15 per day in season, includes electrical hook-up and dump station available nearby. Off season the fee is $12 per day with no water available. The fee on season for one month is $260 and off season $200 for one month. This park area has playground equipment conveniently located within the facility. Veterans Park has two campsites with electricity at a fee of $10 per night.

Displayed at the swimmng pool park are all the gnomes celebrating outstanding citizens from the community of Dawson. A kiosk is also located there with information in regards to each individual gnome.

Dawson's own Carrie Tollefson participated in the 2004 Olympics. Her outstanding record, to date, includes 13 State High School and 5 NCAA Championships in track and cross country.

The City has three parks, one is located off Hwy 212 by the new outdoor swimming pool, another is located close to downtown right off 6th Street, and the third is the Veteran's Memorial Park south of the river. The Riverside Park has a shelterhouse, playground equipment and horseshoes. The swimming pool park offers playground equipment, volleyball court, tennis courts, basketball courts and shelterhouses.

The Veteran's Memorial Park offers a quiet, scenic camping and picnic area along with a beautiful walking trail which is approximately one mile long. During the summer months a Farmer's Market is open at Veterans Park each Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Office hours: Weekdays, 8 am to 4:30 pm