I was in the area (for a Yelp Elite experience, actually lol) but it was a gorgeous day outside…read more(aka, forties in February) so I wanted to make sure I soaked up some of the sunshine in the afternoon. Peeking at this place on Google maps it didn't look like much, but I gave it a shot; I'm quite glad I did! Part of why I'd been unsure was because it does have a relatively small footprint of the landscape (it doesn't even encompass the entire lake, as many houses have backyards around more than half the shore... boo). But, they made up for it with a really nice visitor center and art installations! Honestly, I'd say this place wouldn't be half as good without the outdoor art walk; I really enjoyed discovering all the unique and fun sculptures along the path. It meant I got a much more engaged and lengthy experience; I don't know if their longest path was much more than a mile's distance, but because of the sculptures I kept venturing off the paved path to check them out up close (and take photos and selfies with each)! It was fun. There seemed to be two parking lots. The one near the visitor center was pretty large and seemed to be necessary; there were quite a lot of visitors there when I was, plus a school bus! Most of the visitors seemed to be there to enjoy some skating around out on the frozen lake, but others were walking the trail. Inside the visitor center were bathrooms, including a family restroom, water fountains, including a water bottle refill station, cute little trinkets to buy, a cafe with beverages and bakery snacks, a cozy seating area, lots of rooms for community events, a board advertising said community events for the next couple months, and an art exhibit. I was grateful for the easy access to bathrooms and water! Just outside the visitor center was one of the most adorable little free libraries I've ever seen, nestled inside a mushroom-like sculpture! All in all, definitely worth checking out. Unless you lived nearby, you probably wouldn't go too repeatedly (I think the indoor art exhibit changes seasonally, but the outdoor one has been installed awhile... one of the plaques read 2018), but it's great for a one-off or occasional visit!

A really fun park with a lot of great art to see while you walk around it. The QR codes give a lot…read moreof additional information to listen to as well. Lots of trees, walking paths and a beautiful lake make this a great place to enjoy nature and art.

We pulled into the parking lot with the Grands, both children stopped talking immediately and…read morecrooned, "ooohh!" They literally dived out of the vehicle and ran into the park and began playing on all of the equipment. It's a small park at the trailhead near Theodore Wirth Parkway. Easy to find, plenty of parking, lots of shade and picnic tables to sit at while the family plays. It's a circuit of equipment for agility and balance. It's designed for adults but the children adore it. There's a sign at the beginning with a map on how to use each piece of equipment. The kids immediately acclimated to the circuit and began running it and timing themselves on their Apple watches. Along the side there is a running track. We had to drag them away when it was time to go to lunch. Their parting words were, "be sure and tell our mom how to get here."

Outdoor challenge course lives up to its expectations! Nice green turf with lots for children of…read moreall ages and adults to do. Fun timed football dash run on site. Parents be aware of location next to local road and adjacent pond. Keep close eyes on children from fast approaching cars.

Beautiful nature center with wooded trails! We began a weekly walking group here, venturing through…read morethe woods, over the creek and on a bridge through the marsh. Take in the gorgeous scenery during the summer and fall exploring 3 miles of trails! I look forward to the spring colors. They added a fabulous climbing structure and play area for kids. They also have an indoor center with several events, a small outdoor amphitheater and a picnic shelter. Check out their website for the events calendar. Hours: November - March, daily from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. April - October, daily from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Lovely nature center inside the metro! I didn't have a chance this time to go into the visitor…read morecenter but the walking paths in the woods are very nice and secluded. There's some nice ponds throughout the woods that has swans geese and other birds. Theres also a playground near the visitor center. Great place to take your family or little ones for a walk in nature.

Wooded ravine park sheltering the Rice Creek meandering through it. Between Highway 65 and…read moreUniversity Avenue, this park has the Rice Creek Regional Trail run through it. Multiple parking lots, picnic pavilions, four footbridges across the creek, many unmarked non-asphalted hiking trails. There are 2 playground areas, and an off-leash dog park. Come and explore the park when you're in the area!

This is an OK dog park. It's big, wood chips everywhere. Trees for shade, seems to be well…read moreattended. With one glaring problem. There are no trash bins inside the fence?!?!?!?!?! Did the people who planned this place not realize that dogs poop? I tend to give humanity the benefit of the doubt and believe most people want to pick up their dog poop, but to have to physically leave the park with your bag (which freaks my dog out to no end) throw it in the dumpster and then come back in? Really? There was so much poop in the park I spent the whole time looking at my feet trying not to step in anything, so I didn't talk to anyone and can't comment on the cliental. Throw us a bone with ONE TRASH CAN PLEASE!

I love this park and consider myself so lucky to live close by. The walking and biking trails…read morestretch for miles and seem almost endless. They also follow the Mississippi which makes for a truly calming and serene experience. The playground is huge! There are things for every age group. My only dislike is that it is a sand playground but the kids love it so I can't complain too much. There are picnic shelters and a lot of unsheltered grills with one picnic table which I don't believe require reservations. The interpretive center building is a great place for kids to play and explore. It has a little golf putting area, animal costumes and so much more. You could easily spend an hour in there and the staff are so nice. We're excited to try the wading pool this summer!

North Mississippi Park convinced me to live in North Minneapolis…read more I come here for the playground, which is a bit larger than your typical Minneapolis playground. It is rarely crowded, maybe bc not many people could walk here. I always bring my camera bc it is so freaking gorgeous by the river. The park get busier when the wading pool opens, but we have wading pools closer to our house. I also love taking my kids right down to the shore. Too bad I'm not any good at skipping stones. On the south side of the park is a great Nature Center. Kroening has some great programs and many of them are free! It also has a little history information on the neighborhood which is cool.

This is a decent park overall…read more We like to walk here because the path is fully paved and it goes most of the way around the lake (Highland Lake). To get around the whole lake, you'll need to exit and walk on neighborhood roads in the same rotation that you've been moving and re-enter the park when you come across it again. I kind of wish that it went around the whole lake, but then again, I'm not a fan of eminent domain and steamrolling things. So I'll take it as is. There are newer benches throughout, plus a pavilion, plus grills and a small playground. Geese and ducks love the lake and rarely come on land, so hopefully no goose attacks are in your future. I cannot guarantee that, however. The parking lot is big, unless there are a lot of people there. Then it's not big enough. ;-) As I always say, "Better a Kordiak than a cardiac!" (Actually, I've never said that. Um, never mind!) Though it is good to get out and walk, I will say. (I do actually say that.) That's my 23 cents on this dealio.

Surprisingly peaceful, good short trails to walk, a nice "waterfall", and lots of lily pads in the…read moresummer!

Windom Park NE is my Northeast Go To Park for when I want to play Pickleball…read more The park has 2 Tennis Courts with Pickleball Lines, a Basketball Court, a big field usually used for soccer, since nice walking trails as well as a big building that I once played an indoor volleyball league at. The park is typically not that crowded and parking is super easy on the street along it. The pickleball / tennis courts are in a little rough shape, but I am no professional so I appreciate that it usually means the courts are empty.

Open 10-7 with a bath house to change at. No life guard. Next to a small playground. Perfect for…read moreyounger children, 2!0"-6 grounds for 2-12 and 5-12. 8 yr old had a blast here. .

I'm really happy this park has been updated to such a lovely and unique park. I love the the…read morenatural material and wood playground. The new visitor center is very nice and cute.

Loved our weekend trip to this park! When we arrived, the parking lot was very busy and there were…read morevery few spots left, even though it's a pretty sizeable lot for a park. We quickly learned this was because there was a special event going on (the Sankofa celebration) inside the center, with vendor tables and a couple of food trucks and even some crafting activities. So we got to experience that on top of the rest of the park's great amenities! The center is sleek and modern inside. LOTS of toilets (single occupant, all-gender), lots of coat hangars, multiple water bottle refill stations. The ground level has some cool reptile/amphibians behind glass you can ogle, as well as interactive informational displays (great for kids and adults, imo). Downstairs they have the rental booth for gear and educational rooms (they had a falcon demo in one while we were there!). Beside the center is an awesome multilevel playground, very fun. As well as a splash pad (for non-winter months) and an elevated boardwalk. The most nearby attraction is obviously the dam, which has an impressive spillway that's mesmerizing to watch. You can even walk across it to go over the river to the park on the other side. Apparently this spot is popular with fishers (though I don't have much knowledge on that subject). There are also trails that can be explored. Paved routes good for all recreational uses, as well as further out hiking paths that are just dirt. It'd be great to come back out again sometime and explore more. Across the street it seemed there was even archery!