Earlier this week one of my mom friends posted on Facebook asking if anyone wanted to meet up at Prairie Park in Otsego. My answer to this is pretty much always—”Absolutely!”
We love going to Prairie Park anytime the weather is nice but especially in the summertime! When it’s hot out, the park offers an awesome two-in-one: a terrific playground and a great splash pad.
The weekend’s forecast says it’s shaping up to be another hot one! Other than “inside with the A/C running” (haha), where does your family like to go when the summer heats up?
Here are 8 fun ideas for cooling down when temps get high. (I bet the last few will surprise you!)
1. Splash in a fountain
The splash pad is probably my family’s favorite place to cool down when it’s hot out. For one, most of the local splash pads are free, which is my favorite price. 😉 Also, they’re simple and safe for all ages—no worrying about toddlers who can’t swim yet—and it’s easy to keep an eye on all the kids at once. The best local splash pads are in Otsego’s Prairie Park, the recently-opened Delano Splash Pad, and Maple Grove Central Park, but you’ll also find some nice little ones in downtown Buffalo and Elk River. Mom tip: Bring a few buckets or cups to play with and double the fun!
Gutzwiller Park
Location: On County Road 119, 1/2 mile northwest of County Road 35 | 4455 Kady Ave NE (map)
Features: Playground, gazebo, picnic table, soccer fields, horseshoe pit, paved trail
Walnut Park
Location: 1/4 mile west of Main Street on Walnut Avenue | 300 Walnut Avenue SW (map)
Features: Playground, gazebo, little library, picnic tables, baseball field, soccer field, basketball court, paved trail
When it comes to parks, I like to think of Swamp Lake Park as STMA’s best-kept secret. While it’s a little “off the beaten path,” this recreation area is definitely worth a visit, especially if you have young kids.
The park itself has no parking lot, so to access it you’ll need to park on the street and walk in via one of the trail access points. The quickest and safest place to park is located in the cul-de-sac on 2nd Street NW. (click here for map)
In addition to swings and a sand pit, the playground has both a small play structure for toddlers as well as a larger one for the 5-10 age group. My kids love to play hide-and-seek with friends on this playground because there are a number of tunnels and tube slides to disappear into. They’re also big fans of the tire swing and seeing how many buddies they can fit on it at the same time!
Be sure to pack along your stroller to give tiny toddler legs a break, and consider having your bigger kids bring their bikes or scooters as the long straight trail is a great spot to pick up some speed.
Swamp Lake Park
Location: 1/4 mile west of Main Street on Heights Road | 398 Heights Road NW (map)
Features: Playground, basketball court (located on NE end of park, between 1st and 2nd Ave), soccer field, gazebo, paved trail, green space
Playground Turf: Wood chips, plus a small sand area
Recommended age range: 1–10
Restrooms: Portable
Parking: Street parking
Trails: Single sidewalk separating playground and green space from wetland area
