Last weekend my family was in Maple Grove for a charity event and couldn’t resist stopping to play at the new Central Park in Maple Grove. Have you been there yet?
My favorite thing about this modern, creative playground is that it truly has something for everyone, with seven unique play zones, each tailored for different ages and interests.
There is a tiny tots play area in one corner of the park that is designated for kids 2–5, and I would even say it’s a great place to let your 1-year-old crawl and climb around. On the other end of the spectrum, there are several large climbing structures—including a 24-foot climbing tower—that can keep older kids entertained for hours. 
I’ve even seen the occasional teenager hanging out atop the large rock walls. My husband has said he wishes they would open it up to adults only on occasion because it’s just so fun to play there! 😉
As much as we love visiting here, there are a few drawbacks to this park. First, it can get really busy there during the summer months, and because the park is so large and spread out, I find that I really have to work to keep an eye on both kids as they run around. Second, there’s almost no shade at the playground until the trees grow in. There are some small canopies over the sand area, but as a parent you’ll find next to no shade, so take care on sunny days, especially if you have a baby with you. Also, some of the structures are metal. My daughter has more than once burned her legs on the slide and now refers to this playground as “the hot park.” 😀
If your kid has noise issues, beware the restrooms because the hand dryers are about a million decibels in that echo-y space! Finally, dogs are not permitted on the playground, so you may want to leave Fido at home.
In addition to the terrific playground, Central Park features a splash pad in the summer, an ice skating loop in the winter, and an indoor pavilion that’s great for a private party. (Oh, and did I mention indoor restrooms??!) You can also do lots of walking here, around the pond (~1 mile loop) or through the grounds in front of the pavilion. Here’s a map to get you started: link (pdf) If you do go walking, make sure to check out the beautiful garden and labyrinth (more info).
Location: 12000 Central Park Way, Maple Grove (map)
Playground Turf: Rubber, sand, artificial grass
Recommended age range: 1–12
Restrooms: Indoor (there’s also a changing area if you’re visiting the splash pad)
Concessions: Yes
Parking: Paved lot, street parking
More info: http://www.maplegrovemn.gov/parks-and-recreation/central-park-maple-grove
Please leave a comment if you have questions or anything else to add!
Mother’s Day is coming up this weekend, and there are lots of opportunities in our area to spend some special time with your family or to simply treat yourself. I was surprised at the variety of events available, so make sure to read all the way through and find the one that’s right for you!
Scroll past the events section to see restaurants that are offering brunch or other special meals.
Please leave a comment if you know of anything I missed!
Events & Activities
Mother’s Day Weekend at Oliver Kelley Farm in Elk River
Saturday & Sunday 10–5 | Moms admitted free with paid child admission | http://www.mnhs.org/kelleyfarm/activities/calendar/2495
Peabody Players Mother’s Day Comedy Show at St. Michael Cinema
Saturday 8–10pm | http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2914547 or https://www.facebook.com/events/1716153938676968
“Mom’s The Best” Open Skating at Rogers Ice Arena
Sunday 4pm | Moms and kids skate free | https://www.facebook.com/events/436796889989094
I’m sure you’ll back me up when I say this, but the weather this weekend was absolutely fantastic! And what better way to enjoy the sunshine than going for a walk and getting to know our neighbors at the Open Streets event in St. Michael?
The goal of Open Streets is to give residents the opportunity to explore their neighborhood and local businesses while at the same time encouraging active transportation and healthy living. The stretch of road in front of City Hall was shut down for much of the day, and the street was lined with booth after booth sponsored by vendors and community organizations.
Some of the highlights of the event were free bike tune-ups, lunch provided by the St. Michael Lions, and lots of giveaways. For kids, there were games, bounce houses, face painting, balloon animals, and tours of a fire engine.
My daughter and I arrived just in time to see the bike parade go by. And while the “parade” itself was not something to make a special trip out for as a spectator, the kids looked like they were having a blast riding their bikes up and down the road to cheers from the crowd.
We appreciated seeing so many friendly faces at the booths and getting to know all of the various people who serve within our community. A highlight for my daughter was spinning all of the prize wheels and picking up lots of candy and swag along the way. 😉
The Open Streets event takes place twice each year—in St. Michael in the spring and in Albertville in the fall—and we are already looking forward to paying a visit to the Albertville street fair this fall!
Did you make it to Open Streets this weekend? What was your favorite part? (leave a comment)
More photos from the event are available at the Open Streets STMA Facebook page.ave
Highwoods Park is easily one of our favorite places in STMA to spend a summer morning.
Located on Frankfort Parkway in the Highwoods neighborhood, this park is just a hop and a jump from highway 241, making it an easy stop following a trip to Cub Foods or the library.
The park is clean and well-kept, with a large playground and plenty of green space for running around in. The playground itself is fun and creative, with a couple of features I’d never seen before. It’s also a climber-kid’s paradise, with at least four climbing structures, three kinds of monkey bars, and five different slides.
The playground overlooks the athletic fields and a slope down to the townhome neighborhood, making it an excellent place to go sledding in the wintertime!
Highwoods Park
Location: South side of Frankfort Pkwy at Mason Ave NE (map)
Features: Playground, gazebo with a large picnic table, little library, baseball field, soccer field, basketball court
Playground Turf: Wood chips, plus a small sand area
Recommended age range: 3–10
Restrooms: Portable
Parking: Paved lot
Trails: Single sidewalk around playground
This Saturday, your family can walk, bike, or roll to the St. Michael City Center for Open Streets STMA, where a portion of the street will be closed off to car traffic so that the community can gather to enjoy art, food, games while getting to know others in the community.
This semi-annual event is hosted by FYCC, and some of the highlights include emergency vehicle tours, vendor booths, and a bike parade. More details are available in the flyer below or on the Open Streets STMA Facebook page.
