Town Center Park burst onto the STMA park scene a few years ago, turning an empty patch of land into one of the most popular summer spots in St. Michael!
Located just outside the St. Michael City Center, this park is a destination in itself or an easy stop following a trip to Cub Foods, the library, church, or the nearby McDonald’s.
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 some stellar features like a double zipline and a huge, climbable merry-go-round. But the biggest draw here, in my opinion, is the brand-new splash pad!
My kids and I love exploring the various parks in and around STMA. It’s not uncommon for us to visit a couple dozen different parks over the course of “park season” a.k.a. April to October.
I put several of our favorites into a bingo card for you to enjoy checking off with your family over the course of the spring and summer. Let me know in the comments when you get a bingo and which parks are your favorites.
Earlier this week we made our way down to Delano to enjoy the Delano Splash Pad, and my kids totally had a blast there! When it originally opened, I’d my doubts about driving the 25 minutes from Albertville to Delano and paying for a splash pad when we have one right here in town, but we absolutely love being there.
The splash pad is located within Delano’s Central Park (map below), in the same area of town where Delano hosts its popular 4th of July celebration. The splash pad features 15 interactive water structures, from small fountains for the littlest ones to toddle through to huge buckets that dump massive quantities of water onto clusters of giggling preteens.
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!