Brookview may be a "community center", but it packs a pretty big punch. We come here several times…read morea year for kids parties, runs around the play space, work events, you name it. It is a fairly new community center, so it has that minimalist, Scandinavian vibe to it. There is always a helpful person on staff at the info desk, too. This place has a play space called the "backyard", which is fantastic. It is big enough for the kids to have fun, not much in the way of sketchy things where the kids can get hurt, and not too big that you lose your kid and lose your mind trying to find them. I also feel that the parents here are good at keeping an eye on their kids and there aren't any kids that are too old, rampaging around knocking the little ones over. There is also a golf pro shop and a simple restaurant, too. It is a good spot for an afternoon play date with the kids and some parents, then head to the restaurant and stuff the kids, and then off home for bath and bedtime.

Great indoor playground facility for the little ones, cheap and easy access, wasn't too crowded,…read morelots of friendly families

This is a neat little park that is located at the end of a street near some town homes. There is a…read moreon of street parking available near the park and the park can be accessed from 2 sides. It is not a very big park and features a picnic shelter with picnic tables, 2 half basketball courts, a playground area, a small pond, and some green space. The shelter is small, but in decent shape. The playground area is on a bed of wood chips, has benches along its perimeter for caregivers to sit, and has decent equipment. The playground equipment includes a bank of traditional/toddler swings, a see-saw, a barrel spinner, and a super scoop. Th highlight of the playground equipment though is its jungle gym that is very colorful and features a bunch of slides. The park's two half basketball courts a pretty nice and in great shape. One of the court's rims can be lowered, which is nice. I could have dunked on it if I had a ball with me. The court has some chalk writing and is home to a hopscotch board. You will find a nice pond off to the side of the basketball courts, along with some benches to sit, relax and take it all in. It is a neat and chill spot. All in all this is a pretty good park, it does not have a bathroom, but it appears well maintained and does not see o have many visitors. And the few visitors that it gets are from the surrounding neighborhoods. You will find a couple of small patched of green space here that are suitable for a picnic or playing a little game of catch. There is a lone picnic table sitting on one of the patches of green space too. This is not a destination park, but is a nice spot to visit if you are in the area and looking for a park to hangout. It has a very laid back and relaxing vibe and was a nice place to just hang out and pass some time.

I walked the 8 miles around the lake! I started and ended at East Medicine Lake Park. It was a very…read morewell marked path that stayed close to the lake 50-60% of the time! It was fairly well shaded by trees. Approximately 3 bathroom and water opportunities. I saw a lot of new beaches and fishing points on this walk. It took 3 hours with a few stops. Overall 5/5 recommend for novice hikers!

Medicine Lake is such a lovely lake and the perfect spot for a nice stroll. A perfect visit for…read moresolitude and also a nice lake to gather with a company of friends to walk and talk! It is located less than 10 miles from Minneapolis in the suburb of Plymouth, quick getaway from the city. There are lovely parks surrounding the lake, and the paths are nicely paved connecting to Minneapolis, Maple Grove, and Minnetonka. The paths are ideal for biking, running, and a nice stroll. There's lots and lots of parking, Medicine Lake is one of my favorite lakes and I love the walking paths something one can enjoy all year long with the change of seasons, oh the colors and the fragrance! It is one of the reasons I love living in the Twin Cities. The photos below is from my walk on Sunday June 12, 2022 which was a perfect early summer day.

This place is a literal hidden gem…read more Went for a birthday party. It is clean and well kept. As it is smaller than Como, I thought it was super lovely. It was raining and couldn't explore everything but I will be back.

You can spend hours exploring the trails and beauty of Westwood Hills. If you did not eat lunch…read morebefore, you can bring it with you and enjoy it while taking in the sights from the mini waterfalls and creeks. You'll find plenty of nature, including turkeys, chipmunks, and birds while out on your trail. The trails are great for biking or walking.

Come out and visit the Trail Head at Theodore Wirth!…read more It has a fantastic community space and outdoor recreation center. Totally makes winter in Minnesota even better. I'm new to discovering The Trailhead at Theodore Wirth Regional Park, but believe me when I say I'll be back many more time. In the winter, they offer cross-country skiing and lessons. (You can rent a full set of gear for about $30- no need to have your own to experience skiing! They also have à la carte options for cheaper if you only need poles or boots, etc.) Besides skiing, outdoor winter activities also include snow tubing, snowboarding, snowshoeing.... You name it. (I haven't been in fall or summer yet, but I also hear great things about their mountain biking and trail running options.) Inside The Trailhead, there's food and drink concessions, ample seating, lockers, bathrooms, and even rooms for rent. The last time I was there, a family was hosting a young child's birthday party in the multi-purpose room. Altogether, there is an amazing assortment of services here to come and check out. Can't wait for next ski season!

HIDDEN GEM IN THE CITY…read more I've lived on this parkway for 3 years now and I don't think I've shut up about how amazing Theo Wirth is since! The City Chain of Lakes get all the hype, but you know what's even closer to downtown, in the heart of the city, with: a lake xc ski trails fat bike / mountain bike trails endless walking paths beach with volleyball courts public golf course and so much more?! Yeah, that's right - my neighborhood park! You can do about every outdoor activity you can think of here. Plus, the Trailhead is the main hub for all of it, with a restaurant, tons of indoor seating, gear rentals year-round, and an amazing nature space in the heart of the city. This is the perfect park to embrace any season in Minne!

This is a great park. It has two different parking areas that I have never seen completely full but…read moreif they would be there is also street parking. It has a nice walking path around the park, there is a disk golf course, baseball fields, and off leash dog areas. I especially like there is separate small dog and large dog off leash areas. There are also areas to picnic at with charcoal grills but you have to bring your own charcoal . Definitely worth going checking out.

Nice neighborhood park , great for dog walking and if you play disc golf this is the spot to go…read more They also have dog park in the back area

One of 37 triangle parks in Minneapolis, this park is in the Bryn-Mawr neighbourhood, straddling…read morethe border between Minneapolis & St. Louis Park. Its 1.67 acres are surrounded by residential homes. It is encased by Cedar Shore Drive/Drew Avenue/W 24th St. It offers a nice playground/tot area, picnic tables, benches, trees and shaded parking. This park is the bike parking Mecca for anyone riding the Cedar Lake Trail. It's a very nice example of the wonderful, small triangle parks that Minneapolis has to offer!

Good small park. The playground area works for kids of all ages, but isn't super big. 4 swings and…read morea joint swing. One basketball hoop with a big piece of concrete. Hockey rink that is repurposed into a dog park in the summer. 3 tennis courts. Grass in the area could be maintained more often, but the park is pretty clean

This Thank You Thursday, I'm popping in with an updated review - and more love - for Wirth Lake…read more Last year, I added Wirth Lake on Yelp and was SHOCKED that its listing hadn't been on here yet. The Theodore Wirth Park system is so vast, but it still feels highly underrated, unknown, and a true hidden gem in the heart of the city (5 minutes from downtown/North Loop!). After more than a year living within walking distance of this park and lake, I can safely say this is a highlight of my life here in Minnesota. How lucky are we to have stunning, protected, cherished green spaces that are so well-kept? Wirth Lake has it all: - A lovely paved walking path around the lake - Stunning views from the over-water bridge - A beach (YES!!) with shade, seating, and and over-water floating bridge - Sand volleyball courts (sign up for a league!) - Restrooms and facilities (weather-dependent, closed for winter) - Adirondack chairs under shade - Huge playground system - Basketball court Need I say more? With its connected access to the rest of the parkway walking and biking trails, close distance to Quaking Bog and Elise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary, this is a highlight of the Bryn Mawr neighborhood. I love enjoying the lake in all seasons - and I must say, I've seen some of the best sunsets in MN right here. I'm so thankful to have this protected space as part of our Minneapolis Parks system!

Last month, I visited Wirth Lake for the first time. Minnesota is known for having at least 10,000…read morelakes. So, there's plenty of them for me to discover. Wirth Lake is a part of Theodore Wirth Park, which the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board manages. I learned that it's actually situated in Golden Valley. Well, it's thankfully managed well. I went on a Saturday. It was 2°C. With the windchill, it felt more like -6°C. I should return when it's warmer. I look forward to ditching the toque and mitts. It has a nice beach. I actually walked along a path with the lake on either side of me. It was enjoyable as someone who grew up in the Beaches and gravitates towards lakes without much thought. Despite the winds, it felt nice watching the ripples in the water as I walked. I saw some volleyball courts. Summer can't come any sooner! You can fish in this lake. Largemouth bass, northern pike, and walleye are some fish that are present. There are some nice paths to walk and enjoy. The trees are majestic and likely provide some nice shake when it's hot. I especially loved the signs detailing the history of Wirth Lake. It used to be the site of the Aqua Follies, an aquatic extravaganza between 1941 and 1964. There was a 6,000-seat grandstand and an Olympic-sized pool. The shows featured high divers and synchronized swimmers. Eventually, the aging structure was torn down. There's nothing left of it. It's kind of sad, but I'm glad that I learned about these aquatic shows. I had no problem finding parking in front of the pavilion. The park is rather large, so you either have small lots scattered everywhere or you can park on the street. I enjoyed my time here, despite it being a bit nippy for April. I'd love to return when it's t-shirt and shorts weather and stay longer. (124)