Maple Grove Central Park

Central Park Playground

The playground is brilliantly designed to maximize play. The ground is covered with a rubberized surface. It is divided into seven separate play areas that includes 24-foot climbing tower and a 120-foot long climbing wall along with slides, swings and sand areas. There are activities and challenges for kids of all ages and abilities.

Central Park of Maple Grove splash fountains

Central Park’s splash fountains are free to play for people of all ages. The watery play area boasts 49 jet sprays, 18 arching sprays, and displays colorful lights in the evening, making it both beautiful and fun. It’s also eco-friendly, using a recycled water filtration system. Adults are asked to actively supervise their children. Changing rooms (you may want to bring a swimsuit as the fountains will definitely soak your kids) and restrooms are available inside the park building.

Ideas for family fun at Maple Grove’s Central Park

• Play together on the awesome play equipment. Even adults are going to love this playground. But if sitting with a book and/or coffee is more your thing there are plenty of places to sit within view of the playground, too.
• Get soaked in the Central Park splash fountain. Like most splash pads, this runway of sprinklers is free to use.
• Explore the Labyrinth Garden.
• Grab a snack at the concession stand in Phenow Pavilion. This is also where you will find the restrooms, open 6:30am-9pm most days.
• Bring your lawn fames to the Great Lawn. Bring along a frisbee or a playground ball or just bring your family to play outdoor games that need a little space. The park has loaner equipment you can borrow to play bocce ball, bean bags, or pickle ball.
• Bike or roller skate the trails. Maple Grove’s city park paths are smooth concrete, perfect for rollerskating, biking, skateboarding or just walking with a stroller. They interconnect, so you can choose the length of your walk.
• Ice skate the Central Park Ice Loop in winter – for free!

The garden, designed by Lisa Gidlow Moriorty, is designed as a labyrinth. We consider it as much an art installation as a garden. It would be a beautiful place to just walk and talk as a family or this may be a perfect one-on-one outing. Before visiting, it may be a good time to remind kids that others come to the labyrinth to find quiet. If they need to run, a visit to the playground may help.

Central Park Ice Skating Loop

During the winter months, take a serpentine spin on an LED-lit, refrigerated ice loop through the park. The ice designed for leisure skating; no hockey sticks or pucks are allowed. There is no charge to skate. Bring your own skates or rent a pair ($8.50) from the Phenow Pavilion – which also has a fireplace for warming up.

Birthday parties at Central Park – renting event space

This park has three rental options for private events, such as birthday parties. Families can rent the Phenow Pavilion (an indoor facility that seats 120 and has public restrooms), the Perennial and annual gardens, which are surrounded by trees and shrubs or the Great Lawn, which provides open space for spreading out a picnic and playing yard games. Call 763-494-5958 for rental requests.

More park information

• Note that dogs are not allowed in the green spaces or in the playground. This is probably a park to come to with the purpose of dog walking or leave the dog at home.
• There are public restrooms in the park building – open from 6:30 am to 9pm.
• There are two parking lots available — one off of Kirkwood and the other off Central Park Way. There is more parking at the Community Center and Government Center, both with trail access to the park.