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North Commons Park and Recreation Center is a 25-acre park in North Minneapolis. Its large space encompasses several family-friendly amenities including, an outdoor water park and wading pool, sports fields and courts and a big playground.

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North Commons Water Park & Wading Pool

Water Park:

The water park is open from early June through late August. Amenities include three-story speed and loop slides, a water playground, and “Funbrellas” for shade. The water park’s regular season runs from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Replacement of the waterpark is part of the planned updates to this park. Stay tuned.

Free Admission to North Commons Water Park!

In June of 2021, the Minneapolis Parks & Rec Board voted to eliminate the admission fees to the water park.

Wading Pool:

There is an additional non-guarded wading pool that is also free. The wading pool is open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

Free Summer Meals at North Commons

North Commons Park has participated in the summer meals program, offering free lunch and snacks to children under 18 years during summer break.  Each year, participating Minneapolis Park locations are found on the MPRB website or call ahead to confirm it is still participating in the program.

North Commons Recreation Center

This recreation center has air conditioning. It offers a variety of camps, activities, events and programs. Find more information in the seasonal activity guides. Indoor amenities include board games and a computer lab. There are also rec room games – foosball, ping pong, billiards. In 2019, was updated with a new basketball court, backboards, rims, lights, fresh paint, and new enhancements throughout the center. These improvements were part of an effort to build a safe place for families and young people to play, learn and grow so this park could continue to be a community hub and a resource for kids of all ages.  A new rec center is in the planning stages of development.

Birthday Parties at the Park

Updates to North Commons Rec Center & Water Park

In 2021, MPRB announced that they move forward with a project to “transform North Commons Recreation Center and Water Park into a Northside hub for community, arts, athletics, and recreation.”  Planned updates will include:

• A new community center in the place of the current rec center. The new building will have more gym space; community rooms; arts and media spaces; and youth oriented gathering spaces.
• A new expanded waterpark east of the current waterpark  location
• Parking will also be moved to accommodate these changes.

After community engagement and design planning is complete, MPRB hopes to begin construction in the Summer of 2024 and complete work in 2025.

Useful Links:

• Learn more about the Water Park here
• Find Minneapolis parks participating in the Free Summer Meals program
• Rent a facility at a Minneapolis Park
• Current Recreation Center Hours