Phalen Regional Park is an expansive park in the City of St. Paul. Its features include paved trails, a tot lot, a fire ring, a free beach, golf course, a recreation center, sports courts and barbecue grills which are located around the site. It is a beautiful park for family walks. You will find the beach across the golf course from the Rec Center (also on the map below). It is free to use and open daily from early June through late August from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. It offers beach volleyball and a locker room for changing. During the summertime the lake is the site of sailing lessons, swimming lessons, and canoe & kayak clinics. Lifeguards are employed at this location. In 2017, Saint Paul added a splash pad to the beach. This is also free to use. The Recreation Center is located at 1000 E Wheelock Parkway. Its one of the locations on the map below. The facility holds a large gym, a kitchen and a multi-purpose room. The Rec Center hosts weekly tot times. As with all recreation center activities, it is important to confirm ahead. Activities and hours are subject to change; see a link to current hours at the bottom of this article. Phalen Park has traditionally been a Free Summer Meals site. Meals are 100% free to children under 18 who stop by during meal times. No sign up is required. Other meal sites are also conveniently located in many schools, parks and recreation centers. For more information, call 651-793-6600. In 2016, the Changsha sister-city China Friendship Garden was added to this park. This garden recognizes the sister city relationship between St. Paul and Changsha in the Hunan Province of China. The garden integrates Chinese garden design principles within the natural setting of Phalen Regional Park. It is the home of the annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. In 2023, Saint Paul began construction on a new Hmong Plaza, which includes 9 Art Stones. Find a printable self-guided tour of the nine stones here. Family fun at Phalen Park doesn’t end when the snow starts. Try these fun family activities: Rinks in St. Paul Parks are free and open from approximately mid-December through Mid-February, dependent on Weather and ice quality. However, this is one of four St. Paul Parks with refrigerated outdoor skating rinks, allowing it to open earlier in the season and stay open later into the spring. Find the rink at the rec center. Phalen is one of three parks in St Paul with groomed ski trails. Saint Paul has partnered with Ramsey County beginning in the 2022-23 ski season, and began requiring a Ramsey County Ski Pass for all park trails. The pass allows access to all of Ramsey County’s trails as well as the Saint Paul courses. Learn more here: Family Skiing and Snowboarding in the Twin Cities
Ideas for Family Fun at Phalen Park
Phalen Park Beach & Splash Pad
Phalen Recreation Center
Free Summer Meals at Phalen
St. Paul Changsha Garden & Hmong Plaza in Phalen Park
St. Paul Suggests these uses of the China Friendship Garden:
Winter Fun at Phalen Park
Outdoor Skating Rinks & Warming Room
Cross Country Skiing
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