Jackson Square Park

In addition to a splash-pad style wading pool, athletic courts and picnic amenities, Jackson Square Park features a unique interactive musical playground with seven percussion instruments. These percussion instruments are impressively well tuned.

Jackson Square Park does not have an attached recreation center, but seasonal restrooms are available and it is half a block behind Northeast Library, giving families a place to duck when the weather doesn’t cooperate or you need to cool off in summer or warm up in winter.

Summer at Jackson Square Park

In the summer, Jackson has been part of the free lunches for kids program. Because it doesn’t have a rec center, a food truck delivers lunches. You’ll know its time for lunch when the kids collectively yell, “FOOD TRUCK” and run to get in line. The park is also close to several top northeast restaurants. There is quite a bit of open green space and climbing trees. We enjoy the playground equipment. It is unique and the kids don’t tire of it. The tot area and the bigger kid playgrounds are close enough together that you can sit strategically to watch children of multiple ages.

Jackson Square Park Wading Pool

Jackson’s wading pool is open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. It is geared toward young children with a zero entry side and a splash pad water feature. Minneapolis wading pools are not guarded.

Winter at Jackson Square Park

In the winter, there is a good sledding hill across the street, behind Edison High School. I’m not sure whether the lot is managed by Minneapolis Parks or Minneapolis Schools, but it is a well-used sledding hill either way.