Address: 1600 Phalen Drive, Saint Paul, MN , 55106
Upcoming Events: Jump to Phalen Regional Park Events
Website Phalen Regional Park
Phone 651-793-6600 (Phalen Recreation Center)
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.
Upcoming family friendly events at Phalen Regional Park
Upcoming events at Phalen Park, including the Lake Phalen Beach, the Lakeside Activities Center, and Phalen Recreation Center.
05/30/2026 Lake Phalen WaterFest (FREE)
Ideas for family fun at Phalen Park
- Play on the playground.
- Swim and splash at the beach and splash pad during the summer.
- Participate in community activities at the community center.
- Take a self-guided tour of the 9 Art Stones in the Hmong Plaza and Changsha Garden.
- Ice skate and/or cross country ski in the winter.
- Bring a playground ball to play volleyball, dodgeball, kickball or other outdoor games.
- Pack a picnic and grill out. There is a first-come, first serve fire ring on the island near the picnic shelter for a evening s’mores picnic.
- Stroll through the public gardens.
- Bike or hike around the lake.
- Go fishing. Lake Phalen is one of the Minnesota DNR’s Fishing in the City (FiN) ponds recommended for beginners and children.
Phalen Park beach & splash pad
You will find the beach across the golf course from the Rec Center. It is free to use and open daily from early June through late August. 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 free splash pad to the beach.
Phalen Recreation Center
The Recreation Center is located at 1000 E Wheelock Parkway. 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.
St. Paul Changsha Garden & Hmong Plaza in Phalen Park
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. St Pau suggests these uses of the China Friendship Garden:
- Writing poetry
- Creating art & music
- Picnicking
- Practicing Tai Qi
- Hosting family celebrations and public performances
In 2023, Saint Paul built the Hmong Plaza, which includes 9 Art Stones. The Minnesota China Friendship Garden Society offers printable information for self-guided tours. Scroll down for link.
Winter recreation at Phalen Regional Park
Family fun at Phalen Park doesn’t end when the snow starts. Try these fun family activities:
Outdoor skating rinks
Ice 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 a refrigerated outdoor rink, allowing it to open earlier in the season and stay open later into the spring. Find the rink at the Phalen Recreation Center.
Cross-country skiing
Phalen is one of three parks in St Paul with groomed ski trails. Saint Paul partners with Ramsey County and requires 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.
More information
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- Register for programs: Online or call (651) 793-3885
- Learn more: Lake Phalen’s FiN designation from the DNR.
- Print: Self-guided tour information and learn more about the China Friendship Garden.
Related content
Upcoming Family-Friendly Events
- Lake Phalen WaterFest (FREE) - 05/30/2026 - 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Fun Past Events We Hope to See Again
- Phalen Family Ice Fishing (FREE) - 01/17/2026 - 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Please Note: FamilyFunTwinCities.com is an independent website run by Twin Cities families for Twin Cities families. We attempt to include the information we find most essential as parents. We make every effort to keep up with changes. However, we are not employed by or connected to this venue, and information sometimes changes without our knowledge. We recommend calling or checking the venue’s website for up-to-date information.
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