THE BEST PARKS TO VISIT IN the New Brighton-St Anthony Area, MINNESOTA
Today, we head out in search of some family fun north of Minneapolis & St Paul in the communities of New Brighton, St Anthony & Columbia Heights, Minnesota. There are so many opportunities for free, outdoor recreation just minutes from the center of the Twin Cities metro. For the most up-to-date listing of events in these parks, please check the city website.
Best Parks in New Brighton, Minnesota
Beach, Bike & Explore History at Long Lake Regional Park
1500 Old Highway 8. New Brighton, MN 55112
If there is one park that you choose to visit in New Brighton, make it this one! The beach is a long, clean spread of sand – so lovely we name it one of the BEST BEACHES IN THE TWIN CITIES. There are also multiple playgrounds and bike trails, and even a historic site housed in a charming train depot complete with caboose that kids can climb aboard. You can visit FREE during the summer months on Saturdays from 1-4pm (please call ahead or check the website to confirm).
Learn more about what you can find at LONG LAKE REGIONAL PARK in New Brighton.
Play disc golf at Hansen Park
1555 5th St NW, New Brighton, MN 55112
Disc golf fan in your family? We find this is an activity that gets our tweens and teens out and about exploring parks. HANSEN PARK offers a 14-hole course that (fun fact!) is one of the oldest in the state of Minnesota. If you’re not a disc golf fan, there is a pretty bike trail that rolls over little bridges and green space and past a playground that includes climbers, slides and swings.
Community Events at Veterans Park, New Brighton
803 Old Hwy 8, New Brighton, MN 55112
VETERANS PARK often hosts special events worth checking out – for instance, this year the park presents a Chalk Walk Festival June 24-26, 2022. Family-friendly amenities include a picnic pavilion, play equipment, walking paths and green space.
Best Parks in St Anthony Village, Minnesota
Spot sculptures (and so much more) at Silverwood Park
2500 County Rd E, St Anthony, MN 55421
Fun fact: Silverwood Park is also known as the birthplace of Family Fun Twin Cities – at least to the three moms who first met in the park’s coffee shop and decided to launch a website together. Bias aside, Silverwood is a wonderful park filled with quirky sculpture trails, a beach (technically SILVER LAKE BEACH PARK within Columbia Heights), canoe rentals, an indoor art gallery, and family-friendly programming for all seasons. Many of the programs are art-based and have a fee attached but there is plenty of FREE to be had at this park, too. Visit on a summer night when live music amps up the atmosphere or attend one of the monthly kids puppet shows.
Learn more about what you might find at Silverwood Park in St Anthony.
Cool off in St Anthony Park Splash Pads: Central Park & Emerald Park
Two parks in St Anthony Village offer splash pads for cooling off during the summer months. Pick from the following: CENTRAL PARK – if all your kids aim to do is get wet, the splash pad at this mini-park will do. You’ll find less elaborate fountains and a sweet little playground. (3503 Silver Lake Rd NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418). At EMERALD PARK, the play space is extra tidy and the splash pad has leaping fountains and dump buckets, an impressive number of picnic tables, plenty of shaded benches, grassy lawns and clean bathrooms. (3925 MacAlaster Dr NE, St Anthony, MN 55421).
Bring some ice cream to Salo Park
3301 Silver Lake Rd NE, St Anthony, MN 55418
SALO PARK could be described as a pond behind the Silver Lake shopping complex, but developers have done a nice job of making it attractive to both people and waterfowl (mostly ducks and geese). With the addition of walking paths and an amphitheatre, it provides enjoyable summer evenings of music and strolling. We recommend grabbing an ice cream from COLD STONE CREAMERY (2700 39th Ave NE Ste A116, St Anthony, MN 55421) and staking out a spot for a summer concert. If concerts have not been scheduled for this summer, it still makes a nice evening to chill with your treats.
Best Parks in Columbia Heights, Minnesota
Double the fun at Huset Park
3965 Jefferson St NE, Columbia Heights, MN 55421
The little lady pictured is jumping for joy because there’s a colorful splash pad AND a playground with ride-on dinosaurs at Huset Park. The western half of the bisected park is arguably the magnet for kids. Plop yourself at the gazebo with a picnic and you can keep an eye on them as they dash back and forth between the sprays and the slides.
Learn more about Huset Park in Columbia Heights.
An easy bike ride around Kordiak Park
1845 49th Ave NE, Columbia Heights, MN 55421
KORDIAK PARK is located in Columbia Heights and managed by Anoka County Parks (for all of those wondering why it is unlisted on the city website). We like this park for its easy bike trail around two-thirds of Highland Lake (more of a marsh than a lake) and a couple historic nods, including a cannon from World War 2 that has called the park home since 1958. Kids just learning to ride a bike will appreciate this easy trail.
Splish, splash in Columbia Heights park wading pools
Sometimes all a kid needs is a few inches of water to make a splash and suddenly life is sublime. If that sounds like your young one, try heading to one of two parks in Columbia Heights that offer simple, shallow wading pools for cooling off in the summer. MCKENNA PARK (4757 7th St NE, Columbia Heights MN) is an example of one of these parks. RAMSDELL PARK (4956 Johnson St., Columbia Heights MN) is the other option. Both parks also offer playgrounds and reservable event spaces.
