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Baker Park Reserve, Baker Park Road, Maple Plain, MN 55359
Bryant Lake Regional Park, Rowland Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Carver Park Reserve, Grimm Road, Victoria, MN 55387
Cedar Lake Farm Regional Park, Juniper Avenue, New Prague, MN 56071
Cleary Lake Regional Park, 18106 Texas Ave, Prior Lake, MN 55372
Crow-Hassan Park Reserve, 12595 Park Dr, Rogers, MN 55374
Eagle Lake Regional Park, 11000 Bass Lake Rd, Plymouth, MN 55442
Elm Creek Park Reserve, 12400 James Deane Parkway, Maple Grove, MN 55369
Fish Lake Regional Park, 14900 Bass Lake Rd, Maple Grove, MN 55311
Clifton E. French Regional Park, 12605 Rockford Rd, Plymouth, MN 55441
Gale Woods Farm, 7210 County Rd 110 W, Minnetrista, MN 55364
Glen Lake Golf Course, 14350 County Rd 62, Minnetonka, MN 55345
Hyland Lake Park Reserve, 10145 E Bush Lake Rd, Bloomington, MN 55438
Kingswood Park, 7301 Kingswood Rd, Minnetrista, MN 55359
The Landing—Minnesota River Heritage Park, 2187 County Rd 101, Shakopee, MN 55379
Lake Minnetonka Regional Park, 4610 County Rd 44, Minnetrista, MN 55364
Lake Rebecca Park Reserve, 831 Rebecca Park Trail, Rockford, MN 55373
Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, 10360 W River Rd, Brooklyn Park, MN 55444
Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve, 15501 Murphy Lake Blvd, Savage, MN 55378
Noerenberg Memorial Gardens, 2854-2992 N Shore Dr, Orono, MN 55356
Silverwood Park, 2500 County Rd E, St Anthony, MN 55421
Spring Lake Regional Park, 15851 Skuya Dr NW, Prior Lake, MN 55372
763-559-9000
Scroll to the bottom for a Registration Link

The Three Rivers Park System is the regional parks system that replaced the Hennepin County’s program sites. While much of its region is still Hennepin County, it now manages some parks in other metro counties. It’s mission is to “promote environmental stewardship through recreation and education in a natural resources-based park system. It encompasses over 27,000 acres of parks and trails and serves millions of visitors annually.”  It achieves this by providing outdoor recreation opportunities throughout its acres of park reserves, regional trails and natural areas.

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Kids playing on playground in Elm Creek Park in Maple Grove, Minnesota
Elm Creek Play Area in Maple Grove, Minnesota

Ten Fun Things to Do With Kids at Three Rivers Parks

  1. Visit the destination playgrounds at Elm Creek ParkFrench Regional Park and Hyland Lake Park Reserve for some creative play opportunities
  2. Get messy at one of the many Nature Playgrounds offered through Three Rivers.
  3. Go Cross-Country Skiing on groomed trails in the winter or in-line skating on paved trails in the summer months.
  4. Explore the extensive trails for wildlife and natural habitats.
  5. Take advantage of equipment rentals to try new outdoor sports – like canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, biking or kicksledding.
  6. Camp close to home.
  7. Investigate a Nature Center for indoor learning experiences.
  8. Swim at one of the park system’s beaches or chlorinated swim ponds.
  9. Pack a Picnic and just hang out.
  10. Check out the Treetop Trail expected to be built at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park in 2023. (We are very excited about the updates coming to this park!)

Baker Park Reserve Archery image courtesy Three Rivers Park
Archery Program. Image courtesy Three Rivers Park

Three Rivers Playgrounds – What’s Open, What’s Not

Featured Park: Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove, Minnesota - Rainbow playgrouned

French Regional Park Playground in Plymouth, Minnesota
French Regional Park playground. Image courtesy of Three Rivers Park District.

Kids climbing webs at Hyland Lake Park Reserve playground, Bloomington, Minnesota

Three Rivers Parks have some of the best play areas in the Twin Cities. Parks with playgrounds include:

  • Baker Park Reserve
  • Bryant Lake Regional Park
  • Carver Park Reserve
  • Cedar Lake Farm Regional Park
  • Cleary Lake Regional Park
  • Elm Creek Park Reserve
  • French Regional Park
  • Hyland Lake Park Reserve
  • Lake Minnetonka Regional Park
  • Lake Rebecca Park Reserve

Unfortunately, most are closed for the snow and ice season. Each spring park staff complete a thorough inspection prior to reopening each playground. We recommend checking the Open/Closed info on the Three Rivers site (link at the bottom of this page) if you are in doubt – especially in early spring and late fall. The playground pictures below link descriptions of each park:

List of Three Rivers Parks & Nature Centers

Named for the three big rivers that converge on the Twin Cities metro area – The Mississippi River, The Minnesota River and the Crow River, the combined acreage of the Three Rivers Parks is almost 27,000 acres*. These parks offer everything from winter activities like downhill skiing & snowboarding, to farm education, to horseback riding trails, to the largest playgrounds in Minnesota, and so much more.

Girl helping to band and release a songbird during a Lowry Nature Center bird banding event.
Bird Banding at Lowry Nature Center. Courtesy of Three Rivers.


Use our Park & Playground Search to find parks by amenities and programs offered.

The parks managed by Three Rivers change from time to time. Three Rivers continues to acquire new parks and sometimes it helps manage parks in collaboration with other park districts for short times. For instance North Mississippi Regional Park used to be jointly managed by Three Rivers and Minneapolis, but eventually Minneapolis Parks took complete responsibility for that park. It currently works with the City of Robbinsdale to provide programming at Sochacki Park.

Farm Camp at Gale Woods Farm in Minnesota
Farm Camp at Gale Woods Farm

Recently, the Hennepin County Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park changed its name to Mississippi Gateway Regional Park to avoid confusion with the Anoka County park on the other side of the river with the same name.

Three Rivers Parks

Currently, Three Rivers manages the following parks. Follow the links to learn more about each park.

  1. Baker Park Reserve, Maple Plain
  2. Bryant Lake Regional Park, Eden Prairie
  3. Carver Park Reserve, Victoria
  4. Cedar Lake Farm Regional Park, New Prague
  5. Cleary Lake Regional Park, Prior Lake
  6. Crow-Hassan Park Reserve, Hanover
  7. Eagle Lake Regional Park, Plymouth
  8. Elm Creek Park Reserve, Maple Grove
  9. Fish Lake Regional Park, Maple Grove
  10. Clifton E. French Regional Park, Plymouth
  11. Gale Woods Farm, Minnetrista
  12. Glen Lake Golf and Practice Center, Minnetonka
  13. Hyland Lake Park Reserve, Bloomington
  14. Kingswood Park, Minnetrista
  15. The Landing – Minnesota River Heritage Park, Shakopee
  16. Lake Minnetonka Regional Park, Minnetrista
  17. Lake Rebecca Park Reserve, Rockford
  18. Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, Brooklyn Park
  19. Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve, Savage
  20. Noerenberg Memorial Gardens, Wayzata
  21. Silverwood Park, St. Anthony
  22. Spring Lake Regional Park, Prior Lake

Three Rivers Park System
Hyland Park in fall, courtesy Three Rivers Parks

Three Rivers Nature Centers

Three Rivers Park System Fees

Parking is free at most Three Rivers Parks. It does require fees or passes for some activities, but scholarships are available.

Find Twin Cities Beaches in FFTC's Directory
Bryant Lake Regional Park (image courtesy Three Rivers Parks)

Summer Camps at Three Rivers Parks

Many of the Parks in the Three Rivers System offer Summer Camps from June through August. Camps can be searched and signed up for through their registration link below. Find more summer camp ideas in our annual summer camp guide.

Girl with a butterfly net in a field. Image courtesy of Three Rivers Park System Summer Camp Programs
Image courtesy of Three Rivers Park System Summer Camp Programs

Useful Links:

Hyland Hills Ski Area
Hyland Hills Ski Area. Image Courtesy of Three Rivers Park District

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The Family Fun Twin Cities Directory is the most extensive collection of companies, organizations, activities and places to find things to do with kids in the Twin Cities.

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