While we love a good splash pad during a playground visit, sometimes we also just enjoy watching the water sprays of decorative fountains. It’s fun to sit on the edge, toss in a coin and admire any sculpture in the center of water fountains that we find while exploring the Twin Cities.
From a water sculpture to a musical water fountain, we’ve found kid-approved fountains that are fun for the whole family. Don’t worry, each of these locations also offer plenty of room for active family fun as well as monuments and water features.
Water Fountains in Minneapolis
Berger Dandelion Fountain:
Loring Park, 1382 Willow St, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Find the Berger Dandelion Fountain in Loring Park on the northeast edge along Willow Street. Kids and families will also enjoy the walking paths and bike paths as well as the playground, wading pool, pond and other amenities. Combine this park with a visit to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden by traipsing over the foot bridge for a day of water fun.
Admission: FREE, Public Park
Spoonbridge and Cherry:Â
Walker Art Center, 725 Vineland Pl, Minneapolis, MN 55403
This world-famous sculpture fountain sesigned by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen was installed in 1985 in the Minneapolis Sculpture Park. The park is managed jointly by the Minneapolis Park Board and Walker Art Center and is open 6 am-midnight everyday. Spend the day exploring lots of different sculptures along with the Spoonbridge and Cherry fountain.
Admission: FREE. (Pay Parking Lot)
Phelps Fountain:
Lyndale Park near Lake Harriet, 4124 Roseway Road, Minneapolis, MN 55409
Phelps Fountain is located on east side of the perennial garden and is also known as the Turtle Fountain. Other fun spots to explore at this park include the Peace Garden and the Bird Sanctuary. Combine this with a visit to the Heffelfinger Fountain also found in Lyndale Park in the Rose Garden.
Admission: FREE, Public Park (Pay Parking Lot)
Heffelfinger Fountain:
Lyndale Park, 1300 42nd Street West, Minneapolis, MN 55409
This Italian Fountain was donated to Minneapolis in 1944. Found in the Rose Garden near Lake Harriet, the Heffelfinger Fountain is the oldest fountain in Minneapolis. Families will enjoy exploring the walking path around the lake (I love to watch the sailboats), spreading a picnic on the lawn and birding in the Roberts Bird Sanctuary.
Admission: FREE, Public Park (Pay Parking Lot)
Minneapolis Parks Decorative Fountain Scavenger Hunt:
MPRB lists tells us that these Minneapolis Parks each contain a decorative fountain. We have not located all of them. Can you?
- Gateway Park, 1 First Street South, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Visit Gateway Fountain in Downtown Minneapolis at night to see it lit up. We like to wait for our connecting bus in this beautiful courtyard when returning to Northeast Minneapolis from an evening outing.
- Lake Harriet Park, 4135 W Lake Harriet Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55409
- Lake Nokomis Park, 4955 W Lake Nokomis Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55417.
- Lake of the Isles Park, 2500 Lake of the Isles Parkway E., Minneapolis, MN 55405
- Minnehaha Regional Park, 4801 S Minnehaha Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417. The fountain is inscribed with the words to The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
- North Commons Park, 1801 James Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55411
- Theodore Wirth Park, 1339 Theodore Wirth Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55411
- Thomas Lowry Park, 900 Douglas Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55405. This small park’s main feature is the Seven Pools Fountain.
Aside from Gateway Park, each of these parks offers a nice picnic area and places for small children to play and run.
Water Fountains in St. Paul
Irvine Park Fountain:
Irvine Park, 251 Walnut St, St. Paul, MN 55102
Irvine Park is located in a historic neighborhood west of Downtown and features the beautiful fountain as its centerpiece. Parking can be tricky, but it’s pretty fountain definitely worth checking out.
Admission: FREE, Public Park
Source Fountain:
Rice Park, 109 W. 4th St, St. Paul, MN 55102
This art piece is in the middle of a circular plaza that connects the park’s four corners. The fountain represents the source of the rivers and cultures in St. Paul. In Rice Park, you can enjoy the beautiful views of historic buildings including The Landmark Center, the St. Paul Public Library, the St. Paul Hotel, and the Ordway.
Admission: FREE, Public Park
Schiffman Fountain:
Como Regional Park, Nausbaumer Drive, St Paul, MN 55117
This mermaid sculpture was recently restored and the fountain was updated with lights and dramatics. It is a replica of the original that Schiffman encountered in Spain. You can find it between Lexington Parkway and Lake Como. There is so much fun to be had while at Como Park — visit the zoo, walk around the lake, or play a round of Mini-golf.
Admission: FREE, Public Park
South Metro Water Fountains to Visit
Merboy Fountain:
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN 55318
This English fountain is located in the Griggs/Burke Annual Garden of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Visitors will enjoy walking through the garden as it is planted in a different color scheme each year. Every spring, 25,000-30,000 annuals are planted in the garden surrounding this fountain.
Entrance Fee: $15/person ages 16+, Members and children FREE
Nicollet Commons Water Feature
Nicollet Commons Park, 12550 Nicollet Avenue, Burnsville, MN 55337
Weather you consider it a water fountain or a splash pad, this is one of the more beautiful water features in the Twin Cities. Bonus, that this town square park features community entertainment May through September, when the fountain is open.
North Metro Water Fountains to Visit
Muriel Sahlin Arboretum Fountain
Central Park – Dale West, 2525 Dale St N, Roseville, MN 55113
Millennium Garden
Plymouth Community Center, 14800 34th Ave. N., Plymouth, MN 55447
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