Getting outside in the fresh air is good for you no matter what time of year it is. Even when the temperatures in Minnesota are still low, you can have some fun at the park. Since Rochester is home to over 100 different parks, here is a short list of some of the best and their features.
Silver Lake Park
Silver Lake Park is not far from downtown Rochester and features several walking paths. It also has one of the largest playgrounds in the city with both a preschool play area and an area for the big kids. One of the newer features of Silver Lake Park is a simulated street scape and the first bicycle playground in Minnesota. It sits between the swimming pool and the skate park and allows kids to navigate through simulated city streets on their bikes. This park also has a pool and a small lake, and you can rent a paddleboard, canoe, or kayak if you want to get out on the water.
Field of Fun
Field of Fun sits right next to Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial. This small park has lots of climbing apparatuses, slides, and swings for the kids. There is a separate area for toddlers and picnic tables if you want to pack a lunch.
Cooke Park
Cooke Park on 7th Street is a large park with everything you need for a day of outdoor fun. There is a baseball field, horseshoes, sand volleyball, and a softball field. Cooke Park has a paved trail for walking and running, a covered picnic area, and a large open field. The playground gives the kids a place to play if you want to take a break.
Foster Arend Park
Head to Foster Arend Park to play horseshoes, take a walk on the paved trail, or just enjoy the fresh air. This park has a lake with a public beach that’s open for swimming in the summer months, and it’s also a great fishing spot. Bring the kids to the playground, or pack a lunch and have a picnic. After you eat, you can all take a walk on the paved trail.
Essex Park
Essex Park is another popular spot for outdoor fun in Rochester. This park has a natural area to explore, both paved and unpaved walking trails, a playground, and a picnic shelter. If you want to bring your bow and arrows, there is even a spot to practice archery. Essex Park has a cross-country skiing trail for winter enthusiasts, and sand volleyball if you want to wait until the snow melts. Pack a lunch, and sit at one of the picnic tables to enjoy the fresh air while you eat, or bring the kids, and let them run and play at the playground.
These are just a few of the many parks in the Rochester area. No matter which one you choose, you can get outside and play in the fresh air.
Image by Mark Goebel is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0
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