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Want to just relax with picnicking, enjoying the outdoors with easy activities? Want to hike and play various sports? Or do you want to see beautiful sights? It’s all here at various Twin Cities Parks and recreation areas. And other options as well. Of course, these are spread throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The Driveby Tourist will start with Fish Lake Park and French Park in Maple Grove and Plymouth respectively. Other posts will discuss other parks and recreation areas, either individual parks and multiple parks per post.
Fish Lake Park
This park, as well as many other parks, are managed by Three Rivers Park District. Formerly known as Hennepin County Parks, Three Rivers Park District now operates 20 parks and 10 trails mostly in the West Metro. (Remember the definition of West Metro?)
First of all, Fish Lake Park (link) offers a great building for holding events. While this is likely only helpful for local residents, it’s a great place for a family event when family members from out of town make your house too crowded to have fun! With the current configuration, it can seat nearly 60 people for meals, games, and general other uses.
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And, the park rents boats, standup paddleboards, and a large raft. The park also has a sand volleyball court and outdoor grills.
French Park – Parks and Recreation
Following Fish Lake Park, I moved over to French Park. And it’s also a great park.
Furthermore, French Park has two separate rooms on the upper level for events. (My wife and daughters held a “milestone” birthday party for me here once.)
And this park has a very good outdoor play area near the event building and park office. So, if you are looking for a park for the kids, this is a good one. (Maybe only my neighbors will go here because the Twin Cities has so many great parks and recreation areas!)
Another key point, French Park is on Medicine Lake. As shown above, you know it’s a city because of the office buildings on the other side of the lake! And I’ll do a section on lakes in the Twin Cities as well. After all, it is Minnesota so we do have lakes which border many of the parks and recreation locations!
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Finally, this park also has a beach area. Medicine Lake is a much bigger lake than Fish Lake and is great for fishing. For example, ice fishing is great here. In a word, lots of fish houses on the ice in winter. (And for those not from Minnesota, we aren’t fishing for ice!)
Classic Rock Recollection – French Park
Of course, when seeing a classic car, need a picture! And this picture brings in the Classic Rock Recollection. (I know it’s not really connected to parks and recreation, but… Wait a minute, it’s certainly recreation!)
“Little Deuce Coupe” by The Beach Boys
Little deuce Coupe
You don’t know what I got
Little deuce Coupe
You don’t know what I got
Well I’m not braggin’ babe so don’t put me down
But I’ve got the fastest set of wheels in town
When something comes up to me he don’t even try
Cause if I had a set of wings man I know she could fly
She’s my little deuce coupe
You don’t know what I got
(Written by Brian Wilson and Roger Christian)
Summary – Twin Cities Parks and Recreation
These two parks are close to my home location. I’ll branch out and get parks from all over the Twin Cities in future posts. Anyway, great parks in the northwest metro area. Just as a reminder, I’ve considered, the University of Minnesota Arboretum (link) as part of the parks and recreation area as well. Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoy my series of posts on the Twin Cities!
The Driveby Tourist #the-driveby-tourist
Thanks, Stan. I love Three Rivers Parks all over the Metro. Our community is really blessed. My granddaughter sent me a picture today from the Plymouth Parks Millennium Garden. So beautiful.
Thanks Sue. I’ll get over there and include in another post.