Three Rivers Park District facts for kids

Three Rivers Park District is a special park system in Minnesota. It serves the areas around the Twin Cities, including parts of Hennepin, Carver, Dakota, Scott, and Ramsey counties. Its main goal is to protect nature while offering fun activities and learning experiences.

The park district manages twenty parks and ten regional trails. They also plan to add at least two more trails. Nearly seven million people visit these parks and trails every year! The district covers over 27,000 acres of land.

History of the Parks

People first thought about having a park system in Hennepin County outside of Minneapolis way back in 1901. But it wasn't until 1955 that a law was passed to create the park system. It officially started in 1957. Back then, it was called the Hennepin County Park Reserve District.

In its first ten years, the Park District bought almost 21,000 acres of land. Most of this land was farmland in the quickly growing suburban areas of Hennepin County.

In 1967, the Park District started working to bring back natural areas. They restored wetlands, prairies, woodlands, and wildlife homes to how they were before people settled there in the 1800s. Today, the rule is that at least 80% of the land in a park reserve must stay natural or be restored. Only 20% or less can be used for things like playgrounds or buildings. Not all parks are "park reserves"; some smaller ones are called "regional parks."

Starting in the 1970s, the district began to focus more on building fun places. They started creating park buildings, beaches, boat launches, paved trails for walking and biking, and cross-country ski trails.

In 2005, the park system changed its name to Three Rivers Park District. This new name better shows the areas it serves. All the parks in the district have water that flows into three main rivers: the Mississippi, Minnesota, and Crow rivers. These rivers have always been very important to the people living in the region.

Parks to Explore

Most parks in the Three Rivers Park District are open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Baker Park Reserve

One of the cabins at the Baker Near-Wilderness Settlement

Baker Park Reserve is a big park with 3,313 acres. It's located in Medina, Minnesota. A special part of this park is the Baker Near-Wilderness Settlement. It's a place where families and groups can stay. The park also has 8 miles of paved trails for biking and hiking. In winter, there's a mountain biking trail you can use with a special permit.

Bryant Lake Regional Park

Bryant Lake Regional Park is in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. It's 170 acres big. Here, you can swim at the beach on Bryant Lake. There's also a disc golf course and a mix of paved and unpaved trails for walking.

Carver Park Reserve

Carver Park Reserve is the second-largest park in the system, covering 3,719 acres. It's near Victoria, Minnesota, in Carver County. You can visit the Lowry Nature Center here for fun learning programs about nature. The park has 9 miles of paved trails for biking and hiking, plus 22 miles of unpaved hiking trails. There are also 9 miles of trails for horses.

Cleary Lake Regional Park

Cleary Lake Regional Park is near Prior Lake, in Scott County. Its 1,186 acres include a nine-hole golf course. There's also a special area where pets can run off-leash. You'll find 4 miles of paved trails for biking and hiking.

Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park

Coon Rapids Dam in June 2004

Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park is in Brooklyn Park and Coon Rapids, Minnesota. The park is named after the Coon Rapids Dam, which was built in 1913 to make electricity. It stopped making power in 1966 and is now used for fun.

You can walk or bike across the dam on a special path. This path also connects to the Elm Creek Regional Trail. This trail goes 6 miles across Brooklyn Park and Maple Grove to Elm Creek Park Reserve. The park has a visitor's center and picnic areas. You can see lots of different animals here throughout the year.

Crow-Hassan Park Reserve

Crow-Hassan Park Reserve is in Rogers, Minnesota. It covers 2,597 acres, including 600 acres of tall-grass prairie. This park has 18 miles of unpaved hiking trails and 11 miles of horse trails. There's also an off-leash area for dogs.

Elm Creek Park Reserve

Elm Creek Park Reserve is the biggest park in the system, with 5,315 acres. It's located in Maple Grove, Champlin, and Dayton. It has 19 miles of paved trails for biking and hiking, and 21 miles of horse trails. There's also a 13-mile mountain bike trail. You can find a championship disc golf course and a popular swimming pond here. Elm Creek also has a large, fenced area where dogs can run off-leash.

In winter, parts of the 11-mile cross-country ski trail system get man-made snow. They also have a snow tubing hill and a small downhill ski and snowboard area. The Eastman Nature Center offers fun learning programs about nature.

Clifton E. French Regional Park

Clifton E. French Regional Park is on Medicine Lake in Plymouth. People often call it French Park. It has a popular creative play area and a large Nature Exploration Area. In this special area, you don't have to stay on paths. You can even dig or build forts, which are usually not allowed in other parts of the park. You can also get your boat into Medicine Lake from here. In winter, there are 6 miles of cross-country ski trails.

Gale Woods

Gale Woods is on the shores of Whaletale Lake in Minnetrista. It's a working farm where visitors can learn about farming and taking care of the land. The farm also has the Gale Woods Folk School, which teaches classes like cooking and fiber arts. The park has a barn-style building overlooking the lake.

Glen Lake Golf and Practice Center

Glen Lake Golf and Practice Center is between Minnetonka and Eden Prairie. It has a popular nine-hole golf course, a driving range, and practice areas.

The Landing

The Landing – Minnesota River Heritage Park, in Shakopee, is like a living history museum. It has many old buildings from the 1800s that have been fixed up. People dressed in old-fashioned clothes show visitors what life was like when Minnesota was first settled. You can visit from Memorial Day through October. School groups can visit from April through December. They also have a popular "Folkways of the Holidays" program in December.

Hyland Lake Park Reserve

Play equipment in Hyland Lake Park Reserve

Hyland Lake Park Reserve is in Bloomington. It has the Hyland Hills Ski Area, which is a downhill ski area with two terrain parks. The park is famous for its huge creative play area, which local kids love. This playground is often called "Chutes & Ladders" because of its many ladders leading to slides.

At the playground, there's a chalet with snacks and tables. In winter, you can rent cross-country skis here. The rest of the park's 1,000 acres have 9 miles of paved trails for biking and hiking. There's also an 18-hole disc golf course along the ski slopes. The visitor's center rents boats and kayaks for use on Hyland Lake. In winter, there are 7 miles of cross-country ski trails, and some are lit for evening use. Hyland Lake Park Reserve also has the Richardson Nature Center. This center has live animal displays, nature programs, and snowshoe rentals in winter.

Lake Minnetonka Regional Park

Lake Minnetonka Regional Park is in Minnetrista. It's a newer park in the Three Rivers system. It has a swimming pond with a sand bottom and a creative play area. You can also get your boat into Lake Minnetonka from here.

Lake Rebecca Park Reserve

Lake Rebecca Park Reserve is a large park in Greenfield and Independence, covering 2,577 acres. It has 7 miles of biking and hiking trails, 13 miles of unpaved hiking trails, and a 14-mile mountain bike trail. The lake is great for canoeing, rowing, and fishing, but no motorboats are allowed. In winter, there are 10 miles of cross-country ski trails.

Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve

Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve is in Burnsville, Lakeville, Savage, and Credit River Township. It has a hilly cross-country ski trail system and a challenging 10-mile mountain bike trail. This trail is known for its long climbs and fast descents. It also has natural and man-made obstacles like rocks, wooden bridges, logs, and stairs. The park, which is 2,786 acres, also has 14 miles of horse trails and is a great place for bird watching. It's the only known place in Minnesota where the hooded warbler nests. There's also a hiking trail that is between 2.3 and 3.1 miles long.

Noerenberg Memorial Gardens

Noerenberg Memorial Gardens in Orono is known as one of Minnesota's most beautiful formal public gardens. The gardens are open from May through October for tours, programs, or just to look around. Many weddings are held here too.

North Mississippi Regional Park

North Mississippi Regional Park

North Mississippi Regional Park is on the west side of the Mississippi River, between Minneapolis and Brooklyn Center. It has great views of the river and the woods around it. There's a paved biking and hiking trail that connects to the Minneapolis trail system and to the Anoka County Park trails that go north to the Coon Rapids Dam.

Silverwood Park

Silverwood is the newest park in the district. It's on the northwest shore of Silver Lake in St. Anthony. Silverwood is a special place that connects people with nature and art. It has a gallery, an outdoor theater, art areas, and classrooms. Artists share their work, teach, and perform here. The park also has a coffee shop that serves local, natural, and organic foods. You can also picnic, hike, and fish here.

Trails to Explore

The Three Rivers Park District has many regional trails for biking, walking, and other activities.

Cedar Lake LRT Regional Trail

This trail runs from downtown Minneapolis to Hopkins along old railroad lines. It connects to other trails like the Luce Line Regional Trail.

Dakota Rail Regional Trail

The Dakota Rail Regional Trail follows an old railroad path along the north side of Lake Minnetonka. The trail is 13.5 miles long and goes from Wayzata southwest to St. Bonifacius.

Lake Independence Regional Trail

The Lake Independence Regional Trail is a paved trail. It runs from Crow-Hassan Park Reserve through Baker Park Reserve to the Luce Line State Trail.

Lake Minnetonka LRT Regional Trail

This is a crushed limestone trail that runs from Hopkins to Victoria. In Victoria, it connects to Carver Park Reserve.

Luce Line Regional Trail

The Luce Line Regional Trail is a paved trail that is 9 miles long. It goes from Theodore Wirth Park in Golden Valley to Plymouth. In Plymouth, it connects with the Medicine Lake Regional Trail.

Medicine Lake Regional Trail

Medicine Lake Regional Trail is a paved trail. It runs from Elm Creek Park Reserve to the Luce Line Regional Trail. Along the way, it goes through Fish Lake Regional Park and Clifton E. French Regional Park.

Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail

This is a crushed limestone trail that runs from Hopkins to Chanhassen. In Hopkins, it connects to the Cedar Lake LRT Regional Trail.

Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail

Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail is a paved trail. It runs from the Cedar Lake LRT Regional Trail in Hopkins to the Nokomis-MN River Trail in Bloomington.

North Cedar Lake Regional Trail

North Cedar Lake Regional Trail is a paved trail that runs from Minneapolis to Hopkins. In Hopkins, it connects to the Cedar Lake LRT Regional Trail. This trail is part of a bigger loop called the Cedar Lake Loop.

Rush Creek Regional Trail

Rush Creek Regional Trail is a paved 6-mile trail. It connects Elm Creek Park Reserve and Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park. It also connects to the Shingle Creek Regional Trail.

Shingle Creek Regional Trail

Shingle Creek Regional Trail is a paved trail. It runs from the Rush Creek Regional Trail in Brooklyn Center down into Brooklyn Park. There, it connects to local trails.

Planned Trails

The park district is always planning new ways for people to enjoy nature.

Bassett Creek Regional Trail

The Basset Creek Regional Trail is a planned paved trail. It will connect Clifton E. French Regional Park to Theodore Wirth Park. Bridges for this trail have already been built over Highway 169 and Highway 100.

Crystal Lake Regional Trail

The Crystal Lake Regional Trail is a planned 11-mile paved trail. It will go from the Minneapolis Grand Rounds to Elm Creek Park Reserve. Along its path, the trail will connect to the Rush Creek and Medicine Lake Regional Trails.