Stay cool and have fun in Minneapolis parks and recreation centers

The dog days of summer have arrived a bit early, but don’t sweat it! The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) has almost 100 places to keep cool as temperatures soar.

There’s no better place to beat the heat than at a beach, pool or water park!

In the city of lakes, head to one of the MPRB’s 12 beaches to cool off and have fun in the sun. Lifeguards are on duty beginning Saturday, June 11 from noon–7 pm at eight popular beach locations. For beach locations and lifeguard hours, visit www.minneapolisparks.org/beaches.

MPRB’s two water parks are fun options for water play. With water features, shade structures and refreshments, Jim Lupient Water Park and North Commons Water Park both open Saturday, June 11 for the regular season. Hours are 11 am–7 pm Saturday-Sunday, and 1 pm–7 pm Monday-Friday. Visit the water parks on the website for rates and more information.

The Webber Natural Swimming Pool (Webber NSP) is also a great place to cool off. Open Tuesday-Sunday from 1-7 pm, Webber NSP offers a zero depth entry for accessibility, open swim area, lap swimming lanes and jumping platform area. Admission is free. Guests should note that no food or beverages are allowed inside the pool area, and proper swimwear is required. Visit www.minneapolisparks.org/webberpool for detailed information.

Both water parks and Webber NSP have capacity limits and are popular destinations during warm weather. Visitors may need to wait in line to enter the facilities so bring a water bottle to keep cool.

If the lakes aren’t close enough to home, chances are a wading pool is nearby. There are more than 60 wading pools in Minneapolis parks, with styles ranging from classic circular pools to others with spray features and waterfalls. Wading pools are open daily and are free to use. There are no lifeguards on duty, so parents and children are encouraged to have fun while keeping safety in mind. For a complete listing of wading pools and their status, visit www.minneapolisparks.org/aquatics.

If the weather is above 85 degrees at 6 pm:

  • All lifeguards at guarded beaches will be on duty until 8 pm
  • Jim Lupient and North Commons Water Parks will remain open until 8 pm
  • All wading pools will close at 10 pm

Or beat the heat indoors!

There are 20 recreation centers throughout Minneapolis that are air conditioned and are open to the public. Most have gymnasiums, computer labs and fun activities. The following air-conditioned recreation centers are open on Saturdays from 11 am–4 pm:

For a full list of air-conditioned recreation centers open on weekdays, visit www.minneapolisparks.org/reccenters.