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Parks & Recreation

What is your recreational preference? With more than 460 acres of parkland, 21 neighborhood parks and a nature preserve, Richfield has room for all of its citizens to enjoy the great outdoors. Additionally, for those who prefer other types of activities, the city boasts a community center, an ice arena (with two sheets of ice), a miniature golf course, tennis courts, softball fields and much more. With all of these options, why wouldn’t you want to join the fun?

One of the major attractions in Richfield is the Wood Lake Nature Center, a 150-acre oasis operated by the City of Richfield that features wetlands, walking paths and an interpretive center. When the nature center opened in 1971, it became the first urban center in the United States. It is currently home to more than 250 different kinds of birds and is a major migration destination. If you have a question about nature, the on-staff naturalists are more than likely able to answer it for you. Want to trek through the freshwater marshlands? No problem, since the nature center offers more than two miles of trails throughout the preserve.

Open year-round, the Wood Lake Nature Center has programs designed for children, students, adults and the entire family. These programs include identifying wild foods, maple syrup making, tracking, taxidermy, bird watching and snowshoe making. In winter, the nature center has cross-country ski trails and snowshoeing opportunities.

The neighborhood parks located throughout the city allow families and children to relax and enjoy the great outdoors. With playground facilities at nearly all of the parks, kids can spend time just being kids while their parents can meet and talk with their neighbors.

Veterans Memorial Park is yet another gem in Richfield. This community park is home to a huge picnic shelter, open-air tables, playground equipment and a miniature golf course. The park is also a center point for the city’s Fourth of July celebration and Music in the Park programs. The Richfield Farmers Market, the 3rd largest market in the metropolitan area, attracts over 1,000 visitors each Saturday morning from May to October, utilizing the large picnic shelter as its home.

Dedicated in 2008 is the “Honoring All Veterans Memorial” located in Veterans Memorial Park. This memorial, with a focal point depicting Richfield resident Charles Lindberg, one of the original flag raisers on Iwo Jima in World War II. This memorial will continue toward final completion over the next few years.

Richfield’s Ice Arena also is located at Veterans Memorial Park and has two full-size indoor skating rinks. Hockey games, figure skating, broom ball games, open skating and community events all take place in this facility.

The Richfield Outdoor Pool is located near the ice arena. Renovated in 2003, the swim complex features a 50-meter competitive pool, splash pool and a 28-foot double waterslide.

The Tri-City Skate Park, a joint venture with neighboring cities and the YMCA, features the very best facilities in the area for serious skateboarders and trick jumping. This park is located at the YMCA facility on Richfield’s west edge.

The city is fortunate to be home to a pair of bowling alleys, Lariat Lanes on the west side and Airport Bowl on the east side. These establishments are used year-round by people of all ages, and Airport Bowl has a large youth league that brings together the city’s children.

For those looking for an indoor activity to occupy themselves, the Augsburg Park Library is the perfect place to curl up with a book. In fact, this library was recognized as “Hennepin County’s Best Library to Read In” by Mpls. St. Paul Magazine.

Richfield’s central location in the Twin Cities makes it easy to enjoy all of the area’s many recreational activities. Minneapolis-St. Paul is home to five professional sports teams: the Twins (baseball), Vikings (football), Wild (hockey), Timberwolves (men’s basketball) and Lynx (women’s basketball). The University of Minnesota is a Big Ten school that has a vast array of teams competing in many sports.

For those whose excitement lies in gaming, Mystic Lake and Little Six casinos offer slots, card games and big-name entertainment, and from April to September Canterbury Downs offers live horse racing. All three of these venues are in the same area and are just 20 minutes away from the heart of Richfield.

Overview of recreational activities available in Richfield:

• 22 parks, covering over 460 acres
• Over 11 miles of walking paths
• Richfield Ice Arena with two sheets of ice
• Woodlake Nature Center, 150 acres
• Veterans Memorial Park
• Adventure Gardens Mini Golf Course
• Richfield Outdoor Pool
• Tri-City Skateboard Park
• Community Center activities
• Summer sports leagues
• High school sports