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6 Fun Parks & Playgrounds in the SE Metro - 2023

Parks you have to visit in Woodbury, Oakdale, Cottage Grove & Stillwater this Spring

By Nicole Maitrejean, Macaroni KID SE Metro April 12, 2023

It went from winter to spring overnight and everyone is ready to get outside and go to the park! We are so fortunate in Woodbury, Oakdale, Cottage Grove and Stillwater to have so many great playgrounds and parks to explore. From swings to slides, to climbing walls and water features, parks and playgrounds keep my kids active, are a great place to meet old friends (and make new friends), and they're FREE! Best part? They are a huge energy burner!

I often get asked what our favorite playgrounds are; so I thought I'd share with you my family's picks for our top six playgrounds and parks to visit in Woodbury, Oakdale, Cottage Grove and Stillwater..plus one in Hudson!


Locations are listed alphabetically.





Lake Elmo Park Reserve Playground

1515 Keats Ave

Lake Elmo, MN

What we love about Lake Elmo Park Reserve Playground: 

We love Lake Elmo Park Reserve Playground because of the large unique playground.  There are multiple playgrounds all in one! They have a great combination of swings, slides, bridges, a tire swing, tunnels and sand space.  It's the perfect park for all ages, since there are separate playgrounds for the littles and the big kids.  My boys could spend the whole day here and not get bored!

Amenities at Lake Elmo Park Reserve Playground: 

Being in the park reserve, there are so many amenities for the family. You really can spend the whole day in the park reserve. Next to the playground is the man-made, chlorinated beach. It's a beach with a sand bottom, and the perfect place for the kids to cool off on a hot summer day. Plenty of picnic tables with shade trees, walking and bike trails, and plenty of bathrooms.  Note: A vehicle permit is required to enter the park, $7 daily pass and $30 annual pass.

  • Playground with sand surface
  • Sand beach
  • Bathrooms 
  • Grills
  • Picnic tables
  • Bike and walking trails
  • Fishing pier
  • Large parking lot





Madison's Place Playground

4125 Radio Drive

Woodbury, MN

What we love about Madison's Place Playground: 

Madison's Place Playground in Woodbury is another family favorite!  An inclusive playground, with a rubber surface, offers a perfect place to hang out. Kids of all abilities will find this to be a great playground! Fun play structures with slides, climbing surfaces, swings, seated zip lines, and monkey bars.  My kids especially love the large merry-go-round and the tunnel that lets in different shapes when the sun is shining.  An added bonus is the splash pad, steps away from the playground.  Perfect combo and a great place to meet for a playdate with friends.

Amenities at Madison's Place Playground: 

Madison's Place has a large bathroom/changing facility with baby changing tables.  Picnic tables and benches are spread out around the park, as well as a drinking/water fountain.  Next door is the Sports Center with more bathrooms and ice rinks. 

  • Accessible playground with rubber surface
  • Splash pad nearby
  • Large parking lot
  • Picnic tables and benches 
  • Bathrooms
  • Drinking fountain




Teddy Bear Park

207 Nelson Street East

Stillwater, MN 

What we love about Teddy Bear Park: 

My kids have grown up in Stillwater and have loved Teddy Bear Park since they were little. Teddy Bear Park offers a cute themed park to play. We love the unique train themed play structure and the sand area where you can jump off of rocks, the lift bridge that you can run back and forth on, the huge spider web and the stunning views of downtown Stillwater. Make a day out of it, and spend some time exploring Stillwater while you are there!

Amenities at Teddy Bear Park: 

The park is enclosed and makes a fun place to meet for a playdate. It's also within walking distance to downtown Stillwater, if you are looking for a spot to grab a snack or lunch.  Bathrooms on-site. In the summer, they offer kid friendly entertainment. 

  • Playground
  • Sand area to play and dig
  • Concert stage (shows in the summer)
  • Bathrooms
  • Rental space for birthday parties or other events
  • Close enough to walk to restaurants for lunch
  • Photo opportunities with the cute bears!





Richard Walton Park

15th St. North and Hadley Ave.

Oakdale, MN

What we love about Richard Walton Park: 

Richard Walton Park in Oakdale is the perfect neighborhood park.  It's always buzzing with activity from baseball games, a fun skateboard park, and a concert bandshell. In the summer, they offer concerts and movies in the park. It really has something for everyone!  A great place to spend the afternoon, have a picnic and hang out.

Amenities at Richard Walton Park: 

The playground (with wood chips) is enclosed, which is great if you are trying to keep an eye on multiple kids and little ones.  Bathrooms are nearby, as well as plenty of tables to bring a long a picnic lunch or enjoy a snack. The picnic shelters also offer some shade from the sun.  If you have a skateboarder in the family, the skate park offers a place to practice. My boys really like to bring their bikes and bike around the pathsThe park is also within a 5 min drive from coffee shops, grocery stores and restaurants.  

  • Enclosed playground
  • Picnic tables and picnic shelters
  • Bandshell (concerts in the summer)
  • Baseball diamonds
  • Biking paths
  • Bathrooms 
  • Grills
  • Skateboard park
  • Tennis courts

Weitkamp Park

648 O'Neil Rd

Hudson, WI

What we love about Weitkamp Park: 

Weitkamp Park in Hudson has become one of our family favorites!  We love the rubber surface, the triple slide, the toddler and adult swing, the Simon says game, monkey bars and the big rocker. My kids loved just playing tag in the open grassy area and rolling down the hill near the water tower.

Amenities at Weitkamp Park: 

Weitkamp Park has some different things to do to keep your kids entertained.  The fun playground, the walking and biking trails and one thing you wouldn't expect, a huge hill to run or roll down! There is also a covered picnic shelter that offers a lot of shade from the sun and a great place for a snack or lunch.  Bathrooms are under the picnic shelter as well as a water fountain.  

  • Rubber playground surface
  • Picnic tables and picnic shelters
  • Large parking lot
  • Biking/Walking paths
  • Bathrooms
  • Plenty of shade trees
  • Grills






Woodridge Park

9000 90th Street South

Cottage Grove, MN 

What we love about Woodridge Park: 

Woodridge Park in Cottage Grove has quickly become one of our favorite playgrounds!  We love how this playground is made for people of all abilities and ages.  Tons of fun play structures, swings, slides and climbing structures.  Musical play elements, a tunnel to explore and sitting zip lines make this a unique playground. My kids favorite part is the roller slide!

Amenities at Woodridge Park: 

Woodridge Park has a variety of things to do and will keep the kids entertained.  From a basketball court to a tennis court, and an awesome playground! There is also a covered picnic shelter that offers some shade from the sun and a great place for a snack or lunch.  Bathrooms are nearby as well as a water fountain.  

  • Inclusive playground with rubber surface
  • Picnic tables and picnic shelters
  • Basketball court
  • Large parking lot
  • Biking/Walking paths
  • Bathrooms
  • Plenty of shade trees
  • Tennis court
  • Baseball diamonds
  • Grills


Ih ope this list of the top six playgrounds and parks in Woodbury, Oakdale, Cottage Grove & Stillwater helps you find -- or rediscover! -- some fun places for your family to explore this spring & summer. Now get those kids out to play!


Looking for more fun in Oakdale, Cottage Grove, Woodbury & Stillwater? 

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