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The Old Dutch Park Finder
The warm weather is here and the birds are pleasantly chirping. So it’s time to head to a favorite park for a little family fun in the outdoors. To give you a head start, we've listed some of our favorite parks throughout the Midwest. So get out, get active, and enjoy a day at the park with your family this summer.
Don't see your park listed here? Let us know where to go to find the best picnic spot in your town.
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Park: Countryside Park
City: Northbrook
Size: 1.73 acres
Countryside Park is a safe haven for children to play baseball, check out walking paths, have a picnic and monkey around on the playground. Mature trees and foliage give the park a cozy, intimate place to enjoy a beautiful Northbrook day.
Directions: Located at Walnut Circle & Oakwood Road.
Box Rating:
Park: Oaklane Park
City: Northbrook
Size: 2.46 acres
This lovely park is peaceful and quiet, perfect for a nice day with the family. An intimate playground is hidden among tall trees, and the park is ideal for kids to swing on a tire, play in the sand or climb around on the jungle gym. It's great for lounging, picnicking and exercising all in one day!
Directions: Located at Berglund Place & Midway Road
Box Rating:
Park: Pere Marquette State Park
City: Grafton
Size: 8,050 Acres
Pere Marquette is Illinois' largest state park. In addition to the spectacular views of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers from several scenic overlooks, take advantage of a variety of year-round recreational activities, including hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, boating and eating Old Dutch potato chips, of course!
Directions: Located 5 miles west of Grafton on Route 100.
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Park: VanderVeer Park
City: Davenport
In the summer it is a paradise of flowers, animal life and pastoral scenes. A place where children can feed the ducks or fish in the pond and families can picnic and munch on a delicious chip or two. If you love flowers and plant life, just cross the street at the North end of the park to see the VandeVeer Conservatory.
Directions: Located between Brady and Harrison at Central Park. The Conservatory is at 215 Central Park.
Box Rating:
Park: Credit Island Park
City: Davenport
Size: 300 Acres
Among the activities on this 300-acre island in the Mississippi River are fishing, boating, golf, river scenery and eagle watching. A new feature is wooden sculptures of figures from the Georges Seurat painting, "A Sunday on the Island of La Grande Jatte." Unfortunately, they didn't have Old Dutch potato chips when Seurat painted this scene, but isn't it nice to know that you do? Have fun at the park!
Directions: Enter the island via a causeway near the 2500 block of West River Drive (U.S. 61).
Box Rating:
Park: Middle Park
City: Bettendorf
Size: 70 Acres
This spacious park has a little bit of everything, including golf, a family aquatic center, tennis courts, baseball fields, soccer fields, basketball courts, picnic areas, a bike path and on the 4th of July one, of the best fireworks displays in the Midwest! There's every reason to get out and get active at Middle Park.
Directions: Take Middle Road to 23rd Street.
Box Rating:
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Park: Shiras Park
City: Marquette
Size: 31 Acres
Shiras Park is located on the shore of Lake Superior and has a beautiful 5/8-mile long sand beach. (Note: Keep an eye on your bag of Old Dutch chips. You don't want sand in there!) The Picnic Rocks area has grassy open spaces, benches, cooking facilities and plenty of picnic tables. There's also a playground with swing sets, a wood/steel play unit and climbing tires. It's a fun day for the whole family!
Directions: Located on the shore of Lake Superior, the bulk and northernmost part of which accommodates the area known as Picnic Rocks near the intersection of Lakeshore Boulevard and East Fair Street.
Box Rating:
Park: Blandford Nature Center
City: Grand Rapids
Size: 140 acres
A beautiful area of open fields, wooded areas, ponds, and crisscrossing streams that offers a variety of outdoorsy activities for the entire family. Also available are seasonal educational programs on the production of maple syrup, Western Michigan's pioneer and Native American roots, wildlife and natural arts and crafts. Get a great workout for your body and brain at Blandford Nature Center!
Directions: Located in the Northwest area of Grand Rapids at 1715 Hillburn Ave NW.
Box Rating:
Park: Belle Isle
City: Detroit
Size: 1,000 acres
Belle Isle is a beautiful island park located on the Detroit River. It is a fabulous picnic spot for every kind of Old Dutch chip connoisseur and ideal for outdoor recreation. The park features a nature center, zoo, tennis courts, beach, waterslide and playgrounds. It is connected to the city by a bridge and boasts spectacular views of the downtown skyline, so make sure to enjoy them!
Directions: Located across Douglas Macarthur Bridge at Picnic Way, via E Grand Blvd.
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Park: Land of Memories Park
City: Mankato
Size: 100 acres
Land of Memories Park has a hundred acres of beautiful scenery, abundant wildlife, and a variety of open grassy areas for picnics. There's also plenty of active fun for families including soccer fields, Frisbee golf, bike trails, and a boat ramp for those ready to venture out on the Blue Earth and Minnesota rivers.
Directions: Located just off of Highway 169/60 on the southwest side of Mankato.
Box Rating:
Park: Minneapolis Chain of Lakes
City: Minneapolis
The "Lakes" provide a superb outdoor spot in the midst of the city. Lake Harriet offers families the ideal place to picnic, swim or ride the "Queen of Lakes" paddlewheel boat. Excellent outdoor concerts are held in the Bandshell during the summer months. Joggers, in-line skaters and bikers will enjoy a trek around Lake Calhoun, and water enthusiasts will find plenty of opportunities for swimming, kayaking and windsurfing.
Directions: Located off of West Lake Street just outside of the Uptown area.
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Park: Como Park
City: Saint Paul
Como Park is one big picnic of people and a great place to spend a Saturday people watching and visiting gorillas and Sparky the Seal at the zoo. If you're feeling like a little exercise, try speed walking though the half-acre, award-winning conservatory. It's a beautiful stroll at any pace!
Directions: Located at the intersection of Lexington Parkway and Horton Avenue.
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Park: Minnehaha Park and Falls
City: Minneapolis
Minnehaha Park is a favorite spot for family get-togethers and picnics. Plenty of tables and shelters, a tennis court, recreation building and even horseshoe pits are available. Just make sure you decide if leaners are worth one or two points before you start tossing the horseshoes. Good luck!
Directions: Located at East Minnehaha Pkwy and Hiawatha Avenue.
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Park: Gooseberry Falls
City: Two Harbors
Gooseberry Falls is a great place to get out in the fresh air and explore. Three of its five waterfalls can be seen just steps away from Highway 61 on brand new viewing platforms. The park also includes a 70 unit semi-modern campground, picnic areas, and Agate Beach- where your chances of finding agates are said to be fantastic!
Directions: Drive forty miles north from Duluth, Minnesota directly on Highway 61.
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Park: Gene Leahy Mall
City: Omaha
Size: 1 acre
This park is where you can find some of the best views of downtown Omaha. The park features a waterway, landscaped gardens and a giant slide. The more times you slide down, the more calories you'll burn climbing up! It's great fun!
Directions: Located downtown at 14th St and Farnam Street in Omaha.
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Park: Heartland of America Park
City: Omaha
Size: 1.73 acres
Located along the banks of the Missouri River, Heartland of America Park is a landscaped, lighted facility with a pretty water fountain and various pathways. During the summer months, there is also a tour boat ride that provides nice views of the skyline from the river. This is a nice place to view the river or enjoy an Old Dutch chip in the beauty of nature.
Directions: Located at South 8th St And Douglas Street.
Box Rating:
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Park: Sertoma Park
City: Bismarck
A terrific place for a picnic, Sertoma Park sits just off Main Avenue and offers a tranquil escape from the travails of daily life. Ample shade is provided by the many hardwoods located here, providing a nice, natural canopy for passing time in the shade. Kids have a playground and plenty of room to run around, so bring the whole family for an active day at the park!
Directions:
Box Rating:
Park: McDowell Dam Recreation Area
City: Bismarck
Nestled away some five miles east of the bustle of the capitol city, this local park offers Bismarck residents an excellent (and quick!) escape from their daily routines. Indeed, McDowell Dam is a place where folks can gather with the family and enjoy a day of paddle boating, canoeing and swimming-all fun ways to get out and get the blood pumping!
Directions: Located at 1953 93rd Street.
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Park: Cross Ranch State Park and Nature Preserve
City: Center
Size: 589 acres
This seven-mile stretch of the Missouri has been protected by the state so that it will remain untouched - primitive, even, - for future generations to enjoy. The preserve has great picnic areas and plenty for an active family to enjoy, including hiking, bird watching, canoeing and fishing. Have fun!
Directions: Located at 1403 River Rd, off Highway 200 and Highway 25.
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Park: Oak Grove Park
City: Fargo
Size: 36 Acres
One of Fargo's oldest and most well groomed parks, Oak Grove is a fabulous place for a family picnic. It's the proud home of the state's largest horseshoe complex, so get that tossing arm ready for action! There's also an 18-hole disc golf course, new playground equipment, and plenty of bike trails for long enjoyable rides with your family.
Directions: Located at South Terrace Drive North.
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Park: Kuehn Park
City: Sioux Falls
Size: 2.9 acres
A member of the Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation Department, this conveniently located park is also home to Kuehn Golf Course. Visitors can enjoy the skateboard park (hand-planting fun!), volleyball courts (jumping fun!), soccer (running fun!) softball fields (throwing fun!), and a swimming pool (cannon-balling fun!).
Directions: Located at 2903 Kuehn Park Rd.
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Park: Laurel Oak Park
City: Sioux Falls
This easily accessible green space offers nature lovers a retreat from urban adventures. The park houses picnic shelters, a playground, a public swimming pool and children's activity areas. For moms and dads who enjoy hitting a yellow fuzzy ball around, Laurel Oak also boasts tennis courts.
Directions: Located at 49th St and Laurel Oak Drive.
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Park: Custer State Park
City: Custer
Size: 73,000 acres
Best known for its resident herds of roaming bison, this 73,000-acre park offers not only gorgeous scenery but also planned activities to boot. Campsites cater to visitors with varying needs, and rangers direct folks on nature tours and panning for gold adventures. Hayrides, campfire activities, bonding and demonstrations of crafts and cooking will keep the whole family on the move.
Directions: Located off of US Hwy 16A.
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Neither Old Dutch nor any of its affiliating parties are responsible for the accuracy of the information listed on this site and/or injury or death of any person or persons resulting from the use of the parks listed on this website. Please participate in outdoor activities at your own risk. |
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