If you’ve never been to the one of the kind Teddy Bear Park in Stillwater, add it to your list.  Not only does it offer great outdoor fun for kids, it’s a nice spot to enjoy the view of Stillwater as it’s located up on the hill.  A rare perk for an outdoor park, there are nice indoor bathrooms on site.  It’s not open all year, but we received news that Teddy Bear Park is open for the 2019 season. There’s sure to be plenty of warm days ahead to enjoy this great place.

Additional information about Teddy Bear Park:

Teddy Bear Park is located at 207 Nelson Street E on the corner of 2nd Street South and Nelson Street near downtown Stillwater. The park is open to the public 8 am to 8 pm from mid-April to mid-October weather dependent.
The park play equipment is designed for children 7 years of age and younger.  There is no admission to visit and play in the park.

We don’t live close enough to visit this great park very often, but we do stop by when we are in the area.  Are there other great parks you’ve discovered in outstate MN that we can write about?  Please send us a message or comment below. Would love to share other great places with our readers.

I grew up in Mankato, and I have very fond memories of my childhood there, especially frequent visits to Sibley Park to play on the equipment and see the animals. They have seriously revamped the area since I was a kid, though!

Now you can visit Sibley Farm (inside Sibley Park) and walk through red barn-style buildings to view farm animals. You can also play on the farm-themed playground equipment at the park.

According to Explore Minnesota, Sibley Farm is set to open April 16th, 2019 for the season. (Even if it doesn’t open that specific date, I’m sure it will be open very soon.) You’ll be able to see alpacas, calves, goats, peacocks, horses, lambs, and chicks, as well as koi fish in the pond. Sibley Farm is open daily from 6:30 am – 10:30 pm in mid-spring, summer, and early fall.

Sibley Park is a dynamic community park that is rich in history. The park, established in established in 1887, is named for Minnesota’s first Governor, Henry Hastings Sibley. In the past the park has provided a horse racing track, regional zoo, museum, community band shell, clay tennis courts and renowned gardens.

The park offers recreational opportunities on the north side with softball, tennis, fishing and sliding hill. On the south side of the park are extensive landscape and gardens, a story book farm site, open space and picnicking areas. The hill top of the mound is being reclaimed through plantings and controlled burns to an Oak Savanna environment similar to what originally existed.

 

 

Sibley Park is suitable for organized sports, large group gatherings, amplified music and reserved use. The picnic shelters are popular for family reunions, business meetings, company picnics and large group gatherings. The gazebo and gardens are favorites for outdoor weddings and photography sessions. Many of these areas can be reserved.

Also at Sibley Park are the pond, the CHS Pergola, the Sibley Park Pavilion and Sibley Farm. Within Sibley Park are the Sibley HealthBeat outdoor exercise equipment and more than two miles of walking trails available at three levels–easy, moderate or experienced.

Sibley Park is located at 900 Mound Avenue in Mankato.

You can read more about Sibley Park in our post on Thrifty Jinxy about Weekend Family Fun in Mankato.