Area parks

CITY PARKS Most cities in the area maintain city parks, many of which offer playground equipment and picnic areas. Alexandria City Park is at the north end of Alexandria, one block west of County Rd. 42. It offers a playground, picnic area, tennis courts, swimming beach, bathhouse and fishing pier. Big Ole Central Park is on the north end of Broadway in Alexandria, next to Lake Agnes. It features a gazebo, kiosk shelter, bike repair station and serves as a trail head for the Central Lakes Trail. Bluebird Park is on Agnes Blvd. near Kinkead Cemetery in Alexandria. Carter Park is on Benjamin Drive off of Co. Rd. 22 in Alexandria. Dean Melton Fillmore Park is at Fillmore St. and 15th Ave. West in Alexandria. It features a picnic shelter, ball fields, skate park and playground. Fred Foslien Park is in Victoria Heights, two blocks south of Co. Rd. 27 off Knut Street in Alexandria. Geneva Crest Park is on the west side of Lake Geneva in Alexandria. Take Co. Rd. 82 E., turn north on Birch Ave., go 3/4 mile, go east on Basswood two blocks and north on Geneva Dr. Goose Park is three blocks west of Broadway on Fifth Ave. W. in Alexandria. Lake Agnes Park is on the south shore of Lake Agnes along County Rd. 37 in Alexandria. Lake Connie Park is on Seventh Ave. E. between Roosevelt and Spruce streets in Alexandria. Lakeview Park is near County Rd. 82 East and Birch Ave. in Alexandria. Take Co. Rd. 82 E. to Birch Ave., turn west on Runestone Place and west on Lake Park Ave. Legion Park is at Broadway and Eighth Ave. W. in Alexandria. Manor Hills Park is in Alexandria. Take Hwy. 29 N. to Manor Dr. and go two blocks to the right on Springdale. Martin’s Hope Park is on Second Ave. across the street from Big Ole Central Park. Noonan Park is at Nokomis St. and 10th Ave. in Alexandria. Oak Knoll Park is on the northeast side of Alexandria near McKay Ave. Take Hwy. 29 North, turn right on McKay Ave. and left on Oak Knoll Dr. Osagi Park is on Lake St. in Osakis. It features picnic tables and shelter, restrooms, playground and lakeshore (no swimming area). Pooch Playland is a dog park with a fenced-in area located at the south end of Victor St. in Alexandria. Runestone Park is about one mile east of Broadway in Alexandria on Sixth Ave. E. Skylark Park is north of Kinkead Cemetery on Amanda Lane in Alexandria. Summer Meadows Park is on the north side of Alexandria near Scenic Heights Road and Summer Lane. Veterans Memorial Park is at 802 Broadway in Alexandria. Woodland Park is on the north side of Alexandria on Woodland Dr., just north of Hwy. 29. COUNTY PARKS Chippewa Park is three miles north of Brandon on Co. Rd. 108. It features picnic tables, shelters, charcoal grills, restrooms, showers, drinking water, a swimming beach (no lifeguard), playground, horseshoe pit and camping sites. Curt Felt Memorial Park is north of Alexandria off Co. Rd. 42. It has a volleyball court, playground, a picnic shelter, restrooms, horseshoe courts and a softball field. Lake Brophy Park, located on the north side of Lake Brophy, is the newest addition to the county’s park system. Take Co. Rd. 82 west of Alexandria to the Brophy Landing road. The park was built with a Legacy Grant from the State of Minnesota in 2018. Reach walking trails from a small parking lot located on the north end of the park off Centennial Drive. It also offers a public swimming beach, a mountain bike course, fishing pier and children’s playground. Lake Brophy Wayside Park is west of Alexandria at the intersection of Co. Rds. 82 and 8. It has picnic tables, charcoal grills, restroom, drinking water, playground and views of Lake Brophy.

AREAparks Kensington Rune Stone Park is 15 miles west of Alexandria on State Hwy. 27. It’s where the famed Kensington Runestone was found. A new visitor center was constructed in 2017 which offers modern restrooms, an interpretive room, a gathering space and drinking water. The park also includes picnic tables, shelters, charcoal grills, electricity, a heated building with kitchen facilities, softball field, horseshoe pit, volleyball court, playground, hiking, mountain bike trails, cross country ski trails and historic displays. Spruce Hill Park is near Miltona. From Alexandria, take Hwy. 29 to Co. Rd. 5 and go east five miles. It has picnic tables, shelters, charcoal grills, electricity, restrooms, drinking water, softball field, and interpretive, hiking and cross country ski trails.

STATE PARKS

Lake Carlos State Park is near Carlos. Take State Hwy. 29 north from Alexandria, turn west on Co. Rd. 38, turn left into park. Permit is required; purchase at park office ($7/day, $35/year). The park features trails for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling, as well as picnic tables, shelters, a swimming beach, play area, campsites, camper cabins, group camp, group center, restrooms, showers, boat landing, amphitheater, visitor/interpretive center, naturalist programs, geocaching and an equestrian area. Rentals are available for canoes, paddle boats, kayaks, snowshoes and fish houses, and checkouts are available for fishing and birding kits and GPS units.