Parks and Recreation

Parks &

RECREATION

Birch Lake State Forest

Birch Lake Campgrounds & Hiking Trails (located nine miles north of Melrose) 29 campsites; $12.00 per night • Picnic sites • Boat landing • Fishing • Swimming • Seven miles hiking trails • Seven miles mountain biking trails • Four miles snowmobiling trails

For additional information, visit www.dnr.mn.us or call (320) 616-2525 (Managed by Charles A. Lindbergh State Park)

Fishing

Minnesota is known for its fi shing. Favorite spots are part of family lore (sometimes kept very secret), and stories of ‘the one that got away’ can be heard every week after the state fi shing opener.

While that opener is a big deal, for many Freeport area residents, one that comes close is the annual Freeport Family Fun fi shing tournament held every year at nearby King’s Lake. A big attraction is that it’s for children. Tournament organizers make sure all the children who participate leave with something. Those landing big fi sh earn tournament prizes. But all receive various donated gifts from the tournament sponsors. The tournament is held every year in June.

Hemker Zoo

County Road 39, Freeport 320-836-2426 www.hemkerzoo.com

Meadowlark Country Club

9-Hole Golf Course • 320-256-4989

Meadowlark Golf Course and Country Club, located at 837 Country Club Drive in Melrose, off ers golfi ng, golf tournaments and private parties.

Albany Golf Club

18-Hole Golf Course • 320-845-2505

A public 18-hole golf course located adjacent to Interstate 94, a block from Main Street in Albany. Many water hazards provide challenges for the golfer attempting to shoot even par. Visit www.albanygolfcourse.com for membership rates, green fees and other activities off ered to the public.

Avon Beach

Avon has the only public beach in the area. The beach is close to the Lake Wobegon Trail. Amenities include a sand beach, picnic tables and restrooms open to the public daily until 10 p.m.

A project named “Back the Beach” aims to make the City of Avon beach a family-oriented place and keep it that way so that everyone that utilizes it feels comfortable and has an enjoyable experience. It involves patrolling of the beach by unlicensed uniformed beach patrol offi cers who have the authority to enforce the City of Avon beach ordinances, which include enforcement of no alcohol, no smoking, no glass, etc. as posted by signs and stated in ordinance.

Camping

Cedar Lake Memorial Park, Upsala (320) 573-2983 El Rancho Manana, Richmond (320) 597-2740