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Park district provides unique opportunities
Bloomington’ s many parks and recreation areas include popular destinations that are provided through Three Rivers Park District. The park district operates local facilities that provide opportunities for skiing, swimming, hiking and biking, as well as educational, recreational and entertainment programs.
Hyland Lake Park Reserve features prairie landscapes and a major body of water as well as a large play area. Within the park reserve are Richardson Nature Center and the Hyland Ski and Snowboard area, providing opportunities for outdoor fun throughout the year.
Richardson Nature Center is open daily. The interpretive area surrounding the building features hiking trails that weave between diverse habitats, including wetlands, oak forests and restored prairie. Along the trails, visitors might spot some of the varied wildlife that live in the park, such as deer, foxes, coyotes, muskrats and turkeys.
Many species of birds can be observed in the area seasonally. Trail guides, exploration kits and interpretive signs are available throughout the park.
The Nature Exploration Area encourages free play in the outdoors. Children can explore, dig and build while adults play along or observe nearby.
Down the road from the nature center is the Hyland Visitor Center, featuring an elaborate outdoor play area and access to paved trails and groomed cross country skiing trails.
Winter sports enthusiasts will also enjoy the Hyland Ski and Snowboard Area. The ski hill is a great place for downhill skiing and snowboarding in the metro area. A multi-million dollar improvement recently brought a new chalet to the ski hill, including improved traffic and parking accommodations.
The fun doesn’ t end at the ski hill when the snow melts. Each year, Hyland Hills celebrates the changing of seasons with Härdsmälta( Swedish for“ meltdown”), featuring a ski run that ends in a pond of open water. A disc golf course and a variety of warm weather events, including live music and free outdoor movie screenings, are planned each summer.
The park district also operates Hyland Greens. Formerly a city-run entity, the golf course features a driving range, a short-game area and a practice putting green alongside its nine-hole, par-3 course.
The Three Rivers Park District is a special park district governed by a board of commissioners and a superintendent. The core of the park district is in suburban Hennepin County, but it also serves parts of Ramsey, Scott, Carver and Dakota counties.
The name“ Three Rivers” comes from the district’ s geography, situated within the watersheds that flow into three significant rivers to the region: the Mississippi, the Minnesota and the Crow. For more information, visit threeriversparks. org.
Hyland Lake Park Reserve 10145 Bush Lake Road 763-694-7687
Richardson Nature Center 8737 E. Bush Lake Road 763-694-7676
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