Golden Valley, Minnesota is a city that places a heavy emphasis on ensuring the preservation of park land. With 15% of the city, over 1,000 acres, being set aside for parkland, residents have plenty of options in which to explore and appreciate the outdoors. Golden Valley has over 30 parks, trails, and natural areas for its residents to enjoy. Some of the most notable include:

Lions Park: Established by the Golden Valley Lions Club, Lions Park is a staple of the community. Featuring lighted walking trails, a new playground, outdoor grills, basketball and tennis courts, softball and soccer fields, as well as skating rinks and a warming house in the winter, Lions Park is bursting with activity. The overall quality of the 20-acre park and it’s continual upkeep make it one of the most popular family destinations.

Brookview Park: A 33-acre park with lots of open space to run around, Brookview Park is another one of Golden Valley’s most popular locations. It contains all of the materials needed for a casual family get together including lighted walking trails, playground equipment, picnic shelters, outdoor grills, and horseshoe pits. For those desiring more activity, the park also offers basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts as well as a softball field. This wide range of amenities makes Brookview Park a go-to destination that is fun for all ages.

Wesley Park: A popular winter destination, Wesley Park has one of the city’s best sledding hills as well as two lighted skating rinks and a warming house. While many residents enjoy these winter activities, the fun doesn’t stop when the weather gets warmer. Wesley Park also features basketball and tennis courts as well as baseball, softball and soccer fields. Wesley Park is home to many community games and is a great 20-acre option.

General Mills Nature Preserve: Created in partnership with the General Mills Corporation, the General Mills Nature Preserve is a wonderful preservation of three distinct habitats. The preserve contains shallow marsh, wet meadow, and floodplain forest. A half-mile trail winds through these habitats, allowing visitors to appreciate the over 50 different native plants and the natural beauty. The preserve was established in the early 2000’s thanks to a generous donation from General Mills. The General Mills Nature Preserve’s large size of 27-acres is very rare for a full-developed suburb like Golden Valley, and it adds a lot of value to the Golden Valley parks system.

Luce Line Trail: What was once a railroad line that transported people to downtown Minneapolis on electrically-propelled trains has been converted into 63 miles of trails developed for biking and mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. With trails running from Plymouth in the western suburbs to Cosmos in west-central Minnesota, the Luce Line Trail is a fabulous way to be active and explore nature.

If you have any questions regarding the city of Golden Valley, Minnesota, or if you would like to sell or buy a house in the area, please feel free to visit Twin Cities Property Finder or call 1-800-909-1953.