Pratt School in Minneapolis

Here's another one. This is at Pratt School, also in Southeast Minneapolis. The manufacturer is my favorite, Kompan. They have such unique structures. We've been to this one before and it used to have this giant web strung between the two structures. Unfortunately, it is now gone. Oh oh.

The other notable thing about this playground is the ground cover. They have layed down a layer of that fancy chopped-up-rubber-tire stuff. Very cool.


Rating: Three stars

Luxton Park in Minneapolis

We took a trip to Minneapolis last week to visit Obaachan (grandma). We stopped off at a non-descript playground in Luxton Park in SE Minneapolis. They still loved it since it was a playground. Just old, and the playground wasn't that clean. They do have a small, public wading pool with a spouting water fountain.

Rating: Three stars

Chutes and Ladders

I was in Bloomington, Minnesota with the boys a couple years back and my brother brought us to this incredible playground called Chutes and Ladders at the Hyland Park Reserve (directions). The rope structure must have been about 20 feet high. The playground was built into the hill with many levels and a giant 20 foot tube slide. It also had a water sprinkler section too. Did I mention that the ground cover was also crushed, recycled rubber mats? Really a cool place!
A view from ground level with the two towering net and rope structures on the left, water sprinkler area to the right, and the giant tube slide in the background.

A view of the playground from a higher vantage point. Gorgeous green view, huh?

The playground is located within the Hyland Park Reserve. If you cannot get to the link above for directions, here are the DIRECTIONS: 

From I-494, go south on East Bush Lake Road approximately 1/2 mile. Follow East Bush Lake road which will veer right (west) at the stoplight. Drive past the ski jump on the left; the Nature Center will be the next entrance on the left, about 1 mile. The Recreation Area/Visitor Center/ PLAY AREA will be 1 mile further south on the left side. Drive past Bush Lake Beach and Southern DIvision Administration Center and veer left to the recreation area entrance.