Fort Snelling State Park
"Brooklyn Park families often make the trip for a metro-area day in nature. The park’s beaches, picnic areas, and trails make it an easy all-ages destination."
Fort Snelling State Park combines scenic river bottoms, restored prairie, and rich military and Dakota history just minutes from downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. It is a popular destination for biking, paddling, fishing, birding, and summer swimming at Snelling Lake.
Lake Maria State Park
"Brooklyn Park is close enough for a half-day or full-day nature outing. Visitors are drawn to the park’s peaceful woods, birding opportunities, and scenic lakes."
Lake Maria State Park offers a secluded landscape of hardwood forest, lakes, and marshes with excellent opportunities for hiking and wildlife viewing. It is especially valued for its old-growth forest remnants and spring wildflowers.