Parks in Dassel
Bandstand Park in Dassel is named after a renovated bandstand in the park. People frequently gather there for many community activities. Picnic tables and children’s play equipment are also available in this park, which is located on Atlantic Avenue and Fourth Street.
Excitement is often heard from Dassel Ballpark, which is located on Second Street and Linart Avenue, on the north side of Dassel. In the summertime, the local men’s amateur baseball team, the DC Saints, often play there. It’s a great spot to play, with a well-groomed field, a scoreboard, modern lighting, and a new grandstand. The field is also used by youth leagues. Many people also enjoy tossing horseshoes at Dassel Ballpark.
When winter comes, the fun doesn’t stop in Dassel. Open hockey and skating rinks are located on leased land on the south side of town. There is a warming house on site.
Breeds Park, located on the eastern central stretch of Highway 12 in Dassel, encompasses a full city block.
It features several large shade trees, and is the site of the Dassel area Veterans Memorial. In 2009, a veteran’s pavilion was also added. Travelers and long-time residents frequently make use of the amenities at the park, including tennis, basketball courts, picnic shelters, playground equipment, barbecue pits, and horse shoe pits.
Sellards Park is located near the new housing development in the southwest corner of Dassel, at the corner of Pacific Avenue and Sellards Drive. It includes playground equipment, a shelter, and a basketball court.
River routes, county parks
Canoeing down all or part of the 125-mile North Fork Crow River Canoe Route, one could spend a morning, afternoon, or even a full day or two.
Access points and campsites are located every nine to 15 miles along the river in both Meeker and Wright counties. The route begins at Lake Koronis in Stearns County and ends where the river joins the Mississippi River at Dayton.
Collinwood Regional Park, located three miles southwest of Cokato off Highway 12, is another park that one could spend hours or days enjoying. There are facilities for campers, swimmers, picnickers, hikers, cross country skiers, and boaters within its 308-acre borders.
The modern campground is open from early May through October. Group camp sites and a large picnic shelter area are also available. For more information, call (320) 286-2801.
Swimmers and anglers alike are drawn to Sportsmen’s Park, open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day. A clubhouse is available for rent. It is located two miles west of Dassel on Highway. 12, and one mile south of the highway along the north shore of Lake Washington. For more information, contact Dean Winter, (320) 275-2299.
During warm weather months, the Lake Francis Recreation Area, located four miles northeast of Kingston on Lake Francis, is a wooded retreat complete with a swimming area, boating, and fishing.
Spring Lake County Park, located one mile north of Highway 12 on Meeker Co. Rd. 4, between Spring Lake and Long Lake, just north of Dassel, is a spacious place for a large gathering. The wide open, hilly park offers a boat launch, picnic shelters, playground, ball park, tennis/volleyball courts, and ample parking.
Finnish Memorial Park is located 1/2 mile west of Kingston and Highway 15 on Meeker Co. Rd. 17, along a curve on the North Fork of the Crow River. It’s a tribute to the original settlers in the Kingston area, and is situated next to a turn-of-the-century cemetery.
The park offers a cool retreat on hot summer days, featuring a picnic shelter, playground, and tennis court. It’s especially popular with canoers and tubers who make Kingston a stop on trips down the scenic river.
Snowmobile fans have access to hundreds of miles of snowmobile trails in both Wright and Meeker counties. The Meeker County trails, which can be entered just northwest of the city of Dassel, connect with the Glacial Lakes, Stearns, and Luce Line Trails.
For more information or maps of any of the parks, contact the county parks departments, city halls, or snowmobile dealerships.
