Parks in Dassel
Bandstand Park, located on Atlantic Avenue and Fourth Street in Dassel, is named after a renovated bandstand in the park. People frequently gather there for many community activities such as Dairy Berry Day in June. It is also the location of Dassel’s farmers’ market.
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, it is home to the local men’s amateur baseball team, the Dassel-Cokato Saints. 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 also 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 veterans 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 horseshoe 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.
Parks in Darwin
Mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding are exciting activities often enjoyed on rustic trails in the Dassel-Darwin County Park, midway between Dassel and Darwin on Highway 12. There is also a winter sliding hill and a primitive campsite for groups, by reservation.
School House Park in Darwin is the site of Twine Ball Days the second Saturday of August, and a farmers’ market on Saturday mornings from May to September.
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 Crow River joins the Mississippi River at Dayton.
At Wildlife County Park, there are also opportunities for paddling, with a canoe access and two canoe campsites. The park is located four miles north of Cokato off Wright Co. Rd. 3, on the bank of the North Fork of the Crow River.
Collinwood Regional Park, located three miles southwest of Cokato off Wright Co. Rd. 31, 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 campsites and a large picnic shelter area are also available. For more information, call (320) 286-2801.
Between Lake Francis and Twin Lake is Stanley Eddy Memorial County Park Reserve, which offers gorgeous rolling hills, lakes, and marshes. Hiking, ski trails, picnic areas, and pack-in campsites cover a 620-acre area located along Wright Co. Rd. 2 in French Lake Township.
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 Rick Johnson, (320) 275-9109.
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.
To take advantage of a wooded picnic area overlooking the lake, a fishing dock, and boat launch, head to Mud Lake County Park, located at the junction of Wright Co. Rd. 35 and 4, five miles north of Cokato. It is open during the summer months.
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.
Albrights Mill County Park is located northeast of Cokato, four miles north of Highway 12 on Wright Co. Rd. 5. This peaceful park along the shore of the North Fork of the Crow River offers a picnic area, canoe launch, and primitive canoe campsite.
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 Trail.
For more information or maps of any of the parks, contact the county parks departments, local city halls, or area snowmobile dealerships.
