We are having leftovers for dinner. That means we have time for a post-nap afternoon outing! Today we are headed to Miller Park. I’ve been wanting to spend more time out, now that the weather is getting more pleasant. This is such a fun park for my 20-month daughter to explore!
About Miller Park
Miller Park is a small city park in Willmar, MN. Here is a list of all its offerings!
- A playground, one set for bigger kids and one for ages 2-5.
- Regular swings and baby swings
- A picnic shelter with bathrooms (they weren’t open yet but they will be in the summer)
- Some shady, grassy space to run around in or have a picnic
- A baseball diamond
- A basketball court
- Tennis courts
- A Little Free Library with benches next to it
What We Love about Miller Park
As far as parks go, I want one where I can settle in and stay awhile. This one fits the bill. There’s a good amount of options, and some great space to spread out on a picnic blanket and have a snack. I love that the park isn’t often empty, but also never seems crowded. I feel like there’s usually 1-3 other families there. It’s also, in my experience, kept very clean. We love taking a walk to get here, as there are some really pleasant neighborhoods near the park.
Today, my daughter loved the stairs leading up to the shorter slide. She spent pretty much all her time there. The tennis courts were empty so she thought it was pretty exciting to go in there and run around. And she always wants to go on the swings. Her very favorite thing to do, though, is watch all the other kids play. Is it an only child thing? Or a one-year-old thing?
Either way, she had a wonderful time, and we ended up staying about an hour. We would have stayed longer, but it started to look like rain and we had a bit of a walk to get home! One of my goals as my daughter grows older is to take larger chunks of time outside. I love Charlotte Mason, who says “Never be within doors when you can rightly be without.” She said children should be outside 4-6 hours per day. I’m certainly not at that point, but am slowly learning ways to extend our time outdoors!
Q&A
Here are some answers to common questions about Miller Park. Comment below or send me a message if you have any more questions I can answer!
What is Miller Park like in the spring?
In the spring, everything is still accessible besides the bathrooms. They also don’t have any picnic tables out under the shelter yet. There are some benches to sit on, or you can bring a picnic blanket, as there is plenty of grassy space.
What ages is Miller Park for?
Officially, the park is for ages 2-12. My 1-year-old daughter enjoyed the park, although she couldn’t get to all parts of the playground set, of course.
Is Miller Park a busy park?
It tends to be fairly quiet, as it is tucked away in a residential area.
Is Miller Park wheelchair accessible?
There is a sidewalk leading up to/surrounding the playground area, but the ground of the playground is wood chips, and the playground and swings are not handicap accessible.
Does Miller Park have parking?
There is only street parking, but it is not a very busy street. I’ve never seen the street parking fill up.
Does Miller Park have bathrooms?
Yes, but they are only open in the summer.
Miller Park is such a lovely park, and I hope you will try it out soon! We are so enjoying visiting lots of different parks this spring! Let me know which one we should visit next!
