Okay, this is a big one. Not only does Rice Park have a large playground, a splash pad, and a picnic shelter, it is also right across the street from the BEST coffee shop (in my not-sponsored, unbiased opinion) in Willmar, MN: Goodness Coffee Company. So just that makes it a pretty fabulous park.
About Rice Park
Rice Park is a city park in Willmar, MN. It has a free splash pad, a fairly shady playground, and lots of green space.
- A playground, with some new and some old elements. The playground is sand, not wood-chips.
- Plenty of regular swings and baby swings.
- A free splash pad that is open May-September.
- A shaded picnic shelter with bathrooms attached.
- Picnic tables throughout the park. I even saw a charcoal grill next to one of the picnic tables.
- Horseshoe pits.
- Lots of green space to run around in.
- A Little Free Library.
- A coffee shop across the street!
What We Love about Rice Park
On our last trip to Rice Park, I was really impressed with how many different elements there are in the playground! There are some older elements that are still in great shape, like a tall metal slide. And there is a newer climbing area that is really unique. My daughter loved the baby swings (of course) and also the smaller slide area, which was just the right amount of difficult for her to climb. It also had the cutest little touches, and felt very vintage and fun to me.
I know some parents don’t love that the playground has a sand floor. Especially if your kid has just been in the splash pad, they’re going to get pretty dirty. But, now that my daughter is past her eating-the-sand phase, it’s fun to have a giant sand box for her to play in. We’ll have to bring a sand bucket and shovel next time!
Our trip to Rice Park this morning was so pleasant. We were able to stay about an hour and a half. We stopped by Goodness Coffee for an iced Earl Gray Latte with cold foam (a summer staple for me) and a strawberry-rhubarb muffin (I LOVE their baked goods). My daughter toyed with the idea of playing in the splash pad, but decided to stick with the playground, climbing up and sliding down the slide, putting sand on the playground equipment and brushing it off.
Rice Park is one block away from a busy street, but it still has a peaceful feeling to it. The splash pad can get busy, but generally it’s a place where you can settle in and stay awhile. Especially if you stopped and got a treat from Goodness Coffee Company! (not sponsored, I just love them).
Q&A
Here are some answers to common questions about Rice Park. Comment below or send me a message if you have any more questions I can answer!
What ages is Rice Park for?
Officially, the playground is for ages 5-12, and the splash pad seems to be for all ages. My almost-2 daughter really enjoyed both areas, though, and there were several things she could access independently.
Is Rice Park busy?
It was quiet when we went on a May morning, but count on a good amount of families every warm day of the summer.
Is Rice Park handicap accessible?
The splash pad is all on concrete, and there are sidewalks leading up to it, but the playground is not as handicap accessible, as it is sand-filled.
Does Rice Park have parking?
There is no parking lot, but plenty of street parking around the whole park.
Does Rice Park have bathrooms?
Yes. There is one men’s and one women’s bathroom right next to the splash pad.
Is Rice Park shady?
I love a good shady park! This park does have many shady spaces, and many sunny ones as well.
Rice Park has so many fun things to offer, 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!
