St. Cloud Parks & Recreation Begins Voter Approved Upgrades with New Playgrounds, Splash Pads

(KNSI) – St. Cloud Parks and Recreation isn’t monkeying around as it begins to spend funds approved in a voter referendum in 2022.

Over the summer, the St. Cloud Parks & Recreation Department installed seven new playgrounds at neighborhood parks. The jungle gyms are at Crestview Park, Diocese Park, Pioneer Park, Prairie Park, Signal Hills Park, West River Meadows Park, and Westwind Park. Three similar projects are underway, including new playground gear for Kiwanis Park, Knights of Columbus Park, and Ridgewood Park.

Crews are working on making more complete overhauls to three larger locations. At Centennial Park, workers are replacing the wading pool with a new splash pad. The facility will also get a new hockey rink, upgraded playground equipment, new bathrooms and lighting. Haws Park will also get a splash pad to replace the pool and an upgraded skating rink. The southside site is receiving will also get a new basketball court and reconstructed parking lot. Reach-up/10-10 Park is slated for a splash pad and an upgraded basketball court.

In April, the city council sanctioned spending $1,714,653 for a facelift to the thirteen parks.

In November 2022, the measure passed with 64.84% saying yes. St. Cloud will make $20 million worth of improvements over the next three years, and the money will be paid back over the next two decades. The park levy started being collected from residents on January 1st.

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