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Lakeside Commons Park and Beach - Lakeside Commons Beach will officially open for the season on Friday, June 12. With the transition into phase three of Minnesota’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic additional outdoor activities are able to be open. City staff and the Blaine City Council moved to quickly open up this popular amenity for the community.

The city will take a phased approach to opening the beach amenities. Starting on Friday, the beach area will be open and there will be staff on site during beach hours, 10AM – 8PM daily. The beach attendants will to enforce beach rules and remind beach users to follow social distancing guidelines. Please note that the attached Lakeside Commons Park closes daily at 9PM, which is one hour earlier than other parks in the city.

At this time, only the beach will be open. The splash pad, boathouse, restrooms, volleyball court, and changing facilities will remain closed. The city is projecting a downturn in revenue due to COVID-19 and each amenity brings added costs in terms of staffing and operation. The city is glad to be able to open the beach and additional amenities will be evaluated as the season continues.

When using the beach and park please remember to maintain six feet of distance between other park users. Also please remember to pick up after your group when using the park. There have been several reports from park users and neighbors about large amounts of trash left in the park. Please help by picking up trash and putting it in the garbage and recycling cans.

Finally, the police department receives many calls each summer about individuals jumping off the nearby bridge into the lake. Jumping off the bridge is not allowed. Please make sure to report any jumping you see by calling the police.

Lacrosse/Football/Soccer Fields - City maintained fields are open for small household group use and organized team activities that are allowed under current executive orders. All youth sports organizations using city fields must have a safety plan reviewed by the city prior to field use and must adhere to the youth sports guidelines developed by the Minnesota Department of Health. For more information on the National Sports Center visit, NSCSports.org.

Mary Ann Young Center - The center is currently closed until further notice. The senior lunch program continues in a curbside pickup format for those in need. Please contact staff at 763-786-9375 for more information.

Organized Activities on City Maintained Fields - City maintained fields are open for small household group use and organized team activities that are allowed under current executive orders. All youth sports organizations using city fields must have a safety plan reviewed by the city prior to field use and must adhere to the youth sports guidelines developed by the Minnesota Department of Health.

Park Buildings - Closed until further notice.

Parks - All City of Blaine parks are open and have been open throughout the entire pandemic. Park users are asked to use proper social distancing guidelines.

Pickleball/Basketball/Tennis Courts - Basketball, tennis, and pickleball courts remain open for small household group use.

Playgrounds - Playgrounds in City of Blaine parks are open. The playgrounds are not cleaned or sanitized, use at your own risk. Social distancing guidelines must be followed. Keep at least six feet of space between individuals not from your household. All playground users should wash their hands or used hand sanitizer after touching play structures. Do not use playgrounds if you are feeling sick.

Programs - The City of Blaine will be focusing on alternative program options for the summer park and recreation program season. The city has made the difficult decision to cancel in-person programming through August. There are many factors that went into this decision including the financial impacts of hiring seasonal staff and the net expense of running programs during a period of economic uncertainty, the safety of both participants and staff, and the feasibility of conducting programs while following current public health guidelines.

The city will continue to reevaluate this decision as conditions change and there is potential that some in-person programming could be added back to the schedule. The city also uses several vendors to offer programming. If those vendors are able to re-open and offer a safe environment while following all state guidelines there is potential that more in-person programming could resume.

The city will process full refunds for individuals who had registered for summer programs.

Currently city staff are working with many program vendors to offer virtual programming. Park and recreation staff have also developed the Rec at Home program with videos, programs, games, and contests. More information about Rec at Home is available at BlaineMN.gov/RecatHome.

If you have any questions please contact Recreation@BlaineMN.gov.

Restrooms - Permanent park restroom buildings are closed until further notice. The city is continuing to supply satellite toilets at some locations in the interest of public sanitation. These portable toilets are cleaned and maintained by the provider, however they are not cleaned on a daily basis. Park users are asked to be prepared before you leave home and time outings so that you are not dependent on portable restrooms.

Rec at Home - With the suspension of all in-person recreation programming city staff worked quickly to develop the new Rec at Home program. Virtual programs, online contests, videos, will all be a part of Rec at Home. Find out more information at BlaineMN.gov/RecatHome.

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Senior Center -  The center is currently closed until further notice. The senior lunch program continues in a curbside pickup format for those in need. Please contact staff at 763-786-9375 for more information.

Shelters -  Park shelters are currently not available for rent. Shelter rentals will resume once recommendations on large group gatherings change to allow for groups of 150 and if staffing and funding is available to conduct rentals. Shelter amenities remain in place for small household group use while following social distancing guidelines. Please note that picnic tables in park shelters are not cleaned or sanitized.

Soccer/Football/Lacrosse Fields - City maintained fields are open for small household group use and organized team activities that are allowed under current executive orders. All youth sports organizations using city fields must have a safety plan reviewed by the city prior to field use and must adhere to the youth sports guidelines developed by the Minnesota Department of Health. For more information on the National Sports Center visit, NSCSports.org.

Softball/Baseball Fields - City maintained fields are open for small household group use and organized team activities that are allowed under current executive orders. All youth sports organizations using city fields must have a safety plan reviewed by the city prior to field use and must adhere to the youth sports guidelines developed by the Minnesota Department of Health.

Splash Pad -  The splash pad at Lakeside Commons Park is currently closed until further notice.

Tennis/Basketball/Pickleball Courts - Basketball, tennis, and pickleball courts remain open for small household group use.

Trails - Open, use proper social distancing guidelines. View the Sidewalks and Trails Map

Volleyball Court -  The sand volleyball court at Lakeside Commons Park is currently closed until further notice.