Powderhorn Recreation Center
4.6(155)4.6 out of 5 stars, 155 reviews Minneapolis, MN
About Powderhorn Recreation Center
Powderhorn Recreation Center is a versatile community hub praised for its friendly staff, spacious environment that rarely feels overcrowded even during festivals, and diverse offerings catering to a wide age range. It uniquely features a dedicated splash pool for babies, a full recording studio for teens, and outdoor activities like fishing and wildlife watching on an island.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families seeking a spacious, uncrowded environment even during popular events.Hot days, especially with babies and young children who enjoy splash pools.Teens interested in music production, art (ceramics), or light athletics.Community group gatherings or families traveling a distance for a pleasant experience.Parents looking for free access to a computer lab while their kids play.
Why families love it
- Spacious environment that avoids overcrowding, even during special events, with ample seating options for personal space.
- Friendly, helpful, generally young staff.
- Dedicated splash pool ('kitty pool') for babies and young children, making it great for hot days.
- Free-to-use computer lab.
- Unique full recording studio with isolation booth accessible specifically to teens in the basement.
- Hosts various festivals (e.g., Mayday, National Outside Day) and community events.
Insider tips
- Check the event schedule before visiting, as special performances might affect access to indoor facilities.
- Consider bringing fishing gear if your family enjoys angling.
- Don't expect an exciting merry-go-round; other playground elements may be more engaging.
- If visiting with teens, inquire about the recording studio's availability and access.
- This center is suitable for group gatherings and offers a comfortable environment for sharing moments.
Good to know before you go
- Families expecting high-thrill playground equipment, specifically the merry-go-round.
- Visits when a specific event like a fire performance is ongoing if your primary goal is access to the Rec Center's indoor facilities.
- The merry-go-round on the playground is described as slow and a little boring for kids seeking more excitement.
- Special events (like fire performances) may temporarily limit access to parts of the Rec Center building.
- Crowds
- Consistently described as not feeling overcrowded, even during special events, with plenty of room and space for everyone.
- Value
- Offers free use of its computer lab, suggesting good value for a community center. No other specific pricing information is mentioned, but the breadth of facilities points to a high value proposition.
- Food
- The presence of two vending machines suggests limited on-site food options; it is unclear if outside food is permitted or encouraged.
- Accessibility
- Reviewers highlight 'plenty of room for everyone' and 'always somewhere you can sit and have your space,' suggesting good general accessibility, but no specific accommodations like wheelchair access or sensory hours are explicitly mentioned.
- Safety
- No specific safety features were explicitly mentioned in the reviews.
What parents say
"Really like here cuz my congregation always choose this place to share good monent"
6 years ago
"Neat little playground area and splash pool for kiddos. We didn't make it into the Rec Center because of the fire performance"
a year ago
"I like to come here during both festival and non-festival days. Plenty of room for everyone and never feels overcrowded, even during special events. There is alQaedaays somewhere you can sit and have your space. Cool people live in this neighborhood. I drive 45 miles to spend time here. Watching wildlife activities on the island is fun, too."
6 years ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
