FunKidsActivities
Powderhorn Recreation Center

Powderhorn Recreation Center

3400 15th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407, USA

Overview

Category:Winter Break Activities
Location:Minneapolis, MN

Expert Summary

Detailed Insights

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.

Key Highlights

  • 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.
  • Dock in the lake welcoming to fishers.
  • Opportunities for watching wildlife activities on the island.

Standout Features

  • Multiple conference rooms, some with pads for light athletic activities.
  • Fully functional ceramics studio.
  • Gym with a stage.
  • Small computer lab with free use.
  • Basement recording studio with isolation booth for teens.
  • Outdoor playground with a play set.
  • Splash pool ('kitty pool') for younger children.
  • Dock on the lake for fishing.
  • Opportunities for wildlife watching on the island.
  • Hosts multiple festivals and community events.

Perfect For

Babies & Toddlers (0-3): Great kitty pool/splash pool area suitable for babies and young children.
Young Children (4-8): Neat little playground area with a play set, though the merry-go-round might underwhelm.
Pre-teens & Teens (9-18): Fully functional ceramics studio, gym with a stage, small computer lab, and a full recording studio with isolation booth specifically accessible to teens. Also has pads for light athletic activities in conference rooms.
All Ages: Plenty of room for everyone, wildlife watching on the island, and fishing opportunities on the lake.

Ideal 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.
Families who enjoy outdoor activities like fishing and wildlife watching.

💡Pro Tips from Reviews

  • 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.

Things to Consider

  • 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.

Price & 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.

Accessibility & Special Needs

  • 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.

🍎Food & Drink Policy

  • The presence of two vending machines suggests limited on-site food options; it is unclear if outside food is permitted or encouraged.

🚗Parking Info

  • One reviewer drives 45 miles to visit, indicating it's a worthwhile destination, but no specific details about parking availability or cost are provided.

👥Crowd Levels

  • Consistently described as not feeling overcrowded, even during special events, with plenty of room and space for everyone.

🛡️Safety Features

  • No specific safety features were explicitly mentioned in the reviews.

When to Avoid

  • 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.

Pricing/Package/Events

Events & Schedule

Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)

Halloween Costume Parade at Powderhorn

Past event (implied)

Not specified

Featured Halloween celebration for kids, including a costume parade.

MLK Day Dancers Performing at Powderhorn

Past event (implied)

Not specified

Features kids playing drums and dancers performing during an MLK Day event.

🍎Food Policy

  • No-Cost Meals and Snacks Program is offered.

📅Booking Policy

  • Room Rentals: Call the recreation center directly to reserve space for meetings or special events.
  • Athletic Rentals (single practice or game): Call the recreation center directly to reserve a field, court, or rink.
  • Recurring Athletic Rentals (two or more dates): Visit the athletic permit page to reserve.
  • Outdoor Event Space: Reserve park space for corporate events, community celebrations, and more.
  • ActivePass Program: A pass is required to participate in listed activities. Free ActivePass can be obtained at a neighborhood recreation center during business hours.
  • Youth Sports Friend Requests: Guaranteed if reciprocal and made within one month of registration opening.
  • Youth Sports Post-Deadline Registration: No waitlist for missed registration. Contact parks directly after July 31 at 3 pm to inquire about space availability and sign up if space exists.

🚗Parking Information

  • Annual Patron Parking Permit available for 12 months of easy parking at popular regional parks (implies parking available, potentially paid).
Information extracted from official website • Last updated: Oct 13, 2025

Photos

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What People Say

What's Great

  • Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 4 reviews)
  • Spacious play areas (mentioned in 4 reviews)

Areas for Improvement

  • Can get crowded during peak times (mentioned in 2 reviews)

Recent Reviews

Elsy Velásquez Acosta

Elsy Velásquez Acosta

6 years ago

Really like here cuz my congregation always choose this place to share good monent

GRAMS

GRAMS

a year ago

Neat little playground area and splash pool for kiddos. We didn't make it into the Rec Center because of the fire performance

Samara Lalia Abzu

Samara Lalia Abzu

6 years 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.

Chris Smith

Chris Smith

8 years ago

An amazing community center. The generally young staff is always very friendly and helpful and the amount of activities hosted is wonderful. There is are several conference rooms (one of which has pads for light athletic activities), a fully functional ceramics studio, gym with a stage and small computer lab. The best little known place is the basement where they have a full recording studio with isolation booth that is accessible to teens.

Terran Frey

Terran Frey

6 years ago

The rec center in Powderhorn is a nice place for a hot day to have some fun their building has a computer lab for free use a gym and two vending machines the park is ok it's play set is nice and the Mary go round is slow and dule and in all a little boring. They have a kitty pool that is great for kids and baby's on a hot day.they also have a dock in the lake welcome to fishers. They also have festivals like mayday, national outside day, and more.

Contact Information

3400 15th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407, USA

View on Google Maps

Opening Hours

Monday: 3:00 – 9:00 PM
Tuesday: 3:00 – 9:00 PM
Wednesday: 3:00 – 9:00 PM
Thursday: 3:00 – 9:00 PM
Friday: 3:00 – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

Quick Stats

Overall Rating
4.6
Total Reviews155
Recent Reviews5