Battle Creek Regional Park — Attraction in Saint Paul

Here's what you need to know: Parking: Lot Age range (playground): 1+ Sidewalks: Well-paved to playground with trails around the park Seating: A few benches in play area Bathrooms: NA Picnic tables: In picnic shelters Grills: In picnic shelters Sports field: Open fields

There are two sections to Battle Creek Regional Park: an east side and a west side. We ended up at the east side (2300 Upper Afton Road, Saint Paul) where the water park is located.

This beautifully-landscaped park has soft rolling hills and shady trees surrounding the parking lot and some of the picnic shelters. The playground is located across the lot from the water park.

There are two picnic shelters in this part of the park: A huge one that probably seats close to 75 people (I think there may be bathrooms located at this site) and a medium-sized one that probably seats up to 50 people. Both have picnic tables galore and grills.

The play area is a short walk down a hill from the parking lot. It's laid with mulch. There are two sections for different age groups: 1+ and 5+. Zoey (16 months) comfortably navigated the smaller playground while the other two (ages 4.5 and 3) enjoyed the challenge of the bigger playground.

The smaller playground has stairs, a tic-tac-toe board, tunnel, ladder, and double slide. There's also a steering wheel for your little driver to play with. The bigger playground has stairs, monkey bars, a climbing wall, tunnel, slide, and spiral climber.

To the side of the playgrounds is a set of swings complete with a high back, baby, and regular swings.

The most negative aspect of this play area was that it sits under the merciless sun. We visited around 3 in the afternoon and felt like raisins 45 minutes in. We ended up leaving earlier than we planned to because we were too hot to keep playing.

If you're planning an extended stay, find out where the bathrooms are and bring a big umbrella to hide under when...

I enjoy this dog park, it is extremely large and fenced in so it is really nice to go on a small hike with your dog. It can be a bit messy if it is muddy or the snow is melting, but it feels more like a forest hike in areas instead of a wide open dog park. It is especially nice if your dog is not getting along with another animal – you can easily walk away and there is a lot of space to do so.

One problem I have found is people bring their aggressive dogs (this is a problem with all dog parks) and do not have a handle on them, and also their young children. The park has warning signs on the gates that children can get knocked over or bitten, please do not bring your young children to any dog park – if you disregard that warning, please do not let your child chase the dogs, or try to hit the dogs. The dogs are in their designated park, to play with each other – not your child. It would be tragic if something happened to your child because of your negligence, and a dog had to be put down...

Best place to bring your OUTGOING dog. My dog is pretty anxious around big dogs but warms up to them quick if they don’t move to fast or chase her. I don’t recommend smaller dogs or small senior dogs here since there are quiet a lot of clueless uncontrollable owners.

Bad: There was a orange pit mix and it “pounced” on my dog and knowing my dog, she was trying to defend herself by crouching and barring her teeth (I’m only 13 and I know more about dog body language than these adult owners). I tried getting my dog close to me and move along but the dog was growling and snarling at her. The owners stood there, laughed and left. I ran into them again and there dog would not let me pass then resumed to “attack” a husky mix and the owners said “he’s just playing”.

Good things: Honestly I love the scenery and this is just from MY experience. I would love to bring my dog here but there are too many big sassy dogs. I want to walk deeper in the wooded area as well because it...