Owatonna Parks Provide Play Spaces for All!

Regardless of age or physical ability, there are City park options for everyone! 

Owatonna’s most spacious playground is at Manthey Park. The inclusive playground, with its rubberized surface and 12 pieces of equipment, is inviting for all ages and abilities. A short stroll down the trail leads to outdoor music equipment and a bit further is the Miracle Field. 

Another inclusive playground can be found at Lake Kohlmier. The connected playset leads from one feature to another with sturdy platforms. Several pieces at Gainey and Mineral Springs Parks are accessible as well.

Some unique playground features can be found at the clubhouse-themed playground at Morehouse Park. Jaycee Park is the home of Owatonna’s only Expression Swing, where parents and children can swing together face-to-face! The Fairgrounds playground has a rock wall and sand table. Mineral Springs, Gainey, Brown and Dartt’s Parks have more of a classic feel to their equipment yet can still provide hours of fun! These playgrounds are next in line for upgrades when funding becomes available.

A different park play experience can be found at Sid Kinyon Courts. When tennis courts needed to be closed due to their disrepair, a Department of Natural Resources grant provided funds to refurbish a tennis court, add pickleball courts and a play turf area with permanent bean bag boards, ping pong table and a bocce ball court. Bring your own balls, paddles and bags.

There are also small neighborhood parks with equipment. Willow Park on Highland Avenue and North Bluff Park on Northridge Lane NE each have swings and other play equipment.

Owatonna’s playgrounds are inspected monthly by City staff certified by the National Recreation and Park Association as a Certified Playground Safety Inspector. Each playground has areas rated for ages two through five and from five through 12. For additional information about Owatonna’s parks and the amenities at each one, check out the Park Finder App.

Lawn & Garden Care

What's the problem with fertilizers?

Fertilizer isn't a problem if it's used carefully. Using too much fertilizer or applying it at the wrong time can lead to it being washed into storm drains and flowing, untreated, into the Straight River.

Fertilizer in stormwater ponds, ditches and rivers makes plants grow. In water bodies, extra fertilizer can mean extra algae and aquatic plant growth. Too much algae harms water quality and makes boating, fishing and swimming unpleasant. Algae decomposition uses up oxygen in the water that fish and other aquatic organisms need to survive.

Here are a few ways to help:

• Don't blow or rake leaves and other yard waste into the street or gutter.
• Don't over-irrigate. Use drip irrigation, soaker hoses or micro spray systems and water early in the morning.
• If using a spray head sprinkler system, consider adjusting to a cycle and soak.
• Rather than watering for 15 minutes straight, break into five-minute intervals allowing water to soak in between applications.
• Keep irrigation systems well-maintained and water only when needed to save money and prevent over-watering.
• Recycle yard waste or start a compost pile.
• When mowing the lawn, mow so grass clippings are blown back toward the lawn instead of into the street.