High-flying Zipline Coming to Robbinsdale Park
Three Rivers Park District is purchasing a mobile zipline for use in parks around the metro. It’s the latest feature aiming to get people outside and into a park to explore.
“As the Twin Cities is growing, changing and getting more diverse, how can we reach new users and ages to get people interested,” asked Alex McKinney, recreation supervisor at Three Rivers Park District. “New this year, Three Rivers Park District is getting a mobile zipline. We can take it anywhere in the metro area.”
The mobile zipline has a 30-foot tall tower that lets users zip 100 feet down to the ground. Three Rivers is embracing these mobile features that can be an asset to any metro park.
“Right now, we can bring in canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, archery, and a climbing wall,” says McKinney. “We have the ability to set up a pop up park anywhere we want.”
Pop-up Parks or Expos
Expect to see these mobile features incorporated into pop-up parks or expos at parks in inner ring suburbs. These parks often have walking trails and picnic areas that appeal to runners or dog walkers, but lack the playgrounds or sports features that might appeal to families.
“For taxpayers, what resources do we want to provide for them that we don’t have a French Regional Park or Elm Creek Park, but they do have Sochacki Park or Taft Park,” says McKinney.
“Perhaps if a resident discovers their closest park at one of these pop-up events, they might go back again. “We’re hoping to get people out in these inner ring parks so they can take advantage of them. They are there for everyone to use and enjoy,” says McKinney.
Besides the zipline, Three Rivers Park also owns a mobile star lab, which will allow school kids and groups a planetarium experience.
The Sochacki Park Expo will be on July 28 and 29 from 1-5 p.m. There are also plans to bring the zipline and pop-up park experience to Crystal, Brooklyn Center, and Coon Rapids Dam this summer.
