Shady Oak Beach Opens for the Season

UPDATE: Staff determined that Shady Oak would not open June 10 due to cold weather. to see related story.

Memorial Day may mark the unofficial start of summer, but the opening of is just as much of a sign that warm weather is finally here for Hopkins residents.

Starting at 10 a.m. today, families can return to the 85-acre park, which is owned by the City of Hopkins and operated by the Minnetonka Recreation Department.

Children will be able to play on a new community play area that replaces an older water feature. The area will have water tables, water misters and a “fossil dig” for exploration—and it will be open more months of the year than the previous feature.

In addition to the new feature, the park will continue to offer families 76 feet of sandy beach, swimming overseen by lifeguards, a high dive, canoe rental, sand volleyball and fishing.

Shady Oak Beach is located at 5200 Shady Oak Road.

Daily admission to the park is $5, with free entrance for children 2 years old and younger. Admission is $3 after 6 p.m.

Information on season passes is available on Minnetonka’s website.

The park is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Aug. 1 and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 2 through Aug. 28.

Swimming in the lake ends a half hour before sunset. The closing time will be posted on the beach.