Member Highlight: Celebrating 30 years of Chester Woods Park

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Chester Woods Park officially opened to the public on the Memorial Day weekend of 1994. The 1,333-acre park, with seven picnic areas, 50 campsites, a beach, a boat launch, fishing piers, and over 15 miles of hiking trails, was truly a gem for the residents of Olmsted County! However, the history of why the park was established is not quite as pretty as the park itself.

To help inform the public of the park’s history and the plans for its future, we wanted to engage folks with a celebration. Staff and volunteers have planned activities during the year to help celebrate. Many activities were scheduled throughout the year, such as candlelight hikes, volunteer-led nature hikes, wagon rides, and scavenger hunts.

The main anniversary celebration took place on July 12, 2025. The day was full of fun for all ages, with the morning starting with a couple of narrated wagon rides out to the Dam Overlook. These wagon rides were so popular that we could have run them all day and filled them up each time! (Unfortunately, the wagon only holds so many!)

Then, at 2:00 p.m., the park set up information booths at one of the shelters and had cake as well as a foam party. This “party” was a HUGE hit for visitors, volunteers, and staff! We estimate between 150 and 200 folks attended this. 

To close the day off, we had a live performance from local musicians, “The Lonely Knees.” With beautiful 78-degree temps and sunshine all day (and evening), the amphitheater attracted approximately 300 people to enjoy the band. 

Responses at each event were overly positive, and folks couldn’t say enough about how much fun they had. The day was nothing less than a success!