Picnic Shelters: Minnetonka Facilities

Picnic Shelters

The facilities division of recreation services is responsible for picnic shelter reservations for both Hopkins and Minnetonka. The picnic shelter sites include:

Food set out for a picnic lunch

Hopkins

Burnes (2)
Central
Valley (2)

Minnetonka

Lone Lake (2)
Gro-Tonka
Shady Oak

Park systems in both communities provide a wide variety of recreational opportunities to enhance your picnic and may include:

Softball and soccer fields
Volleyball court
Playground apparatus
Horseshoe pit
Basketball court

A description of each facility’s amenities and hours of availability, fees, and application forms are available below. Summer weekend dates fill quickly, so be sure to request your reservation as far in advance as possible, keeping in mind our reservation policies. Download the application (PDF).

How to reserve a picnic shelter

A permit is required to reserve a picnic shelter at a park facility for groups of 25 people or more.
Picnic shelters can be reserved by phone, fax, mail, or in person.
Applications must be received at least 7 days in advance of your requested date, and payment must be included.
Shelters are not reserved until payment has been received. Checks are payable to Facilities Division, or you may use a credit card. Only Visa or MasterCard are accepted. Please include credit card number and expiration date.
Reservations by phone (952.939.8390) or fax (952.939.8373) must be paid for with a credit card.
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older to reserve a facility and at least 21 years of age to obtain a beer permit.

Dates of availability

Picnic shelter facilities are available for reservations from May through September, with attendants at parks Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Reservation hours

Minnetonka picnic shelters: Lone Lake and Gro Tonka: 9 a.m.–dusk; Shady Oak park: June 5–August 23, reservations are only available 4–8 pm. Outside of these dates the hours are 9 a.m.–dusk. (Beach restrooms are available during beach season; outside of beach season, port-a-potties are available.)
Hopkins picnic shelters: Burnes, Valley and Central: 12 p.m.–dusk. (Bathrooms at Valley Park close at 8 p.m.); Please note: If your event requires a starting time prior to 12 p.m., the restrooms and attendant are not available. Please indicate on your application form or to staff if you wish to schedule use prior to 12 p.m.

Beer permits

A picnic permit and a beer permit are required from the facilities division in order to consume beer during the time you have reserved.
A permit allows for consumption of beer in non-glass containers and must be requested on your picnic application form.
Keg beer is allowed at Minnetonka shelters only; no keg beer is allowed at Hopkins shelters.
The fee for a beer permit is $25.
Beer shall only be consumed within 50 feet of picnic shelter and picnic tables.
Age verification of the person applying for the permit is required, in-person with a government-issued photo ID with birth date and signature.
The individual (the “responsible person”) who applies for the permit must:
1. Remain on the park premises at all times when beer is being served.
2. Must have the permit in possession and show it upon request by authorized city personnel.
3. The responsible person has the obligation to ensure that state laws, park rules and any permit conditions are being followed.
4. The applicant (and all consumers) must be at least 21 years old.
Beer consumption is prohibited between 9 p.m. and 10 a.m. No glass bottles of any kind are allowed.
A violation of the park rules or permit conditions may result in criminal penalties and the immediate revocation of the permit by a city police officer or park attendant.
The city may require up to 5 working days to process this permit request. The permit is not issued until approved by an authorized representative of the facilities division.
Any person who objects to action of city staff in denying the permit or adding of conditions may appeal to the city council by submitting a request in writing to the facilities manager within ten days after notice of the action.

Park guidelines

Picnic shelter applicants are responsible for following the park rules as established by the cities of Hopkins and Minnetonka. For a complete listing of park rules, call 952.939.8390.

Non-profit requests

Groups wishing to be considered for non-profit status must submit non-profit documentation with the application form (i.e., 501(c)3, etc.).

Groups considered to be non-profit include churches, civic organizations, public schools, parochial and private schools, and athletic associations.

Reservation priority policy

Applications for the 2009 summer season are being accepted beginning Monday January 26, 2009 for everyone.

Refund/Cancellation Policy

Refunds are made only when picnic reservations are withdrawn at least 30 days prior to the reservation date of the picnic shelter. All refunds requested by the applicant that we grant will be assessed a $10 administrative fee. Refunds take approximately three weeks to process.

Refunds will not be granted due to weather-related issues. This is a circumstance beyond our control and is a risk assumed by the applicant when reserving an outdoor shelter.

Reservation fees

Resident (Group size 25–50): $27
Resident (Group size 51–100+): $53
Non-resident(Group size 25–50): $53
Non-resident(Group size 51–100+) $107
Resident non-profit(see non-profit request for description of non-profit groups): $25
Other non-profit (see non-profit request for description of non-profit groups): $50
Beer permit (separate beer permit application required): $25

Park descriptions

City of Minnetonka

One attendant is scheduled to provide service to both Lone Lake Park and Gro-Tonka Park. When reservations occur at Gro-Tonka, the attendant will meet you about 15 minutes prior to your reservation time and return about 15 minutes before the end of your reservation.

Gro-Tonka Park

Picnic shelter application

Address:
17003 Prospect Place

Group capacity: 60

Shelter seating capacity: 32

Parking: 30 vehicles

Electrical service: Located at restroom building

Water facilities: Located at restroom building

Restroom facilities: Located at restroom building

Park amenities:

Softball field through July
Soccer field (August through Labor Day)
Tennis courts
Horseshoe pits
Playground

Additional reservable areas: softball field

Beer: Allowed with permit and only at picnic shelter
(Beer permit application)

Lone Lake Park

Picnic shelter application

Address:
5624 Shady Oak Road

Group capacity:
125 per site

Shelter seating capacity:

Lakeside shelter: 50
Hillside shelter: 75

Parking: Available in upper and lower parking lots

Electrical service: Located at attendant facility

Water facilities: Located at attendant facility

Restroom facilities: Located at attendant facility

Park amenities:

BBQ grills
Walking trails
Soccer field
Tennis and basketball courts
Horseshoe pits
Playground

Additional reservable areas: none

Beer: Allowed with permit and only at picnic shelter

Shady Oak Park

Picnic shelter application

Address: 5200 Shady Oak Road

Group capacity: 100

Shelter seating capacity: 100 people

Parking: Very limited, with overflow parking at Lone Lake Park, which is ¼ mile away

Electrical service: Located at shelter

Restroom facilities: Located in beach area (available only when beach is open)

Park amenities:

Canoe launch
BBQ grills
Trail
Fishing pier

Beach amenities:
(Available only when beach is open: $3 group admission rate per person to enter beach)

Sand volleyball
Water play area
Canoe rental
Playground
Concessions
Restroom/changing areas

Reservation hours:

May 1–June 4: 11 a.m.–dark, but no later than 9 p.m.
June 5–August 23: 4–8 p.m. only
August 24–September 30: 11 a.m.–dark, but no later than 9 p.m.

Beach season (June 5–August 23, 2009) operation hours:

Beach opens at 10 a.m.
June 6–August 3: beach closes at 9 p.m.
August 4–24: beach closes at 8 p.m.
Swimming ends one half hour before sunset—the exact time will be posted at the beach each day

Additional reservable areas: Sand volleyball at beach front (daily admission required for all who enter beach)

Beer: Allowed with permit and only at picnic shelter (not allowed in beach!)
(Beer permit application)

City of Hopkins

One attendant is scheduled to provide service to both Burnes Park and Valley Park and is not stationed full-time at either site, but goes back and forth between the two.

Burnes Park

Picnic shelter application