Patch Picks: 5 Great Parks in the Park

Before St. Louis Park Patch launched last fall, a couple contributors were assigned the task of visiting each of our city's parks before writing about them for the directory. Ten months later, in what seems to be our nicest week of the summer thus far, Patch brings you a list of our five favorite parks in St. Louis Park.

• : Here sits the renovated remains of the old Milwaukee/St. Louis Park Railroad train stop. Far enough away from the hum of Highway 7 to be a nice, quiet resting area while biking the old train line.

• Oak Hill Park: The colder, snowy months turn this place into a winter wonderland equipped with holiday lights and multiplie ice rinks. Oak Hill in the summer is perfect for a picnic and relaxing outside.

• : South of Excelsior Boulevard sits this spacious, wonderful neighborhood park. Play hoops, swing, climb the hill, sit by the water, eat on the picnic tables ... this place has it all.

• : Another gorgeous expanse in town that offers an off-the-leash dog park for your favorite canine family member to run free.

• : While not quite as serene as other parks around, Carpenter Park and "Skippy Field" is a great place to catch a Little League game, brush up on your tennis skills, or hang out on a blanket underneath trees. Located in backyard.