Located on the northwest corner of the metro area, Maple Grove plays several key roles in the region – acting as a retail hotspot, a hub for medical clinics and a major employer (Boston Scientific alone employs over 2,500 people) for many Minnesotans in the metro area. It’s no wonder why Maple Grove has become one of the fastest growing suburbs in the metro area.
The Maple Grove Community Center, connected to Life Time Fitness and next door to the Maple Grove Library, offers plenty of activities to keep every member of the family busy. With over 835,000 annual visitors, the center is home to Grove Aquatic Center, providing swimmers of all ages with lap lanes, a rope swing, a 130-foot waterslide, a smaller slide for the little ones and an outdoor pool with a lazy river for relaxing in the summer sun. For children 12 and under, the Maple Maze offers a jungle of tubes to crawl and play to their heart’s content. Outside, the center features a newly added cement skate park that is free and open to the public.
The Town Green Amphitheater, also on the grounds of the community center, features a beautifully constructed bandshell and has seating for 300. The amphitheater provides the perfect place for summertime music, dance and theater performances.
Parents will also find ways to participate at the center. The Maple Grove Farmers Market runs from June through October outdoors and provides fresh, vendor grown food as well as activities and entertainment for all ages. During the winter months, the market relocates to warmer weather indoors with a handful of dates in November and December.
Maple Grove also offers a great selection of public parks and trails. Elm Creek Park Reserve is the largest park in Maple Grove and features access to Rush Creek and Medicine Lake Regional Trails for lakeside hiking and biking and a man-made, filtered and chlorinated swimming pond. The park also has an 18-hole disc golf course that is turned into a tubing hill and terrain park, complete with a rental facility and concessions, for snowboarders and skiers in the winter.
Looking to do some shopping in Maple Grove? You’ll find no shortage of opportunities at The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes and The Fountains at Arbor Lakes. With over 260 stores and services, Maple Grove offers some of the best shopping in the area with higher-end retail stores that you’d be hard pressed to find outside of the Mall of America or downtown Minneapolis.
An abundance of restaurants can also be found alongside the many shopping areas in Maple Grove. Ranging from barbeque to sushi, the long list of places to grab a bite is sure to keep residents and visitors full for the foreseeable future. While there’s no shortage of chain restaurants to choose from, those seeking out a local establishment unique to the area will be rewarded upon discovering the home-style breakfasts at The Original Pancake House, the savory steaks at Pittsburgh Blue Steakhouse, the delicious flatbreads at 3 Squares Restaurant or a burger and a beer while watching a band at Maple Tavern.
Maple Grove also serves as a major medical hub. Fairview Clinic, North Memorial, Maple Grove Hospital, Allina Medical Clinic and Park Nicollet Clinic all operate within Maple Grove to provide medical services to the community and surrounding cities.
Attributing to the continuing fast growth of the area, the Maple Grove Transit system offers quick and easy commuter express rides to and from Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota as well as a local dial-a-ride service.
Residents of Maple Grove can also take pride in ranking at #22 on Money Magazine’s 2012 list of the 100 best small cities in America. Townhomes, condos, residential and commercial properties are booming in development and it’s no surprise why. With Minneapolis just a quick 20-minute drive or bus ride away, the option of a trip to the big city is always there, but with a vast selection of retail, dining, a top-notch medical network and a strong community base, it’s a wonder why anyone would ever want to leave.
