Minneapolis, MN
Minnesota’s Unsung State Park Unit Is An Idyllic Minneapolis Day Trip To Boat, Fish, And Hike – Islands
Minnesota is serious about its lakes. Their “Land of 10,000 Lakes” slogan isn’t an exaggeration. In fact, the true count is 11,842, based on their definition of what constitutes a lake, which Wisconsin likes to argue about with them. Regardless of whose definition you use, Minnesota has a lot of lakes to choose from, which means you can still find a little slice of solitary lakeside serenity if you know where to look. One of those places is Greenleaf Lake.
Idyllic Greenleaf is only about 1.5 hours from Minneapolis, and it’s never crowded — in fact, there’s a good chance you’ll have it all to yourself. Most of the bigger, more popular lakes, like Red Lake, Leech Lake, and Lake Superior’s shoreline, are in Minnesota’s northern half, several hours from the Twin Cities. But there’s no need to wander so far from urban amenities and the well-connected airport, when you can enjoy an idyllic day on Greenleaf Lake instead.
The state recreation area that protects this beautiful lake started as a grassroots effort to establish a state park within 30 miles of every Minnesotan. After years of work, the agreements, land acquisition, and funding all finally fell into place, and the park was transferred to the state in 2009. Almost 20 years later, the park is still an unassuming and peaceful place for a day trip from Minneapolis for those who don’t need much to enjoy the outdoors.
Enjoying Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area
The first thing to know about Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area is that this park embraces its primitive natural habitat. There are actually two lakes in the park, Greenleaf and Sioux, but there aren’t many facilities here beyond the peaceful, natural surroundings. The park’s entrance and only parking area is at Greenleaf Lake, which has a small boat launch, a fishing pier, and a few picnic tables, all surrounded by trees and vegetation. Enjoy a lazy morning of boating and fishing for panfish, pike, walleye, and largemouth bass on the lake, followed by a delicious picnic lunch while you read away the afternoon with only the birds to keep you company. Minnesota may be known for having some of the friendliest people in America, but you’re unlikely to run into more than a handful here. Quiet solitude awaits at this park.
The park’s one hiking trail begins at the parking area and winds just a mile through an open field and into a small forest south of Greenleaf Lake, before you’ll have to turn around and return the way you came. Bring insect-repellent clothes and spray to protect your skin, as bugs can be overwhelming in the warm seasons, and ticks are always a possibility in the woods. One Google reviewer described the trail as unwalkable due to the bugs. The rest of the park, including Sioux Lake, isn’t easily accessible. Most visitors won’t ever see Sioux Lake because there are no trails to it.
The lack of park facilities has turned off some visitors and contributed to some poor reviews on Tripadvisor. The people that leave Greenleaf Lake five-star reviews on Google are the ones that just enjoy being out in nature. If you prefer a Minnesota state park with more amenities, consider Lake Bemidji State Park instead.
Planning your day at Greenleaf Lake
While Minneapolis is one of America’s best cities for getting around without a car, you’ll need one to explore beyond the metro area. Getting to Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area is easy with GPS, but don’t rely on following park signs once you get close. Visitors report there aren’t any on the small backroads that lead to the park. The entrance road is nothing fancy, a narrow dirt road that leads to a small parking area. If you’re visiting just to get your park passport stamp, it’s not actually at the park. It’s at the DNR office in Hutchinson.
Before arriving at Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area, be sure to stop for a restroom break. There are no facilities, sometimes not even a porta-potty, at the park. The closest convenience stores are in Litchfield, Dassel, or Hutchinson, each about 15 to 20 minutes from the parking area at Greenleaf Lake. If you’re a seasoned backpacker and are prepared to do your business in the woods, make sure you follow Leave No Trace principles.
Minneapolis, MN
Broken A/C leaves 75-year-old cancer patient sweltering at north Minneapolis apartments
Apartment complex A/C problem
Scorching heat is making life miserable for some at heritage park apartments in north Minneapolis. FOX 9’s Mike Manzoni explains the situation.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Tenants at Heritage Park in north Minneapolis have had to settle for fans to cool off as broken air conditioning units remain unrepaired during a stretch of scorching heat.
Tenants say broken A/C units are just the latest problem
What we know:
Multiple tenants are dealing with broken air conditioning units, leaving their homes uncomfortably hot during the day and even hotter at night.
“I don’t like it very much at all. And especially with somebody running back and forth to the hospital, I don’t need all this stress,” said Eddie Robinson, a tenant at the complex. “It’s an oven.”
Temperatures inside Robinson’s apartment routinely climb into the 80s, and he said it gets even hotter at night because he must lock up his windows for safety.
“People will come in your house if they see a window open,” he said.
But Robinson said it is actually one of the better apartments he has lived in during his dozen years at Heritage Park.
“The first unit – the rats took it over,” he said.
None of the three air conditioning units outside his building were working on Monday, and he said he could not find anyone to fix them.
Other problems at the complex
The backstory:
Heritage Park has faced ongoing complaints from tenants about rats, mold, leaks and poor water pressure, among other concerns.
City Council Member Pearll Warren recently posted a video on social media showing moldy walls and dirty floors.
Outside the buildings, there are broken stairs, busted lights and boarded-up windows.
These issues have prompted the Minneapolis NAACP to call for the city’s public housing chief to step down.
The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, which owns the land but does not maintain the property, said it is working with the court-appointed receiver to address hundreds of open maintenance orders. The agency said the previous owner ran into financial trouble and stopped making repairs. The property entered receivership in late 2025.
Robinson, who is 75 and battling cancer, said he is just trying to make it through the summer with his support dog, Lele.
“I got to keep water out for her all the time, you know. Otherwise, she’ll get dehydrated,” he said.
The management company, Property Solutions & Services Inc., said it is offering portable air conditioners to tenants with broken central units, but Robinson said he does not want one because they do not help.
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis City Council member Aisha Chughtai taking mental health leave for a month
Minneapolis City Council member Aisha Chughtai said Monday she will be taking a monthlong leave to seek outpatient care for her mental health.
Chughtai said her “office will remain open to continue serving the people of Ward 10,” but she will miss the council meeting on July 16. She plans to return before the July 30 meeting.
“I love representing the people of this Ward. It’s the greatest honor of my life. And that’s why I feel obligated to do so to the best of my abilities,” Chughtai said in a statement. “Because of the current state of my mental health, I fear falling short of that obligation. That’s why I’m briefly stepping back. I fully expect to return energized and ready to give more than ever for the people of Ward 10 and everyone in the city.”
In her statement, Chughtai cited “a high-stakes election … several mass shootings, and a federal occupation” as recent stressors on her mental health.
Chughtai said she has notified the council and Mayor Jacob Frey, and encouraged Ward 10 residents to contact her office via email with any questions or concerns.
“I know that when I return, I’ll be back stronger, ready to form deeper partnerships, and ready to fight even harder for our neighbors,” she said.
Chughtai was first elected in 2021 to represent Ward 10, which includes the south Minneapolis neighborhoods of East Bde Maka Ska, East Isles, Lowry Hill East, South Uptown and Whittier.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress, get help from the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Trained crisis counselors are available 24 hours a day to talk about anything.
In addition, help is available from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI. Call the NAMI Helpline at 800-950-6264 or text “HelpLine” to 62640. There are more than 600 local NAMI organizations and affiliates across the country, many of which offer free support and education programs.
Extreme Heat Warning
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