Picnic Shelters

Park systems in both Hopkins and Minnetonka 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

How to Reserve a Picnic Shelter

Picnic Shelter Reservation Application

Applications for the 2026 summer season are accepted beginning January 2026.
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 when you apply. Shelters are not reserved until payment has been received.
Checks are payable to Facilities Division, or you may use any major credit card.
Reservations by phone (952-939-8390) or fax (952-939-8373) must be paid with a credit card.
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older to reserve a facility.
Maximum permit length is five hours and is valid until 9 p.m.

Reservation Fees

Beer Permits

Beer Permit Application

A picnic permit and a beer permit are required from the facilities division in order to consume beer during your shelter reservation.
A permit allows for consumption of beer in non-glass containers and must be requested on your picnic application form.
Beer permits are only issued Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.
Keg beer is allowed at Minnetonka shelters only; no keg beer is allowed at Hopkins shelters.
The fee for a beer permit is $25.
We require seven days advance notice to process this permit request. The permit is not issued until approved by an authorized representative of the facilities division.
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 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..
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.
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 10 days after notice of the action.

Guidelines and Policies

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.

Reservation Priority Policy

Applications for the 2026 summer season are accepted beginning January 2026.

Refund/Cancelation 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, and granted by the city, 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.

Minnetonka Picnic Shelters
Hopkins Picnic Shelters

Gro Tonka Park
Reservation hours: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Address: 17003 Prospect Place Group Capacity: 60 Shelter Seating Capacity: 32 Parking: 30 vehicles Electrical Service: None 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 Areas: Softball field (must be reserved in advance) Beer: Allowed with permit and only at picnic shelter

Gro Tonka Park

Reservation hours: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Address: 17003 Prospect Place
Group Capacity: 60
Shelter Seating Capacity: 32
Parking: 30 vehicles
Electrical Service: None
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 Areas: Softball field (must be reserved in advance)
Beer: Allowed with permit and only at picnic shelter

Lone Lake Park
Reservation hours: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Address: 5624 Shady Oak Road Group Capacity: 125 per site Shelter Seating Capacity: Lakeside Shelter: 50 Parking: Available in upper and lower parking lots Electrical Service: None Water Facilities: Located at attendant facility Restroom Facilities: Located at attendant facility Park Amenities: BBQ grills Walking trails Soccer field Tennis and basketball courts Playground Beer: Allowed with permit and only at picnic shelter

Lone Lake Park

Reservation hours: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Address: 5624 Shady Oak Road
Group Capacity: 125 per site
Shelter Seating Capacity:
Lakeside Shelter: 50
Parking: Available in upper and lower parking lots
Electrical Service: None
Water Facilities: Located at attendant facility
Restroom Facilities: Located at attendant facility
Park Amenities:
- BBQ grills
- Walking trails
- Soccer field
- Tennis and basketball courts
- Playground
Beer: Allowed with permit and only at picnic shelter

Shady Oak Park
Reservation hours: May 27 – June 7: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. June 7 – Aug. 17: 4 – 8 p.m. (only) Aug. 19 – Sept. 2: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. 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: Sand volleyball Water play area Canoe rental Playground Concessions Restroom / Changing areas Additional 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 the beach area) Beach restrooms are available during beach season. Outside of beach season, port-a-potties are available. All bathrooms are on timer systems; they open at dawn, close at dusk

Shady Oak Park

Reservation hours:
- May 27 – June 7: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- June 7 – Aug. 17: 4 – 8 p.m. (only)
- Aug. 19 – Sept. 2: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
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:
- Sand volleyball
- Water play area
- Canoe rental
- Playground
- Concessions
- Restroom / Changing areas
Additional 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 the beach area)
Beach restrooms are available during beach season. Outside of beach season, port-a-potties are available.
All bathrooms are on timer systems; they open at dawn, close at dusk

City of Minnetonka, MN

Picnic shelter season runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day

Park Guidelines

Reservation Priority Policy

Refund/Cancelation Policy

Burnes Shelters: West & East

Valley Park Shelters: West & East