Cliff Nicollet Park
Rate this placeNearby: Crosstown West Park Nordic Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Cliff Nicollet Park is a public park located in Burnsville, Minnesota.
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Summary
It covers an area of 24 acres and has several good reasons to visit. The park offers a variety of recreational activities, including basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts, playgrounds, picnic areas, and a fishing pier. Visitors can also walk around the park's beautiful trails or enjoy the scenic views of the surrounding area.
Some specific points of interest to see in Cliff Nicollet Park include the scenic overlook, which offers panoramic views of the Minnesota River Valley, and the Burnsville Performing Arts Center, a state-of-the-art facility that hosts a variety of cultural and entertainment events throughout the year.
Interesting facts about the area include the park's namesake, Cliff Nicollet, who was a pioneer in the field of computer networking and helped develop the internet. The park was named in his honor to recognize his contributions to the technology industry.
The best time to visit Cliff Nicollet Park is during the summer months when the weather is warm and the park is bustling with activity. However, visitors can also enjoy the park during the fall and winter months, when the foliage is changing, and the park is covered in snow.
Overall, Cliff Nicollet Park is a great destination for families, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone looking to enjoy the natural beauty of Minnesota.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
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