The City of Prior Lake operates an archery range, located at Ponds Park between fields 8 and 9.  The archery range has six shooting lanes, and targets set at distances from 10-50 yards, including a designated shooting lane for broadhead arrow practice.  

There is no cost to use the archery range.  For the safety of all park users, please follow all posted rules.

ARCHERY RANGE RULES:

• Hours of use: Sunrise to sunset
• Broadhead arrows allowed only in designated area
• Shoot only at established targets in your lane
• Maximum of 6 arrows per round.  Be courteous of the length of time and number of arrows you shoot while others are waiting
• Archers must retrieve arrows at the same time, do not shoot while someone is retrieving arrows
• Bows are not allowed down-range
• Pets, alcohol, and firearms are not allowed in the archery range
• The range may be closed at times for City-sponsored programming
• In case of an emergency, dial 911:  17429 Ponds Parkway SE, Prior Lake, MN 55372

The City operates 8 pickleball courts located in Spring Lake Park (15651 Skuya Dr NW). Find more information about the park here.

City of Prior Lake Pickleball Court Rules:

• Pickleball Courts are designated for “Open Play” with the exception of City Approved Programs
• Bikes, in-line skates, and skateboards not allowed on the courts
• Be respectful, welcoming, and inclusive of players of all skill levels
• All players must abide by open play rules
• Doubles games are recommended to maintain flow of play unless there are empty courts
• When all eight courts are full:
  • Groups must rotate
  • Play one game to 11 points and then rotate off the court
  • Players waiting to play should place their paddles in the paddle organizer
  • Groups cannot skip over a partial group
  • This applies to all players, including foursomes who prefer to stay together

Click here for more information about Pickleball lessons and leagues.

The City of Prior Lake operates two public swimming beaches on Prior Lake: Sand Point Beach and Watzl's Beach. Each offers a sandy spot to hang out and designated swim areas. The beaches typically are open Memorial Day through Labor Day, depending on the weather.

Beach Rules prohibit:

• Dunking, pushing, shoving, or throwing sand
• Swimming outside of the roped area
• Hanging or pulling on swim ropes
• Bicycles, pets, glass containers, smoking, or alcoholic beverages in the beach
• Watercraft in the swim area or on the beach
• Swimming to and from boats outside the swimming area
• The use of anything but U.S. Coast Guard approved personal floatation devices.  All devices should fit properly.
• Launching of inflatables (air mattresses, rafts, beach balls, etc.)
• Motorized vehicles anywhere but the parking lot
• Parents must accompany children in the water.  If you choose to swim, do so wisely and swim with a buddy.

SAND POINT BEACH

Sand Point Beach is one of the most popular city parks in the summer. Located at 14349 Crest Avenue NE, next to the most-used DNR boat access to Prior Lake, Sand Point Beach is a great destination for swimmers, boaters and families. The beach offers two picnic shelters, play equipment, three sand volleyball courts, permanent bean bag boards, a fishing pier, restrooms, day use only boat slips and canoe racks. For more information about rental of canoe/kayak rack slots, paddle board rack slots and the picnic shelters at Sand Point Beach, see the rental website.

Park Hours: 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. daily.

Sand Point Parking: Sand Point Beach charges a parking fee applicable to all park users. The Sand Point Beach Park Parking Lot has limited parking and is for vehicles only (vehicles with trailers not permitted). Parking is available on a first come first serve basis for all park users with a per vehicle parking fee charged daily. The $7 daily fee can be paid by credit card only (Visa, MasterCard or Discover) at the parking meter located in the parking lot. Season passes are also available for $60/vehicle. Vehicle with trailer parking is no longer available in the City parking lot at Sand Point Beach. Vehicles with trailers can use the DNR parking lot adjacent to the boat access or areas around Sand Point Beach that are not designated as “no parking”.

Credit Card statement charges for the parking meter will read as Cale America Inc, Clearwater Florida.

Park Address:14341 CREST AVE NE, PRIOR LAKE, MN 55372

WATZL'S BEACH

Located in Lakefront Park (5000 Kop Pkwy SE) Watzl's Beach is a popular stop for lake users. Reaching the beach requires a quarter mile walk from the parking areas in Lakefront Park and is easily accessible from the lake.

Reservations can be made for the seasonal boat slips and canoe/kayak storage racks, on our website.

Park Address: 5000 KOP PKWY SE, PRIOR LAKE, MN 55372

WATER QUALITY

In order to protect public health and safety, the City of Prior Lake monitors both of our public beaches (Sand Point Beach and Watzl’s Point Beach at Lakefront Park) for E. coli levels in accordance with Minnesota Rule 7050.0222. Click to find out more information about the City’s beach testing policy.