The city of Maple Grove, Minnesota, is a picturesque suburb of Minneapolis located in Hennepin County. With a population of approximately 70,000, Maple Grove has become a popular destination for homebuyers, including those living in Saint Paul or Minneapolis and looking to escape the big city. There are many reasons why people love living in Maple Grove, from its educational options and parks to its convenient location and thriving business community.

8 Reasons to Love Living in Maple Grove

• Elm Creek Park Reserve
• Chalkfest street art festival
• Arbor Lakes Shopping & Dining District
• Summer Concert Series at Central Park
• Easy commute to the Twin Cities
• Amazing Parks & Recreation system
• Rush Creek Golf Club
• Year-round fishing on Minnesota lakes

The Maple Grove Lifestyle

Maple Grove is a suburban community to the northwest of Minneapolis, past the city of Golden Valley. Maple Grove has year-round outdoor activities and recreation, a world-class healthcare system, and an excellent standard of living. It’s just 20 minutes away from everything that Minneapolis has to offer while maintaining a small town’s charm and serene setting.

Maple Grove has something for everyone, from world-class lake fishing to sports like soccer, hockey, swimming, dance, and golf. The Maple Grove Community Center has indoor and outdoor pools, ice skating, playgrounds, and more activities. Year-round community events offer a great chance to meet neighbors and enjoy the city. There are seven different lakes and more than 1,000 acres of beautiful parks and trails for residents to enjoy.

Types of Homes in Maple Grove

Maple Grove has a beautiful mix of housing types and styles, including detached single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and luxury homes. The predominant architectural styles for single-family homes in Maple Grove are Modern Farmhouse-style and Cape Cod-style homes. With seven large lakes in the middle of the city, it presents the opportunity for many people to live the dream of owning waterfront homes in Maple Grove.

Housing in Maple Grove is modestly priced. Condos and townhomes in Maple Grove range from around $270,000 to $400,000. Single-family homes tend to list from the $500s to the $800s; even Maple Grove’s luxury homes can be found for less than $1 million.

Maple Grove Amenities

One of the reasons why Maple Grove is one of the best communities in Minnesota is because there are so many amenities to enjoy. The city has a robust hospital system, easy access to the great public transportation system in Minneapolis, and numerous indoor and outdoor event venues. Most of the commercial businesses are concentrated in the center of the community, making neighborhood shopping easy and convenient. Here’s a closer look at the amenities offered in Maple Grove.

Neighborhood Services

The city’s public bus system is the Maple Grove Transit Express. Bus service offers five routes into downtown Minneapolis, and a sixth route leads to the University of Minnesota.

The Maple Grove Hospital is located in the northern part of the suburb. It has an emergency room and offers various medical services for all ages.

The Maple Grove Community Center is a popular family destination managed by the city. It has a large indoor playground that stays popular through the winter months, as does the gymnasium. There are also multiple swimming pools at the center. The outdoor pool is open during the summer months. The indoor leisure and lap pools are open year-round but see more use during the winter months.

Neighborhood Shopping

The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes is a large outdoor mall near the confluence of I-94 and I-494 in Maple Grove. The mall has dozens of stores offering apparel in all price ranges, home decor, furniture, beauty supplies, spa services, and much more. The Shoppes is conveniently located near the geographic center of Maple Grove, making it easily accessible for most residents.

While the Shoppes is the largest concentration of commercial retailers in Maple Grove, the city also has additional shopping centers. For example, the Maplewood Mall is located in the south part of the city, and the Dunkirk Shopping Area is in the northwest.

Things to Do in Maple Grove

There are so many outdoor activities to enjoy here that it could take years to discover all of them. The city has a wonderful fine dining experience waiting for foodies and an active nightlife scene, and there’s always easy access to the best nightlife locations in Minneapolis. There are also attractions nearby that the whole family can enjoy.

Outdoor Activities

The Elm Creek Park Preserve is nearly 5,000 acres in size and offers year-round outdoor adventures for the whole family. It has numerous hiking trails winding through the preserve, some of which are groomed for cross-country skiing in the wintertime. There’s an off-leash dog park, a disc golf course, an archery range, and much more to explore here.

Central Park in Maple Grove is a beautiful site that can be enjoyed seven days a week. In addition to walking and biking trails, it has a children’s playground, an interactive fountain, an ice skating loop, and a garden and labyrinth.

Maple Grove is also an angler’s paradise. Fishermen with a valid Minnesota fishing license can try to catch the area’s plentiful largemouth bass, northern pike, and bluegill.

Restaurants, Breweries & Bars

Maple Grove residents are always a short drive from the most iconic restaurants in Minneapolis, but they don’t need to stray from town for great eating. Stop by Biaggi’s at The Shoppes to find an extensive menu of Italian cuisine and drinks. Lotus Maple Grove is a local favorite for authentic Vietnamese fare. For traditional American fare, it’s tough to beat the Rock Elm Tavern’s burgers and pub food.

The Maple Tavern is a popular bar offering everything from Bingo night and Boot hockey to an extensive beer list and an outdoor patio. The Granite City Brewery in Maple Grove is another local favorite with a great nightlife scene.

Nearby Attractions

The Elm Creek Swim Pond is a top-rated destination during the summer months. The artificial pond is filled with filtered, chlorinated water and surrounded by a sandy beach. It also has changing rooms, concessions, and public washrooms.

WhirlyBall Twin Cities is a fun family destination in Maple Grove. WhirlyBall is a game similar to lacrosse but with bumper cars. There’s also a laser tag arena and a restaurant here.

Playground Plaza is a climate-controlled indoor playground for kids that is open year-round. Another family-friendly attraction is the Maple Grove Farmer’s Market, which is open seasonally.

Employers Near Maple Grove

Great River Energy is headquartered in Maple Grove, one of the city’s largest private employers. It’s an electric power co-op that employs approximately 1,600 workers. Meanwhile, Nortech Systems is an electronics manufacturer with around 800 employees.

Medical manufacturing is also an essential part of Maple Grove’s economy. SterilMed is a company that reprocesses used medical equipment to keep it serviceable. The company has about 600 employees and is headquartered here. Upsher-Smith Laboratories is an American pharmaceutical company in Maple Grove with around 550 employees. Many Maple Grove residents commute daily to participate in the massive Minneapolis economy.

Schools Near Maple Grove

Most of the public schools in Maple Grove are administered by the Osseo Area Schools (ISD 279). However, some students living in the southern part of Maple Grove attend schools administered by the Wayzata Public Schools (ISD 284). There are several elementary schools in the city, but junior high school students all attend Maple Grove Middle School, and high schoolers attend Maple Grove Senior High.

For parents seeking a private school experience for their children in Maple Grove, the Heritage Christian Academy is a Pre-K–12 Lutheran school. Ave Maria Academy is a private Catholic school serving Pre-K–8, and Parnassus Preparatory School is a private K–12 school that follows the Classical education model.

North Hennepin Community College is one of the closest post-secondary institutions to Maple Grove. It’s located in nearby Brooklyn Park. It offers associate degrees and certificates and provides 13 bachelor’s degrees in conjunction with several universities in Minnesota. More than 9,000 students enroll in the school each year.

Minnesota Living the Maple Grove Way

Maple Grove, Minnesota, is a fantastic place to live for various reasons. Its beautiful neighborhoods, parks, and abundant shopping and dining options make it an ideal location. Homebuyers will appreciate the area’s thriving business community and easy access to the city of Minneapolis. Maple Grove has something to offer no matter what you’re looking for in a Minneapolis-area community. So if you’re considering a move to the Minneapolis area, be sure to put Maple Grove on your list of places to check out!

If Maple Grove is the city for you, contact Kris Lindahl Real Estate at 1-(855) 967-7653 to get in touch with a local real estate agent who can help you find your dream home today.