Living in Oak Park Heights, MN: History, Parks & Daily Life

Oak Park Heights is a small Washington County city on the St. Croix River, between Stillwater to the north and Bayport to the south. Highway 36 runs through it, the St. Croix Crossing bridge lands here, and the city is home to two large state and utility facilities whose futures are part of local planning: Xcel Energy's Allen S. King Plant and the Minnesota Correctional Facility–Oak Park Heights.

This guide covers those topics using city, state and utility sources, plus a dated MLS snapshot. Because Oak Park Heights is small, its market figures rest on a limited number of sales, and the snapshot section explains why that matters. The guide does not rank neighborhoods, schools or businesses. For the property-oriented resource, use the Oak Park Heights neighborhood page; this article supplements that page rather than replacing it.

Oak Park Heights at a glance

Measure	Figure and source date
Population, 2020 Census	4,849 (2010: 4,445)
Households, 2020 Census	2,258 (2010: 1,911)
Location	Washington County, on the St. Croix River and Highway 36
MLS median sales price, All Property Types	$429,950; trailing 12 months through Oct 2026

Population and household counts come from the Metropolitan Council's summary of initial 2020 Census results. Census QuickFacts does not publish profiles for places under 5,000 people, so this guide uses the Metropolitan Council’s summary of 2020 Census counts and does not cite a Census median home value. A Senate capital-request summary from the city describes Oak Park Heights as having fewer than 5,000 residents, consistent with that count.

From the Oak Park plat to a city

The city's history page says the first 10-block plat for what is now Oak Park Heights was recorded on May 27, 1857, by John Parker, William Dorr, Gold and Mary Curtis, Olive Anderson and William M. McCluer. They called it Oak Park, and it lay in what is now Baytown Township, between Stillwater and South Stillwater (now Bayport).

Early settlers saw the riverfront as a place for industry. In the 1880s, a sawmill and a barrel-making company were built along Oak Park's riverfront. Highway 36 was built in the 1930s, connecting Oak Park to Stillwater. In 1932, Tara Hideaway was built to serve automobile tourists, and in the early 1930s the federal government built a scenic overlook on Lookout Trail; the city notes that both are still there. The area was re-platted in 1938 as Oak Park Heights and became a city in 1959.

The St. Croix Crossing

The Highway 36 St. Croix River Crossing opened to traffic on Aug. 2, 2017, connecting Oak Park Heights with the town of St. Joseph, Wisconsin, and Wisconsin Highway 64, according to MnDOT. MnDOT's employee news coverage of the opening describes a bridge of almost a mile, with two lanes in each direction and a multiuse trail, replacing the Stillwater Lift Bridge for vehicle traffic. MnDOT posts periodic maintenance closures, so check current traffic information before trips.

Correctional facilities: a factual overview

Two state prisons are part of the area's history. The Minnesota Correctional Facility–Oak Park Heights is in the city. According to the Minnesota Department of Corrections, it opened in 1982, can hold up to 473 people and operates at the highest custody level in the DOC system.

The older MCF–Stillwater lies just south, within Bayport. A September 2026 state decommissioning study describes it as adjacent to Stillwater and Oak Park Heights. It notes that a 2025 law included budget assumptions for a phased closure, with full operations ending by June 30, 2029. MNopedia traces that prison to the Territorial Prison built in Stillwater in 1853; it moved to its present site in 1912–1914.

This guide reports what state sources say and does not speculate about how either facility affects any particular property. People who live or work at these facilities, and their families, are part of the wider community.

The Allen S. King Plant

Xcel Energy's Allen S. King Plant, a coal-fired generating plant on the St. Croix River, is in Oak Park Heights. Xcel's newsroom says it is scheduled to retire in 2028 and that Xcel plans to reuse its existing grid connections. Xcel's 2025 annual report to the state says the plant will be retired at the end of 2028, and that decommissioning and demolition plans have not yet been fully developed.

In a capital-request summary to the Minnesota Senate, the city said the plant makes up about 27% of its net tax capacity and contributes about $1.7 million a year in city property taxes, and that the city is focused on planning for the site's future. The city also keeps an Allen S. King Plant documents page. This guide does not predict tax or property effects; follow city and utility updates.

Parks and trails

The city's City Parks page says Oak Park Heights has "five area parks" and walking paths throughout the city, many connecting to parks. The same site's parks menu lists six park pages: Brekke, Valley View, Autumn Hills, Cover, Swager and Oak Park Crossing, plus the Brekke Park Disc Golf Course. The count and the menu are quoted separately. The posted park hours are inconsistent between two lines on the page, so check with the city. The page also links to a 2021 Park and Trail Guide and a 2018 Parks and Trails Comprehensive Plan.

• Brekke Park, 5500 Omar Avenue, south of the Andersen Corporation building: a shelter with restrooms, baseball diamonds, playground, ice rink with a staffed warming house, and pavilion.
• Valley View Park, on Osgood Avenue at the edge of city limits: a shelter, picnic areas, playgrounds, trails, prairie restoration and wetlands, and a mountain bike trail maintained by a local volunteer group.
• Oak Park Crossing Park, 15125 60th Street North: a covered shelter and playground. The city places it south of Phil's Tara Hideaway and next to Valley View Park.

Getting around

Highway 36 is the main east–west route, linking the city to the St. Croix Crossing and west toward the Twin Cities. The Metropolitan Council's May 2026 Bayport review lists a Metro Transit Route 294 stop at Highway 36 and Osgood Avenue/4th Street in Oak Park Heights. Route 294 is a weekday peak-only express to downtown St. Paul; check Metro Transit for current schedules.

Oak Park Heights housing market

Oak Park Heights market snapshot — trailing 12 months through October 2026

InfoSparks area: Oak Park Heights (CITY). With All Property Types selected, the median sales price was $429,950 (+17.8% year over year), with 34 closed sales (-17.1%). Median days on market were 47 (+135.0%); months supply was 3.1 (+82.4%), as displayed in InfoSparks' October 2026, 12 Months view.

Separately reported closed-sale categories: Single-Family: 20 (-25.9%). Townhouse-Condo: 14 (+7.7%). These are reported categories, not shares of all sales; they should not be assumed to exhaust or reconcile to the total.

NorthstarMLS Matrix showed 9 active-only listings as of Nov 6, 2026 for the municipality. This count uses the Single Family search class, which includes multiple residential styles; it excludes Coming Soon, Pending and other statuses, as well as Lots/Land, Multi-Family, Commercial, Farm and Rental classes. It is not InfoSparks' “Homes for Sale” measure.

These figures summarize recorded activity for Oak Park Heights as a whole; they are not a prediction of future prices or a guarantee of how quickly a particular property will sell. Small-sample caution: with only 34 closed sales and 9 active-only listings, a few transactions can move these numbers noticeably. The +17.8% median price change, the +135.0% change in median days on market and the +82.4% change in months supply all rest on a small set of sales; none should be read as a trend. Use comparable properties for an individual address.

Source: NorthstarMLS via InfoSparks, trailing 12 months through October 2026; active-only count from NorthstarMLS Matrix as of Nov 6, 2026. Data deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Local restaurants and everyday stops

Most of the city's restaurants sit along the Highway 36 frontage roads (60th Street North) and the Neal, Norwich and Osgood avenue corridors. Many businesses here use a Stillwater 55082 mailing address even when they are inside Oak Park Heights. The list below includes only places whose own or corporate page, a city page, or Google listing data places them in Oak Park Heights, as noted in the source table. It is not complete or ranked:

• Phil's Tara Hideaway, 15021 60th Street North — the Tara Hideaway that the city's history says was built in 1932 for automobile tourists; its listing describes Greek plates alongside steak and seafood.
• Joseph's, 14608 60th Street North — an American family restaurant that says it has operated since 1981.
• Golden Crown Chinese Restaurant, 14587 60th Street North — a Chinese restaurant.
• Fiesta Mexican Grill, 5817 Neal Avenue North — a Mexican restaurant.
• Muddy Cow, 5991 Norwich Avenue North — the Oak Park Heights location of the Muddy Cow bar and grill.
• Dave's Hot Chicken, 5910 Neal Avenue North — the Oak Park Heights location of the hot chicken chain.
• Applebee's Grill + Bar, 13625 60th Street North — the Oak Park Heights location of the chain.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill, 13315 60th Street North — the Oak Park Heights location of the chain.

Businesses change; confirm before visiting.

Schools: verify by address

The Stillwater Area Public School District's map page lists Oak Park Heights among the 18 communities it serves and notes that it is divided into elementary attendance boundaries. This guide does not compare or rank schools. Confirm the resident district and assigned school for the exact address with the district, because boundaries can change.

Questions to ask about a specific address

• Is the property in a shoreland, bluffland or floodplain area, and which St. Croix riverway rules apply?
• How close is the home to Highway 36, the frontage roads or the bridge approach, and how does traffic noise vary?
• What do current city documents say about planning for the King Plant site after 2028?
• Does the listing use a Stillwater mailing address? Confirm the actual city, taxing jurisdiction and services for the parcel.
• Is the property part of an association? What do the documents, budget and fees show?
• Which school district and attendance area apply, according to the district?

Frequently asked questions

When was Oak Park Heights founded?

The city says the first 10-block plat, called Oak Park, was recorded May 27, 1857. The area was re-platted as Oak Park Heights in 1938 and became a city in 1959. History of the City.

Is the St. Croix Crossing in Oak Park Heights?

Yes. MnDOT says the Highway 36 St. Croix River Crossing, which opened Aug. 2, 2017, connects Minnesota Highway 36 in Oak Park Heights with Wisconsin Highway 64 and St. Joseph, Wisconsin. MnDOT.

What is the Allen S. King Plant?

It is an Xcel Energy coal-fired plant in Oak Park Heights that Xcel says is scheduled to retire in 2028. The city says it makes up about 27% of the city’s net tax capacity. Xcel newsroom; city Senate request.

Is there a prison in Oak Park Heights?

Yes. The Department of Corrections says MCF–Oak Park Heights opened in 1982, can hold up to 473 people and operates at the DOC’s highest custody level. MCF–Stillwater is nearby, in Bayport. Department of Corrections.

How many parks does Oak Park Heights have?

The city’s parks page says five area parks, while its menu lists six park pages (Brekke, Valley View, Autumn Hills, Cover, Swager and Oak Park Crossing) plus a disc golf course. Ask the city for the current count. City Parks.

What are the Oak Park Heights housing-market figures?

For the trailing 12 months through October 2026, All Property Types had a $429,950 median sales price (+17.8% year over year), 34 closed sales (-17.1%), 47 median days on market (+135.0%) and 3.1 months supply (+82.4%). Matrix showed 9 active-only listings as of Nov 6, 2026. With so few sales, these dated figures can swing widely and are not a forecast. See the snapshot above for filters and attribution. With 34 closed sales, the sample is small.

Why do some Oak Park Heights addresses say Stillwater?

Many businesses and homes in Oak Park Heights use a Stillwater 55082 mailing address. A mailing city does not determine the municipality, so confirm the city, taxes and services for a specific parcel with Washington County or the city.

Is there transit in Oak Park Heights?

The Metropolitan Council lists a Metro Transit Route 294 stop at Highway 36 and Osgood Avenue/4th Street; Route 294 is a weekday peak-only express to downtown St. Paul. Check Metro Transit for current schedules. Met Council business item.

What historic sites are in Oak Park Heights?

The city’s history page notes two 1930s landmarks that remain: Tara Hideaway, built in 1932 for automobile tourists, and a scenic overlook on Lookout Trail built by the federal government in the early 1930s. History of the City.

Which school district serves Oak Park Heights?

The Stillwater Area Public School District lists Oak Park Heights among the communities it serves. Confirm the assigned school for the exact address with the district. District map.

Talk through an address-specific plan

Bryce Schuenke, REALTOR®, eXp Realty; MN Broker #41012271 | WI Salesperson #88518; (651) 302-4812; Info@RealtorBryce.com; 20731 Holyoke Ave Ste 103, Lakeville, MN 55044; www.RealtorBryce.com.