742 



HOETICULTUEE 



May 17, 191S 



THE MINNEAPOLIS PARK SYSTEM 



Minneapolis has today a park sys- 

 tem of 3,710 acres. Of this total area 

 about one-third is made up of lakes, 

 lagoons and canals. Park history 

 dates back to 1857, but active acqui- 

 sition and development commenced 

 only with the creation of the Board 

 of Park Commissioners in 1883, and 

 the existing three small squares were 

 at that time transferred to the juris- 

 diction of the Board by the City 

 Council. 



The well distributed and compre- 

 hensive system of parks and park- 

 ways bears testimony ot the wisdom 

 and forethought exercised by early 

 public-spirited citizens; and the secur- 

 ing and developing of what is rightly 

 considered one of the city's chief as- 

 sets has been in capable hands. 



Minneapolitans are justly proud of 

 the city's park possessions and visi- 

 tors are agreeably surprised at the 

 liberal way nature has endowed the 

 system. Many and varied are its nat- 

 ural advantages and attractions. Park 

 authorities agree that it will rival any 

 in the country. Famed are its system 

 of urban lakes, the historic falls, the 

 mighty river and an almost endless 

 variety of picturesque scenery. 



Minneapolis devotes one acre in 

 every ten of its entire area to public 

 recreation purposes; a much greater 

 proportion than in any of the twenty- 

 eight principal cities in the United 

 States having a population exceeding 

 250,000 each. The park system rep- 

 resents an investment of over $6,000,- 

 000 for land and improvements, and 

 the value of donations is estimated at 

 about $800,000. 



A brief description of the system 

 will give a general idea of the park 

 possessions. Loring Park, of thirty- 

 six acres, named in honor of Mr. G. 

 M. Loring, known as the "Father of 



Wilson Park, 

 A Siiuill Xeig 



the Minneapolis Park System, " is ihe 

 most centrally located and is much 

 admired for its natural beauty and 

 the many embellishments provided by 

 the hand of man. The system of park- 

 ways starts at this point, and for a 

 distance of seventeen miles one trav- 

 els continuously on park lands over 

 an ever-changing course, connecting 

 many of the principal parks through 

 varied and beautiful scenery. 



Kenwood Parkway, starting at Lor- 

 ing Park and going west, skirts nn 

 our right. The Parade, a large open 

 space of sixty-eight acres, ideal for a 

 playground and athletic field, and 



LiK.AN Park Pi,ay(ihouxi) 

 Minneapolis Porli System. 



Minneapolis 

 hborhood Park. 



then through a fine residential district 

 past the wooded and rolling Kenwood 

 Park of thirty-three acres, and con- 

 nects us with the chain of magnifi- 

 cent urban lakes with finely wooded 

 shores and splendid encircling boule- 

 vards. 



Lake of the Isles, of 200 acres 

 (water area 107 acres), is the first and 

 rightly called, the most picturesque, 

 with its pretty islands and irregular 

 shore line. Next, in a southerly direc- 

 tion we come to Lake Calhoun, of 522 

 acres (water area 460 acres), the, 

 largest of the system. This lake ia| 

 much used for sailing, boating, cano6-| 

 ing and other water sports, and here 

 is located the commodious Calhoun 

 Baths, conceded to be the most up-t 

 date in the country. A little furthef 

 south is Lake Harriet, of 408 acre^ 

 (water area 353 acres), the favorite 

 lecreation spot of park visitors. Free 

 concerts are given here daily during 

 the summer by the famous Minneas 

 oils Park Band, and canoeing, boatl 

 ing, fishing and spacious picnic 

 a:rounds add to the popularity of this" 

 resort. 



Minnehaha Parkway connects with 

 ' ake Harriet Boulevard and in an 

 easterly direction follows the winding 

 course of Minnehaha Creek through 

 natural scenery of hill and dale the 

 whole distance of 5V2 miles, past Lake 

 Nokomis of 409 acres (water area 295 

 acres), and then bringing us to that 

 romantic spot called Minnehaha Park, 

 of 142 acres, and considered by many 

 the gem of the park system. Here 

 we have the celebrated Minnehaha 

 Falls immortalized by the poet Long- 

 fellow. From here we follow the 

 course ot the Mississippi River along 

 the west bank in a northerly direc- 

 tion. The boulevard is built on tha 

 bank high above the river, and the 

 land between the drive and river is 



