PROGRESS OF PARK MAKING IN MINNEAPOLIS 
Probably no work of park construc- 
tion now actually in progress in this 
country is of more importance than 
that under way in Minneapolis. This 
city has natural features of lakes, 
river and forests, that can be matched 
nowhere else in this country and the 
generous, efficient manner in which 
a well-rounded park system is being 
built, makes each year's work in park 
Iniilding in that city a lesson of much 
value to anyone engaged in park im- 
provement. 
The last annual report, a book as 
elaborate, handsome and complete as 
those previously used, tells that the year 
just past has been one of more than 
usual activity. A consideralde amount of 
additional land has been designated 
for park purposes: existing parks and 
parkways have been maintained in 
the usual thorough manner, and good 
progress has been made in the mat- 
ter of permanent improvements. 
The most important improvements 
that have been completed during the 
])ast year may be summarized as fol- 
lows : 
The dredging of Lake of the Isles 
to a depth of eight feet below normal 
water level; the macadamizing of that 
section of River Road East lying be- 
tween the Franklin Avenue bridge 
and the City Limits; the construction 
of a section of Glenwood Parkway 
extending from Superior Avenue to 
Sixth Avenue North; the building of 
three field houses in different parts 
of the city and a house for the use 
of the Superintendent at Lyndale 
Farmstead; the construction of a per- 
manent bridge over Minnehaha Creek, 
below the falls; the grading of the 
easterly portion of Lyndale Park, and 
the enlarging and deepening of the 
pond in Camden Park 
The dredging of Lake of the Isles 
has occupied four seasons and has 
cost $ 52 , 489 . , 33 . Because of the nature 
of the material to be handled diffi- 
culties were encountered that seemed 
at times almost insurmountable, but 
they were all finally overcome. While 
the deepening process has been com- 
pleted there is still a large amount 
of work to be done in the way of 
grading, seeding and planting the 
banks. The grading and planting are 
now under way. 
When the banks are all properly 
graded, seeded and planted and the 
bordering driveways and bridges 
completed, this season, Lake of the 
Isles will be a rare beauty spot; and 
when the lake connections now under 
way are completed, which is expect- 
ed be by July 1 , 1911 , the Chain of 
Lakes will constitute one of the finest 
park features that can be found in the 
country. 
Work on the connection between 
Lake of the Isles and Lake Calhoun 
lUiiril \VO(.il).S I.V CLtlNWOOD IVIRK. M INN RAI'OI .IS. 
