The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-21
- N TNNEAPOLIS has upwards of
A~ 1880 acres of parks and park

= y z
miles of drives thru parks and park
ways.
Theodore Wirth, the new park super
1ntendent, who has just come from
Hartford to make Minneapolis his
abode, finds awaiting his management
and work of development no less than
5S parks and parkways valued at close
upon $5,000,oo0.
Minneapolis has an acre of park for
every $50 population-more park area
than any other city of 100000 popula-
ton, and more park in proportion to
people than any other American city.
Park System in Brief.
In the southeast corner of the city,
Minnehaha park, including the famous
Minnehaha falls and 1877 heavily wood
ed acres: of grove, glen and stream, is
one of the finest natural parks in the
world. Westward up Minnehaha creek
for FIVE miles, Minnehaha parkway ex-
tends to the wooded shores of Lake
Harriet, whose 40S acres of water area
aud FIVE miles of driveways are sup
plemented by Colonel Kings 60-acre
donation of Lyndale park. Thence
northerly past Lake Calhoun and Lake
of the Isles, and finally easterly to
Hennepin at the foot of Lowry hill, via
somewhere near seven miles of winding
drives in all, thru Interlachen, Calhoun,
Dean, Lake of the Isles and Kenwood
parkways, the tourist arrives within a
stone IS throw of the city's business dis
trict.
For ten miles thru the city limits,
from. the northern to the most southeast
erly extremity, the waters and wooded
banks of the Mississippi river, with ST..
Anthony falls close to the city IS center,
and dozen wooded islands within the
city limits, give Minneapolis natural
resources for scenic beauty and park
development enjoyed by few or no other
cities in the world. This opportunity
for river park development the city has
taken advantage of in the case of the
two and one-half miles of st. Anthony
parkway extending down the east bank
i of the river; from the university cam
pus to the st. Paul boundary, and in the
case of the three and one-half miles of
the new West Riverside parkway which
extends from Riverside park down to
Min1ehaha. 49, n" .. 49, g.. +
Then there are the 166 wooded acres
Of Columbia park northeast, the 81 acres
of Glenwood park on the central west
ern border, the 81 acres of Powderhorn
lake and park in the south central dis
trict, the 154 acres of the Lake of the
Isles park, the SO acres of Loring park
in the heart Of the central residence dis
trict, the SO acres Of the newly acquired
Parade, and nearly two-score of lesser
1. parks, parkways and squares, from the
pioneer donation of Murphy square just
half a century ago down to the new
acquisitions of Hiyata park and Long
Johns pond.
Wanted Great Central Park.
But in all this park array there is
just one great essential feature lacking
the hub of the wheel, the Hamlet Of
the play, the nucleus Of the entire park
lsystem-and that is great central park
that shall stand out as the commanding
figure, the piece de resistance of the sys-
ten; and the. opportunity for this
browning achievement now lies at hand
within reach of the city.
- That opportunity lies in consolidating
nLoring park, the Parade, Hiyata park,
and sundry recent donations Of lots and
blocks adjoining these parks and along
stKenwood and the brink of Lowry hill
into one great central park
Thus consolidated, these park proper.