Park Board Asset Management staff posing with lawn mowers at North 26th Avenue and Theodore Wirth Parkway, Minneapolis, Minnesota. This photograph recreates an earlier image of grass mowers working in a Minneapolis park.
This plan, written by Horace Cleveland, "landscape gardener," was a foundational document for the Minneapolis park system and was distributed with the first annual report of the Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners. This report references "Lake Calhoun," a Minneapolis lake now known as Bde Maka Ska, the Dakota language for "White Earth Lake."
When the Minnesota legislature created the Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners in 1883, it required the board to produce an annual report. These reports, which came to be highly prized by libraries and park advocates across the country, provide a vivid and detailed account of the development of one of the world's leading urban park systems. This, the first such report, outlines the organization of the Board, describes the state of the nascent park system, and includes a map of a Minneapolis park system as recommended by Prof. H.W.S. Cleveland, showing parkways along the Mississippi River and arounds Lakes Harriet and Calhoun. This report references "Lake Calhoun," a Minneapolis lake now known as Bde Maka Ska, the Dakota language for "White Earth Lake."
The third annual report of the Park Commissioners for the city of Minneapolis describes the ten parks and parkways under its care. Included in this report is an argument for public attention to the planting of trees throughout the city, and the commitment of the Board to planting trees in the parks and boulevards under its control, along with data on the numbers and varieties planted. When the Minnesota legislature created the Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners in 1883, it required the board to produce an annual report. These reports, which came to be highly prized by libraries and park advocates across the country, provide a vivid and detailed account of the development of one of the world's leading urban park systems. This report references "Lake Calhoun," a Minneapolis lake now known as Bde Maka Ska, the Dakota language for "White Earth Lake."
The ninth annual report of the Park Commissioners for the city of Minneapolis includes the rules for the Board of Park Commissioners and descriptions of the acquisition of land to enlarge parks such as Powderhorn, Lake Harriet and Minnehaha Parkway. When the Minnesota legislature created the Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners in 1883, it required the board to produce an annual report. These reports, which came to be highly prized by libraries and park advocates across the country, provide a vivid and detailed account of the development of one of the world's leading urban park systems. This report references "Lake Calhoun," a Minneapolis lake now known as Bde Maka Ska, the Dakota language for "White Earth Lake."
One highlight of the fourth annual report of the Park Commissioners for the city of Minneapolis is a letter from renowned landscape architect and designer of New York City's Central Park, Frederick Law Olmsted, touching on the duties of park commissioners, the impact of changing ways of doing business on the layout of streets and the structure of cities, and reflections on the purpose, design and planning of parks and parkways. When the Minnesota legislature created the Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners in 1883, it required the board to produce an annual report. These reports, which came to be highly prized by libraries and park advocates across the country, provide a vivid and detailed account of the development of one of the world's leading urban park systems. This report references "Lake Calhoun," a Minneapolis lake now known as Bde Maka Ska, the Dakota language for "White Earth Lake."
Annual report of the Park Commissioners for the city of Minneapolis. This report references "Lake Calhoun," a Minneapolis lake now known as Bde Maka Ska, the Dakota language for "White Earth Lake."
The second annual report of the Park Commissioners for the city of Minneapolis contains the text of the legislative ace "providing for the designation , acquisition, laying out and improvement of lands in the city of Minneapolis for a system of public parks and park ways, and for the care and government thereof." When the Minnesota legislature created the Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners in 1883, it required the board to produce an annual report. These reports, which came to be highly prized by libraries and park advocates across the country, provide a vivid and detailed account of the development of one of the world�s leading urban park systems.
The twelfth annual report of the Park Commissioners for the city of Minneapolis includes details about maintenance, improvements, and expenditures related to the parks and parkways in 1894. The Superintendent's report highlights winter sports in the parks and the park's fleet of boats on Lake Harriet. When the Minnesota legislature created the Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners in 1883, it required the board to produce an annual report. These reports, which came to be highly prized by libraries and park advocates across the country, provide a vivid and detailed account of the development of one of the world's leading urban park systems. This report references "Lake Calhoun," a Minneapolis lake now known as Bde Maka Ska, the Dakota language for "White Earth Lake."
Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Date Created:
1937
Description:
This typescript, with photographs pasted in, compiles the activities undertaken in Minneapolis parks in 1937. Sections address Major Improvements, Rehabilitation and Improvements, Horticulture, Recreation, Music, and the Charwoman Project. Recreation activities included general playground work (including athletics, arts and crafts, and games), puppetry, dramatics and recreation training school. In the fall of 1933, the United States government inaugurated a program of federal work relief for the unemployed. The purpose of this program was two-fold: to provide work for the unemployed, and to initiate and support useful public projects round the country. The Minneapolis Park Board was included under this program. Under the Works Progress Administration many rehabilitation and improvement projects were undertaken in Minneapolis parks. This report references "Lake Calhoun," a Minneapolis lake now known as Bde Maka Ska, the Dakota language for "White Earth Lake."
Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Date Created:
1939
Description:
This typescript, with photographs pasted in, compiles the activities undertaken in Minneapolis parks in 1939. Activities in this year included the rehabilitation of Lake Nokomis Park, improvement of recreational areas, and the installation of concrete picnic tables and benches. Each year lists the athletic programs by W.P.A. recreation workers. In 1939 these included hockey and speed skating, diamondball, volleyball and track for both boys and girls, and baseball, football, touch-football and basketball for boys, and horseshoe swimming, and soccer for girls. In the fall of 1933, the United States government inaugurated a program of federal work relief for the unemployed. The purpose of this program was two-fold: to provide work for the unemployed, and to initiate and support useful public projects round the country. The Minneapolis Park Board was included under this program. Beginning under the Civil Works Administration and the Emergency Relief Administration, and continuing under the Works Progress Administration many rehabilitation and improvement projects were undertaken in Minneapolis parks. This report references "Lake Calhoun," a Minneapolis lake now known as Bde Maka Ska, the Dakota language for "White Earth Lake."
Volume of Park Board Commissioners proceedings for the year 1886. This volume is a typewritten transcript, prepared under the Federal Works Progress Administration, of the handwritten meeting minutes of the Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners. Among many other activities, the Park Board paid for and planted trees throughout the city. Payments approved on May 15 included $2936.45 for trees and shrubs. This report references "Lake Calhoun," a Minneapolis lake now known as Bde Maka Ska, the Dakota language for "White Earth Lake."
Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Date Created:
1941-01-01
Description:
This typescript, with photographs pasted in, compiles the activities undertaken in Minneapolis parks in 1940. In addition to the on-going work of grading land, and constructing walls, sidewalks, and curbs, 1940 saw projects related to the rearrangement and expansion of the Minneapolis Municipal Airport. This report includes counts of participants and spectators for athletic teams, arts and craft activities (such as wood craft), clubs (such as model airplane), tournaments (such as checkers), and special events (such as a doll tea party). In the fall of 1933, the United States government inaugurated a program of federal work relief for the unemployed. The purpose of this program was two-fold: to provide work for the unemployed, and to initiate and support useful public projects round the country. The Minneapolis Park Board was included under this program. Beginning under the Civil Works Administration and the Emergency Relief Administration, and continuing under the Works Progress Administration many rehabilitation and improvement projects were undertaken in Minneapolis parks. This report references "Lake Calhoun," a Minneapolis lake now known as Bde Maka Ska, the Dakota language for "White Earth Lake."
Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Date Created:
1941
Description:
This typescript, with photographs pasted in, compiles the activities undertaken in Minneapolis parks in 1941. During 1941 an emergency project was set up to accommodate the expansion of the grounds and facilities of the Naval Reserve Base; work continued on the Minneapolis Municipal Airport and; improvements to parks, parkways and recreational facillites continued. This report includes photographs of a stone quarry operated by the W.P.A. for park needs, stone walls along Lake Calhoun's shoreline, a playground pageant, a model boat regatta, and more. In the fall of 1933, the United States government inaugurated a program of federal work relief for the unemployed. The purpose of this program was two-fold: to provide work for the unemployed, and to initiate and support useful public projects round the country. The Minneapolis Park Board was included under this program. Beginning under the Civil Works Administration and the Emergency Relief Administration, and continuing under the Works Progress Administration many rehabilitation and improvement projects were undertaken in Minneapolis parks.
Volume of Park Board Commissioners proceedings for the year 1885. This volume is a typewritten transcript, prepared under the Federal Works Progress Administration, of the handwritten meeting minutes of the Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners. Among much other content, the Proceedings for 1885 document setbacks the Board encountered in acquiring land for East River Boulevard and Powderhorn Park due to excessive expenses from landowner appraisals and negotiations with landowners in other areas where parks were being planned. This report references "Lake Calhoun," a Minneapolis lake now known as Bde Maka Ska, the Dakota language for "White Earth Lake."
Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Date Created:
1938
Description:
This typescript, with photographs pasted in, compiles the activities undertaken in Minneapolis parks in 1938. Major improvements were made to River Road West; lawn spaces and recreational facilities were improved in many older parks; fifty-four concrete courts were built; nearly five miles of fences were erected; and 3,315 trees, 1,363 evergreens and 2,184 shrubs were planted, all by W.P. A. workers. In the fall of 1933, the United States government inaugurated a program of federal work relief for the unemployed. The purpose of this program was two-fold: to provide work for the unemployed, and to initiate and support useful public projects round the country. The Minneapolis Park Board was included under this program. Beginning under the Civil Works Administration and the Emergency Relief Administration, and continuing under the Works Progress Administration many rehabilitation and improvement projects were undertaken in Minneapolis parks. This report references "Lake Calhoun," a Minneapolis lake now known as Bde Maka Ska, the Dakota language for "White Earth Lake."
Table tennis and playground on the beach at Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This report references "Lake Calhoun," a Minneapolis lake now known as Bde Maka Ska, the Dakota language for "White Earth Lake."
Volume of Park Board Commissioners proceedings for the year 1891. This volume is a typewritten transcript, prepared under the Federal Works Progress Administration, of the handwritten meeting minutes of the Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners. Proceedings from this year include ongoing discussions about and efforts to acquire land along the East River Bank Parkway, for which $30,000 was set aside, and around Lake Harriet. The popularity of Minnehaha Park is evident through discussions of erecting guardrails and gravel paths in dangerous areas, approving a license to sell refreshments and photographs for $415, and actions to ban the erection of tents and curio stands within the park. This report references "Lake Calhoun," a Minneapolis lake now known as Bde Maka Ska, the Dakota language for "White Earth Lake."
Volume of Park Board Commissioners proceedings for the year 1887. This volume is a typewritten transcript, prepared under the Federal Works Progress Administration, of the handwritten meeting minutes of the Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners. The Board changed Secretaries in this year, which prompted a review by the Committee on Finance with recommendations regarding bookkeeping, payroll, inventories and reporting. The proceedings of June 25 contain a resolution justifying and creating the post of Chief of Park Police, who would also serve as accountant and time keeper for the Superintendent of Parks. This report references "Lake Calhoun," a Minneapolis lake now known as Bde Maka Ska, the Dakota language for "White Earth Lake."
Volume of Park Board Commissioners proceedings for the year 1890. This volume is a typewritten transcript, prepared under the Federal Works Progress Administration, of the handwritten meeting minutes of the Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners. Some important elements from this years’ Proceedings include ordinances spelling out what was considered “quiet, orderly and suitable use of the Parks and Parkways of the City of Minneapolis by the people” (an example: “No person shall ride, propel or drive any velocipede, bicycle or other vehicle propelled by the feet or hands, or both, of the rider or person carried thereon in any park.”). On August 5 an ordinance was passed authorizing the Minneapolis Street Railway Company to construct and operate an electric line along Hennepin Avenue. This report references "Lake Calhoun," a Minneapolis lake now known as Bde Maka Ska, the Dakota language for "White Earth Lake."
This item consists of seven sheets of maps attached at the left edge, showing planned changes to Minnehaha Creek and Parkway. The maps were created in January 1912, when Theodore Wirth was Superintendent of Parks, and are indexed on page 103A of the Twenty-Ninth Annual Report of the Minneapolis Board of Park Comissioners. This particular copy was mailed on October 10, 1921 according to the postmark on the envelope.
Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Date Created:
1936
Description:
This typescript, with photographs pasted in, compiles the activities undertaken in Minneapolis parks in 1936. A note indicates that the photographs and compilation were by Walter B. Dahlberg. Many of the projects involve the building of walls and roads, but also included are the design and creation of concrete runways at the Minneapolis Municipal Airport, and an ""amazingly successful experiment in recreational dramatics"" which involved a troupe presenting plays in parks, playgrounds and public institutions. In the fall of 1933, the United States government inaugurated a program of federal work relief for the unemployed. The purpose of this program was two-fold: to provide work for the unemployed, and to initiate and support useful public projects round the country. The Minneapolis Park Board was included under this program. Beginning under the Civil Works Administration and the Emergency Relief Administration, and continuing under the Works Progress Administration many rehabilitation and improvement projects were undertaken in Minneapolis parks. This report references "Lake Calhoun," a Minneapolis lake now known as Bde Maka Ska, the Dakota language for "White Earth Lake."
Volume of Park Board Commissioners proceedings for the year 1888. This volume is a typewritten transcript, prepared under the Federal Works Progress Administration, of the handwritten meeting minutes of the Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners. The proceedings of the April 14 meeting include the approval of revised rules for the Board, covering everything from instructions for Board meetings and reports, duties of the officers, duties and procedures for the standing committees, and guidelines for employees such as the Superintendent of Parks. This report references "Lake Calhoun," a Minneapolis lake now known as Bde Maka Ska, the Dakota language for "White Earth Lake."
Volume of Park Board Commissioners proceedings for the year January 1-December 31, 1883. This volume is a typewritten transcript, prepared under the Federal Works Progress Administration, of the handwritten meeting minutes of the Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners. The Proceedings for 1883 include the details of the first meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners on March 14 and subsequent monthly meetings, the appointment of commissioners, and of the decisions to purchase the first lands to be designated as public parks and parkways in the city of Minneapolis. This report references "Lake Calhoun," a Minneapolis lake now known as Bde Maka Ska, the Dakota language for "White Earth Lake."