Loring Park
| Loring Park | |
|---|---|
| Neighborhood | |
 Location of the Loring Park neighborhood within the U.S. city of Minneapolis |
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| Coordinates: 44°58′12″N 93°17′02″W / 44.97000°N 93.28389°WCoordinates: 44°58′12″N 93°17′02″W / 44.97000°N 93.28389°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Hennepin |
| City | Minneapolis |
| Community | Central |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.452 sq mi (1.17 km2) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 7,873 |
| • Density | 17,000/sq mi (6,700/km2) |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 55403, 55404 |
| Area code(s) | 612 |
| Loring Park | |
|---|---|
Loring Lake
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| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Coordinates | 44°58′12″N 93°17′02″W / 44.97000°N 93.28389°W |
| Area | 33.94 acres (13.74 ha) |
| Status | Open all year |
Loring Park, on the southwest corner of downtown Minneapolis, is the largest park in the Central Community of Minneapolis, Minnesota. It also lends its name to the surrounding neighborhood.
The park contains a small lake (Loring Lake, formerly known as Johnson's Lake) and paths for walking and biking. Originally named Central Park, it was renamed in honor of Charles M. Loring, known as the "Father of Minneapolis Parks." The park is the site of various cultural, social and political events. It features a playground, biking and walking paths, public art, and a fishing pier. It displays two well-known pieces of public art: the "Dandelion Fountain," a 1975 gift of Parks Commissioner Ben Berger, and a statue of Norwegian composer Ole Bull.
William Berry house in Loring Park
Loring Park in winter, park center erected ca.1906
Loring Lake with benches and walking paths
Loring Park in the Summertime
Loring Park was established in 1883 after the passage of the Park Act, the act which first created the Minneapolis Public Parks board. At its time of creation in 1883, the park was named Central Park. A couple of months after it was renamed to Spring Grove Park, but was subsequently renamed back to Central Park in 1883. In 1890 the park was renamed again in honor of Charles Morgridge Loring, who was the first president of the park board in Minneapolis.
Loring Park was purchased by the Minnesota Public Parks board on April 28, 1883. The land was purchased for $150,000 and contained 30 acres of land. A few more pieces of land were added to the park for a total cost of $350,000. This was the first plot of land that was purchased by the Minnesota Public Parks board. Shortly after purchasing the land, the Minneapolis Public Parks board hired George Brakett and Horace Cleveland to design the park and to drain the bog in the lake. They used plants that were brought in from nearby woods to complete the design for the park. They also decided at this time to make the park pedestrian only.
In 1906 the first permanent building in any Minneapolis park was constructed in Loring Park. The heated two-story shelter was donated by Charles Loring and was used as a warming house, recreation center and kindergarten. In 1960, the park renovated the shelter to be used as a space for senior programs. It was the first Minneapolis park to provide senior activities. Loring Park was the first park in Minnesota to have electric lights. The lights were installed in fall of 1884 to be used to illuminate the pond during winter skating season. In 1916 the local General Mills Company provided the park with 91 electric lights.
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Wikipedia