Gold Medal Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gold Medal Park |
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| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Area | 7.5 acres (3.0 ha) |
| Created | 2007 |
| Status | Open all year |
Gold Medal Park is a beautiful green space in the Downtown East area of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This park is about 7.5-acre (3.0 ha) big. That's like having more than five football fields of green space! It opened in May 2007.
The park was designed by a special architect named Tom Oslund. He creates outdoor spaces. Gold Medal Park gets its name from Gold Medal flour. This is a famous product from a company called General Mills. The park is a peaceful spot for people in the Mill District neighborhood to enjoy nature.
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What Makes Gold Medal Park Special?
Gold Medal Park has a unique design. It was inspired by ancient Native American mounds. These mounds are found in many places across Minnesota.
The Big Mound and Green Spaces
The park's main feature is a 32-foot-high (9.8 m) mound. You can walk up this mound on a spiral path. The path winds through a large green lawn. There are also 300 trees planted around the park. These trees make the park feel like a peaceful forest.
The park is built right next to the Guthrie Theater. It is also close to the Mississippi River. This location gives the neighborhood a rare green space.
Cool Features and Trees
Gold Medal Park has specially designed benches. These benches glow in the dark! The park also has mature trees. Some of these trees were brought from as far away as New Jersey.
Who Owns and Cares for the Park?
The land for Gold Medal Park is owned by two groups. The city of Minneapolis owns about half. The other half was owned by the Guthrie Theater.
How the Park Land Was Secured
In 2007, a group called the William W. and Nadine M. McGuire Family Foundation leased the land. They leased it for 10 years. In 2014, the Gold Medal Park Conservancy bought most of the land from the Guthrie Theater. Then, they made a 50-year lease for the rest of the land. This part is owned by the City of Minneapolis. This means the Conservancy helps take care of the park for a very long time.
Remembrance Garden
Right across the street from Gold Medal Park is the Remembrance Garden. This garden is a special place. It honors the people affected by the I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapse. The bridge collapsed on August 1, 2007. The Remembrance Garden was officially opened on August 1, 2011. This was four years after the bridge collapse.
