Prospect Park, Minneapolis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Prospect Park East Minneapolis
Neighborhood
Prospect Park viewed from Stadium Village, with the conspicuous Prospect Park Water Tower
Nickname(s):  The Angle, Tower Hill
Location of Prospect Park neighborhood within the U.S. city of Minneapolis
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Hennepin
City	Minneapolis
Community	University
Founded and Platted	1885
Founded by	Louis Menage
Named for	Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
City Council Ward	2
Area
• Total	1.241 sq mi (3.21 km2)
Elevation	951 ft (284 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	7,457
• Density	6,008.9/sq mi (2,320.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Postal code	55414
Area code(s)	612
Website	http://www.pperr.org/

Prospect Park Residential Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Location in Minnesota Show map of Minnesota Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Roughly bounded by University & Williams Avenues SE, Emerald Street SE, and Interstate 94, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Area	138 acres (56 ha)
Built	1884–1968
Architect	Samuel Harlan Baker, Joseph H. Gilmore, et al.
NRHP reference No.	15000213
Designated HD	May 12, 2015

Prospect Park is a historic neighborhood in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It's part of the University community in the city. The area is bordered by the Mississippi River to the south and the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota to the east. To the north, you'll find railroad tracks, and to the west, the Stadium Village area of the University of Minnesota.

Prospect Park has different parts, including the East River Road area. A famous landmark here is the Prospect Park Water Tower, built in 1913. It's a symbol of the neighborhood.

This area used to be like a small town, with streetcars helping people get around. Today, it has a mix of homes and businesses. You can find single-family houses on Tower Hill and apartment buildings in the western parts. Along East River Road, there are large homes built in the early to mid-1900s. The SouthEast Industrial Area (SEMI) in the north has light factories and old grain silos. University Avenue is home to many shops and restaurants near the Stadium Village.

In 2015, the main part of the neighborhood, about 138 acres, was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It's known as the Prospect Park Residential Historic District because of its strong community spirit. This community spirit grew even though the neighborhood has hills and different types of houses. It was helped by new ideas, like Minneapolis's first community association.

A Look Back at Prospect Park's History

In 1874, a real estate developer named Louis F. Menage started planning new housing areas near Minneapolis. He asked the city to approve his plans for Prospect Park in 1884. Building houses here was tricky because of the hilly land and how isolated it was. Construction continued into the 1910s.

The houses were built in popular styles of the time, like the Queen Anne and Colonial Revival styles. The Sidney Pratt Elementary School was built in 1898 by the Minneapolis Board of Education.

Trains also played a big role. Thomas Lowry's commuter train served the neighborhood, stopping at Malcolm Avenue. Later, a train line between Saint Paul and Minneapolis opened along University Avenue. The Franklin Avenue Bridge also carried a train line.

Exploring Tower Hill

Tower Hill, created in 1906, is where the famous Prospect Park Water Tower stands. Many people say it's the highest point in Minneapolis. There's even a sign that says the elevation is 951 feet. However, some maps show a spot in Northeast Minneapolis that is actually higher, at 974 feet. The Water Tower itself, designed by Frederick William Cappelen, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Who Lives in Prospect Park?

Prospect Park is a very diverse neighborhood, meaning people from many different backgrounds live here.

• On Tower Hill, you'll find families and older adults whose children have grown up and moved out.
• The Glendale Housing project has many families.
• New apartment buildings have been built in the western and northern parts of the neighborhood for students attending the University.

How Prospect Park is Governed

Prospect Park is part of Minneapolis's Ward 2. This ward is currently represented by Cam Gordon on the Minneapolis City Council. The neighborhood has its own group, PPERRIA, which was started in 1901. It's the oldest neighborhood association in Minneapolis!

Fun and Culture in Prospect Park

The neighborhood hosts an annual "Ice Cream Social." It's a fun get-together with food, music, and other entertainment for everyone in the community. This is also the only time of year when the inside of the Prospect Park Water Tower is open to the public. You can go to the top and see amazing views of Minneapolis!

Near the south end of the neighborhood, on Bedford Street, is the Malcolm Willey House. This house was designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It was named after a university administrator. The house was so important historically that it was saved from being torn down when Interstate 94 was built in the 1950s.

The people of Prospect Park want to create an "urban village" feel. This means they want the neighborhood to feel somewhat self-contained and special, even though it's part of a big city. Prospect Park also has some houses that are over 100 years old!

The neighborhood also has two community centers: Pratt Elementary School and Luxton Park.

Gallery

• Prospect Park
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  Entrance to the KSTP-AM-FM-TV studios on University Avenue. The sidewalk leading to the building lies precisely on the city line, as does the central leg of the tower.

Images for kids

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  Entrance to the KSTP-AM-FM-TV studios on University Avenue. The sidewalk leading to the building lies precisely on the city line, as does the central leg of the tower.