Chapter 4, Park Plans L

OPERATIONS AND INTRODUCTION PLANNING PROCESS SERVICE AREA VISION PARK PLANS MAINTENANCE IMPLEMENTATION LEVIN TRIANGLE LOCATION AND HISTORY low walls which contain the play surfacing and also At the intersections of Euclid Place, Irving Avenue and serve as seating. A meandering central path with West 26th Street, Joanne R. Levin Park was originally benches connects all three play areas and provides named Euclid Triangle for the street it borders. two different entrances to the park. Where the path Residents of the area petitioned for the Park Board starts on Euclid Place there are ornamental plantings, to acquire the land from M.M. Marcy and his wife bike racks, and a boulder with plaque in memory of in 1907. The Park Board funded its acquisition by Joanne Levin. The path entrance on West 26th Street assessing property owners in the neighborhood. contains ornamental plantings and a community message board that doubles as a trash enclosure. Curbs and gutters were installed around the park in 1909, and in 1910 the park was graded and planted At the center of the park is a small picnic area. The with shrubs and a large flower bed. Theodore Wirth recent loss of a large tree left the adjacent picnic area noted that the grounds had been transformed “from exposed to sun and in need of shade. The northern an ugly-looking dumping place into a neat little park”. third of the park is primarily an open grass area used for a variety of informal activities. This end of the In the 1970s, resident Joanne Levin organized the park also contains a park name sign, a garden bed, neighborhood to improve the triangle with the and a small bee hotel. The park is often patrolled by addition of a small playground. The initial playground Max, a friendly and well-known neighborhood cat. design was drawn by an architect in the area that Levin recruited. In 1974 the Park Board amended its THE PROPOSED DESIGN 1976 bond request to include funds for a playground The design of Levin Triangle highlights its importance in the triangle, which was eventually built in 1977. as a play space for neighborhood children. Existing A decade later, following Joanne Levin’s death at play areas remain and are enhanced with playable the age of 43, the park was named in her honor. boulders for climbing and informal seating. The Additional upgrades were made to the park and play picnic area becomes formalized and is protected by areas in 2012. artfully designed shade structures. Several pollinator Excerpted from history written by David C. Smith gardens are introduced at the corners and entrances to the park and a small community garden/urban EXISTING CONDITIONS AND CHARACTER agriculture area takes advantage of a sun-filled area on the south side of the park. The large open At 0.3 acres, Levin is just large enough to area and benches on the northern third of the park accommodate a compact and well-loved remain, as does the community message board and neighborhood play space. The central feature of this sidewalks that encircle the park. triangle are three play areas which cover roughly two thirds of the space. These are bordered by MINNEAPOLIS PARK AND RECREATION BOARD 158 SOUTHWEST SERVICE AREA MASTER PLAN OPERATIONS AND INTRODUCTION PLANNING PROCESS SERVICE AREA VISION PARK PLANS MAINTENANCE IMPLEMENTATION CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PARKS Levin Triangle is located just one block from Lake of the Isles, connecting it to the larger Grand Rounds system of trails. Within a half mile of Levin Triangle there are parks and trails in all directions: Mueller Park to the east, Kenwood Park to the west, The Mall Park and the Midtown Greenway to the south. KNOWN LAND USE AND COORDINATION ISSUES There are no known land use and coordination issues at Levin Triangle. MINNEAPOLIS PARK AND RECREATION BOARD 159 SOUTHWEST SERVICE AREA MASTER PLAN OPERATIONS AND INTRODUCTION PLANNING PROCESS SERVICE AREA VISION PARK PLANS MAINTENANCE IMPLEMENTATION EUCLID PL OPEN PLAY AREA PICNIC AREA IRVING AVE S AVE IRVING PLAY AREAS W 26TH ST N 0 20 LEVIN TRIANGLE - EXISTING CONDITIONS MINNEAPOLIS PARK AND RECREATION BOARD 160 SOUTHWEST SERVICE AREA MASTER PLAN OPERATIONS AND INTRODUCTION PLANNING PROCESS SERVICE AREA VISION PARK PLANS MAINTENANCE IMPLEMENTATION PROPOSED DESIGN FEATURES 1. climbing boulders/informal seating 5 2. shade structures 3. picnic/gathering area C 4. community gardens/urban agriculture B 5. naturalized plantings (pollinator EUCLID PL garden) D B EXISTING FEATURES A. play areas B. benches A C. sidewalk B D. open play area 3 E. community message board 2 IRVING AVE S AVE IRVING A C E A B 4 C 1 W 26TH ST 5 N 0 20 LEVIN TRIANGLE - PROPOSED PLAN MINNEAPOLIS PARK AND RECREATION BOARD 161 SOUTHWEST SERVICE AREA MASTER PLAN OPERATIONS AND INTRODUCTION PLANNING PROCESS SERVICE AREA VISION PARK PLANS MAINTENANCE IMPLEMENTATION 1: General Input 2: Initial Concepts 3: Preferred Concept Spring-Winter 2018 Winter-Spring 2019 Now Input themes prior to initial concepts Input themes on initial concepts Key elements of the concept no comments no comments No aquatics facilities planned at this park aquatics Like existing playground Like existing play areas Play areas retained, climbing/boulder play area added play Support climbing/boulder play Informal seating added near climbing/boulder play area Like green space here Keep open grass play area & don’t completely fill it with gardens or play Northern part of park remains open play space structures athletics no comments no comments No court facilities planned at this park courts no comments no comments No winter facilities planned at this park winter Needs shade Support for shade, park too small for covered shelter Shade structures added in center of park for play and picnic area Support pollinator gardens, bee hotel Pollinator gardens added landscape Support for urban agriculture Community gardens/urban ag added Enjoy it as a community gathering spot Support picnic and gathering area in center of park Retain existing picnic and gathering area, add shade no comments Interest in more seating options Informal boulder seating added other Community message board is important Retain existing community message board Park too small for bike skills area No bike facilities planned at this park LEVIN TRIANGLE PROCESSES MINNEAPOLIS PARK AND RECREATION BOARD 162 SOUTHWEST SERVICE AREA MASTER PLAN OPERATIONS AND INTRODUCTION PLANNING PROCESS SERVICE AREA VISION PARK PLANS MAINTENANCE IMPLEMENTATION Park 2020 Estimated Asset Type Project Notes Name Cost/Project Levin Triangle Play Traditional Play Structure in Existing $ 1,084,150 Container Levin Triangle Play Bouldering/Informal Seating $ 260,196 Levin Triangle Landscape Community Gardens/Urban Agriculture $ 40,815 Urban Agriculture Areas will be implemented in partnership with specific programs or community members. Estimate includes water service Levin Triangle Landscape Naturalized Areas: includes pollinator $ 2,735 gardens Levin Triangle Other Renovate Walking Paths $ 78,169 Levin Triangle Other Shade Structures $ 61,223 Levin Triangle Other Miscl. signs, trees, furniture $ 30,546 Levin Triangle TOTAL $ 1,557,832 COST ESTIMATE MINNEAPOLIS PARK AND RECREATION BOARD 163 SOUTHWEST SERVICE AREA MASTER PLAN OPERATIONS AND INTRODUCTION PLANNING PROCESS SERVICE AREA VISION PARK PLANS MAINTENANCE IMPLEMENTATION LINDEN HILLS BOULEVARD LOCATION AND HISTORY renamed, paved for the first time in 1921, then the entire length was repaved in 1993. Linden Hills Boulevard, formally known as Linden Hills Boulevard Parkway, stretches 2 ½ blocks along what Excerpted from history written by David C. Smith would otherwise be Russell Ave S, from William Berry Parkway south to Lake Harriet Parkway. The land EXISTING CONDITIONS AND CHARACTER was referred to as Park Boulevard for about 25 years Linden Hills Boulevard is a park-owned road which, until it was officially named after the surrounding like Lake Harriet Parkway, provides connection neighborhood in 1912. The park was described in between William Berry and Lake Harriet Parks. Like the Park Board’s inventory for the first time in 1914 all parkways in Minneapolis, there is a reduced as having been donated by Henry Beard in 1888. speed limit, lighting, and the road is covered by Beard also donated the land around Lake Harriet signature rose colored sealcoating. Aside from these which would become Beard’s Plaisance. However, three distinct parkway features, this short roadway later that year the Park Board paid over $8,000 for operates the same as other city streets with single- the “satisfaction of Beard contract” which included a family homes and sidewalks on both sides, boulevard little over two years’ worth of interest on the original trees, and parking options along the entire length. amount owed by the Board. It is unclear what specific land this contract referred to as Beard donated THE PROPOSED DESIGN multiple areas for park purposes. Linden Hills Boulevard is proposed for eventual Linden Hills Boulevard was created to link Bde Maka divestment from the park system due to its Ska with Lake Harriet and was the primary connection duplication of parkway connections between William between the two lakes until the acquisition of William Berry Park and Lake Harriet, the lack of space on the Berry Park in 1889. The boulevard was graded and roadway for the addition of bike lanes, medians or planted in 1889 and was described by Charles Loring other recreational amenities, as well as being outside as high land overlooking the lake. The original layout the boundary of the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes of the boulevard was a 40-foot-wide roadway with Regional Park. Until divestment occurs, this plan 10-foot-wide walkways and 20-foot-wide planting recommends creating enhanced pedestrian crossings spaces on both sides. Original improvements included and wayfinding nodes at all intersections, focused on a 70-foot bridge-like viaduct over the street railway bicycle and pedestrian access to Lake Harriet.

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