Farview Park

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Today’s story begins in 1883 when the newly established Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board laid down plans for their first three major parks. The downtown communities received Central Park, later renamed as Loring Park, the dense neighborhoods of lower Northeast were happy when Logan Park was created, and the final park was to be located in an area with one of the best views in the city.

Land that was a part of a hill and not suitable for easy development was purchased by the Park Board along Lyndale Avenue North, and the new park would keep the tradition going of early uninspiring park names and be called “Third Ward Park.” Once the park was completed, the name switched to the more appealing “Prospect Park,” two years before the Southeast Minneapolis neighborhood bearing the same name. Horace Cleveland, the mastermind behind the Grand Rounds parkway, initially wanted the parkway to extend north via Lyndale Avenue, ending in this park, at the top of the hill. Those plans never came to fruition, but success and popularity would soon find the park.

Farview Park Lookout Tower - 1910Prospect Park’s first attraction came in 1887 when a toboggan track was installed on the long, slopping hill that continues to be perfect for winter fun. The sledding hill would be the focus of drama in 1906 when Superintendent Theodore Wirth ordered the park police officer who was stationed there to stop the children from sliding down the hill to instead slide with them; a classic “gotcha” moment. In 1889, the most iconic structure of the young park was completed when a castle-like lookout tower was built atop the hill in order to take advantage of the spectacular views of the Mississippi River and the growing downtown. Later that year, tennis courts were added upon the request of the neighborhood. The next year, in 1890, the park once again changed names to fit the location better and perhaps quell confusion with the new neighborhood in Southeast, this time going with “Farview Park.” Not to be confused with the often-used place name “Fairview,” Farview Park was aptly named because its views reached, well, far. That checks out.

1892 marked another important year when it became the first park to have two sewer-connected restrooms. In 1907, the park’s playground received a facelift and later that year, the very first free summer outdoor music concert the Park Bard hosted took place in Farview Park, a tradition that has continued on to today in almost every park and that my band has even participated in. With the addition of sporadic concerts at the park, its neighbors eventually became quite the singers. For seven years, between 1924-27 and 1935-37, Farview Park won the yearly “community sing” trophy. The award, which was retired in the 1950s, was given to the park that sang the best during the summer concerts.

In 1960, the park received $260,000 for improvements and renovations. It brought in better tennis courts and athletic fields, a new shelter, and an updated playground. However, it did see the demolition of the 30-foot tall lookout tower. The recreation center was upgraded in 1992 with the addition of a gymnasium that is still one of the more popular spots to catch a game of pick-up basketball. Nine years later in 2001, Farview once again became home to another “first” when the first computer lab in the park system was installed in the recreation center.

Purple Raindrop sculptureMore recently, in 2012, the Minnesota Twins Community fund, among other non-profit organizations, completely redid the athletic fields and installed a state-of-the-art football and baseball field with artificial turf. In December of 2018, a new sculpture was installed that honors Prince. Purple Raindrop stands fifteen-feet tall and has been a great addition to the park. Looking forward, starting in 2023, the Park Board plans on pumping over $1,000,000 into updating the park once again, this time focusing on areas of the park that haven’t received any TLC during recent renovations.

A view of the skyline from atop the hillAs one of the very first parks in Minneapolis, Farview has been a hub for sports, leisure, and recreation for the communities of near north since its inception, and I look forward to watching the park continue to grow and improve as the years go on. The next time your life’s journey takes you to the Hawthorne Neighborhood, visit Purple Raindrop, watch a game of football, slide down the hill, or soak in the breathtaking view of the Minneapolis Skyline, all in Farview Park.

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About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs. Michael is also a historic interpreter and guide at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net. Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.