In the 1970’s Mankato had 35 parks covering 689 acres, and North Mankato had another 20 parks spanning more than 150 acres

In the 1970’s Mankato had 35 parks covering 689 acres, and North Mankato had another 20 parks spanning more than 150 acres

• Today, we will show you a few of the many parks that still exist in modern-day Mankato, MN.

Group Names:

• Travis – Intro and conclusion/Memorial Park

• James – Highland Park

• Staci – Lincoln Park

• A little on Memorial Park

• Dionne – Minneopa Park

• Scott & Mike – Sibley Park

• Andy – Washington Park

Highland Park

• On Oct. 15, 1874, Mankato city council bought 10,28 acres for $150/acre. These were to be the grounds on which a new park was built.

Highland Park

• First building was built in 1905.

• Popular Tourist/camping site

• A camper from Nashville, Tennessee once quoted the park as being “hard to beat.”

Highland Park

• Also built by city to obtain a site for a well that would provide water to city residents that lived on the hill.

Highland Park

• Highland Park was deteriorated during WWII

• It took many years of hard work to restore the park to its present day appearance.

Lincoln Park

• Grounds for park purchased in 1885 by a group of citizens.

• It was deeded to the city of Mankato who agreed to maintain it as a park.

Lincoln Park

• A Soldier Monument and fountain was built in the park in 1893.

• High winds destroyed the statue of the soldier

• Walls of the fountain basin were left in place, no attempts have been made thus far to restore it.

Lincoln Park

• A large Elm Tree, expected to date back to 1776, was a signature feature of Lincoln Park for a long time.

• It was used for the bicentennial celebration of Mankato in 1976.

Lincoln Park

• The large Elm was reinforced several times to attempt to save its large body and branches from falling over.

• It succumbed to Dutch Elm disease in 1980

• The tree was found to have been 315 years old.

Memorial Park

Memorial Park

• Located off of Riverfront across from Reconciliation Park and the site of the Dakota Massacre. (By the big buffalo)

Minneopa Park

• “Twice falling water” ~ Dakota Sioux

• One of the oldest state parks

• Oldest Park in Mankato

• Largest Waterfall in southern MN

Minneopa Park

• 2 Picturesque waterfalls

• Formed by Minneopa Creek

• Upper Fall:

• 6-7ft high

• Lower Fall:

• 40 foot drop

Minneopa Park

• Current Facilities:

Minneopa Park

Sibley Park

• City purchased land for Sibley Park in 1887.

Sibley Park

• In 1965, the famous and highly popular Sibley Park Zoo was nearly swept away when the Blue Earth and Minnesota river valleys flooded.

Sibley Park

• Of the more than 100 animals who were housed at the zoo at the time of the flood, only the larger ones survived.

Sibley Park

• The few animals that did survive the flood were moved to nearby Como Zoo in St. Paul.

Sibley Park

• In 1989 the newly reestablished zoo consisted of a prairie dog colony, deer, peacocks, rabbits & goats.

• For the most part, the same animals remain today at the Sibley Park Zoo.

Sibley Park

• Sibley functions as a great picnic area.

• Good place to go to play catch or do some homework (in the warm months, of course).

• Or just laying on a blanket in the sun.

Washington Park

• Located at 4th and Washington St.

Washington Park

• Was once location of railroad yards for the Omaha Railroad…..

Washington Park

• …but the railroad moved in 1906

Washington Park

• The moving of the railroad resulted in the establishment of what today is known as Mankato’s Washington Park

Our Group

When Things Go Crazy!!

El Fin

• This has been a presentation of Mankato City Parks by the Watchamacallits!