Lyndale Park

In 1906, Theodore Wirth, the new superintendent for the 23-year-old Minneapolis park system, recommended using Lyndale Park’s eastern and southern sections for “educational purposes on plant life.” That allusion to an arboretum was possibly influenced by the park’s tree and shrub nursery, established in 1893 to provide stock for the growing park system; by 1915, the nursery had been relocated and the bulk of the Arboretum planted in those designated “educational” sections of the 61-acre park.

Over time, the Lyndale Park Arboretum’s collection has included several Heritage species, such as Champion size golden larch, American beech, white fir, Austrian and mugo pine, tulip tree and cucumber magnolia trees. It also encompasses more than 3,000 rose shrubs in the park’s Rose Garden, which opened in 1908, and a host of conifers that highlight the Peace Garden. A crab apple tree grove is another standout, with ongoing donations from local clubs dating back to 1952.

Currently, forestry and horticulture staff from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) manage the Lyndale Park Arboretum, with assistance from volunteers. Reflecting MPRB’s mission, values, and the community it serves, the Arboretum hosts an annual Pollinator Party in July and other environmental education activities throughout the year. Its accreditation in 2025 acknowledges work carried across generations, advancing the vision for an arboretum from its inception more than a century ago.