Doesn’t it strike you as interesting that a park could get its name from a school? That’s exactly what happened with Windom South Park. The park took its name from the adjacent Windom School. But there’s a twist to the story. Another Windom Park already existed in northeast Minneapolis. That one was named in 1893 for William Windom. He was a former U.S. Senator from Minnesota. He also served as Secretary of the Treasury. To avoid confusion the city added the south to the name.
Windom South Park has an interesting backstory. A park was proposed for this area back in 1928. This was shortly after the city annexed this section from Richfield. The original idea was a park at 58th and Nicollet. That’s two blocks east of where we stand now. However that plan was abandoned in 1931 because of the Great Depression. Property owners were unwilling to pay for the park. Can you imagine that?
Interestingly Windom South was the last of several proposed park areas to finally get developed. Bossen Armatage Kenny and Morris parks were all acquired and developed first in the 1940s and 1950s.
The initial creation of Windom South Park occurred in 1986. The park board leased land from the school board. They created a playground for small children. The original playlot was created in 1988. Think about that for a moment. This park started as a simple playground.
In 1997 the park board worked with the school board to remodel the elementary school. This included adding a gym a media center and a park recreation center. This collaboration allowed both boards to upgrade facilities. They avoided duplicating costs. The new joint-use facilities were completed in 1999. It became a Spanish language immersion school. This shows you what is possible with good cooperation.
A new tot lot was constructed in the outdoor play area in 2008. It included two accessible play areas. The park now features a Little Free Library. This encourages reading and community sharing. Windom South Park is small. It is just one acre. But it offers a lot. It includes a playground a tot lot and an air-conditioned recreation center. The recreation center has a community kitchen a gymnasium and meeting rooms. It also has a multipurpose room.
The game room features a pool table air hockey and foosball. The gym is mainly used for youth sports.
The Windom Community Council often meets at Windom South Park. The park is at 5843 Wentworth Avenue. The park also holds weekly walking safety groups.
Windom South Park demonstrates how a community can create something special. It started with a simple playground. It evolved into a vital neighborhood asset. The park’s history reflects the changing needs of the community. It shows how cooperation can lead to better facilities for everyone. As you explore Windom South Park remember its story. It is a story of perseverance community and partnership.