Theodore Wirth Park

Theodore Wirth Park is a large recreational area in Golden Valley and Minneapolis featuring two golf courses, several lakes, and extensive hiking and mountain biking trails. The area covers roughly 300 acres and offers cross-country skiing paths in winter and various water and recreational activities in summer.

The park began in 1889 as a small green space with only about 27 acres and was later named after Theodore Wirth, an important landscape architect who led park development in Minneapolis from 1906. The site grew significantly over the decades through the addition of lakes, paths, and sports facilities.

The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden within the park holds over 600 plant species and attracts bird watchers who can spot more than 130 different bird species throughout the grounds. The gardens are divided into distinct habitat zones, allowing visitors to explore different ecosystems on short walking paths.

The park is usable differently depending on the season, with golf courses in summer and cross-country skiing paths in winter, accessible by foot, bicycle, or car. Visitors should note that some areas close earlier than others and conditions vary depending on weather.

Within the park, a geographic marker indicates the 45 degrees latitude line, marking the exact midpoint between the equator and the North Pole. This invisible line connects the park to a larger global reference system that cartographers and geography enthusiasts have used for centuries.