A Celebratory What’s Out There Weekend in the Twin Cities
What’s Out There Weekend Twin Cities on September 18-19 was met with sunny weather and eager attendees for a series of free, expert-led tours in Minneapolis and St. Paul. It was the twentieth What’s Out There Weekend organized by The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF). The event was also marked by the publication of a What’s Out There Twin Cities guidebook featuring all the tour sites (TCLF’s twenty-first What’s Out There guidebook), and a comprehensive online What’s Out There Twin Cities Cultural Landscapes Guide (TCLF’s seventeenth online city guide). “The tours and guidebook fostered a renewed appreciation and understanding of the exceptional Twin Cities landscapes enjoyed by millions of residents and visitors, and the architects and landscape designers that have played an integral role in the history and development of the Twin Cities" said David Wilson, Board Chair of Green Minneapolis. The weekend’s guides shared historic context, personal anecdotes, rich stories, and keen observations; according to one attendee: “All the presenters were knowledgeable about the projects and were accessible for questions. It was special to hear from members of the design teams and administrators of the projects.”
Saturday started with simultaneous tours of the University of Minnesota, The Knoll, Scholars Walk, Northrop Mall and US Bank Stadium, Arches, The Commons, U.S. Federal Courthouse, and Hennepin County Government Center, led by Elizabeth Gales (Hess Roise), Vera Westrum-Ostrum (University of Minnesota), Andrew Caddock (University of Minnesota), and Frank Edgerton Martin (Frank Edgerton Martin LLC), and Chuck Evens (Damon Farber) respectively. The morning continued with the weekend’s very popular bike tours (a first for What’s Out There Weekend). Richard Arey (Friends of the Saint Paul Parks and Trails) led attendees on United Cities Bike Tour to discover the legacy of parks visionary H.W.S Cleveland: plus, visits to Milwaukee Avenue, a modern plaza by Ralph Rapson and a space age play structure.
Attendees also visited Skateable Art Plaza, 26th Avenue Overlook, Farview Park led by Satoko Muratake (Ten x Ten), Andy Schilling (Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board), Dani Duque (Ryan Company), Kristen Murray (Juxtaposition Arts), James Garrett (4RM+ULA); Lakewood Cemetery | led by Paul Aarested (Lakewood Cemetery) and Ross Altheimer (Ten x Ten); Nicollet Mall and Peavey Plaza led by Laura Kamin-Lyndgaard (Coen + Partners, Inc.), Shane Coen (Coen + Partners, Inc.), Peter Brown (New History), David Wilson (Green Minneapolis), and Mary Altman (Public Arts Administrator, City of Minneapolis); Minnehaha Falls (Mnigaga), Coldwater Spring (Mni Owe Sni), Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote (Exterior Site Only) led by Maura Rockcastle (Ten x Ten), Kate Beane (Minnesota Historical Society), and Iyekiyapiwin Darlene St. Clair (University of Minnesota and St. Cloud State University); and Theodore Wirth Regional Park, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, Trailhead led by Andrea Weber (Minnesota Department of Transportation) and Tyler Pederson (Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board).
The day’s most popular tours featured the East and West Banks of the Mississippi River. Attendees at both sold out tours learned about the history and power of the river as an important touchpoint for the community. The group heard from a myriad of tour guides including: Charlene Roise (Hess, Roise and Company) Ann Calvert (Former Principal Project Coordinator at Minneapolis Community Planning & Economic Development), Ted Tucker (Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood), Julie Aldrich (Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board), Ken Grieshaber (SRF Consulting Group), Kate Lamers (Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board), Bruce Chamberlain (HKGi), Tom Evers (Minneapolis Parks Foundation), Jean Garbarini (Damon Farber), Kjersti Monson (Duval Companies), Mark Andrew (GreenMark Enterprises LLC), John Anfinson (National Park Service), Mary Lynn Pulsher (Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board), and Han Zhang (O2).
Sunday had a busy start with three concurrent tours: Kellogg Mall, Raspberry Island/River Overlook, Harriet Island led by Tim Griffin; Capitol, Capitol Memorials led by Theodore Lee (HGA) and Paul Mandell (Capitol Area Architecture Planning Board retired); and Indian Mounds Regional Park, Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary (Wakan Tipi)| led by Ellen Stewart (City of Saint Paul) and Maggie Lorenz (Lower Phalen Creek Project). Those who visited Indian Mounds learned about the vital work to reframe how this sacred land is used and honor those buried there. “I was exceptionally impressed with the quality of information presented in the two tours I attended--primarily, but not exclusively, as a result of the participation of and knowledge shared by the indigenous people who helped plan and lead them. They were generous enough to share about the stories and meaning of those places; including indigenous voices on these tours felt authentic (to me, at least) and did not smack of tokenism,” said one attendee.
The weekend closed out with tours of: Rice Park, Landmark Plaza, Irvine Park, Upper Landing Park led by Amy Mino (Minnesota Landmarks), Anne Gardner (City of Saint Paul), Elyse Jensen (Historic Irvine Park Association), and Carol Carey (Historic Saint Paul); Western Sculpture Park, Aurora St. Anthony Peace Sanctuary Garden, Rondo Commemorative Plaza led by Nathan Johnson (4RM+ULA) and Colleen Sheehy (Public Art Saint Paul); Como Park, Conservatory, Japanese Garden led by Bruce Jacobson (Bruce Jacobson Landscape Architecture), Michelle Furrer (Como Zoo and Conservatory), and Bob Lunning (Lunning Wende Associates); and, Loring Greenway, Loring Park, Walker Art Center Wuertle Upper Garden, Sculpture Garden led Tadd Kreun (O2), Dana Murdoch (University of Minnesota) , Colleen O’Dell (Minneapolis Park and Rec Board), John VanHeel (Alliance Design), and Greg Gaut (historic preservation consultant).
Former ASLA Minnisota President, Michael Jischke, had this to say about the weekend, "This event brought together local designers, historians, and community members to rediscover many of the significant landscapes that are the foundation of the Twin Cities open space system while also shining more light on the sacred spaces of indigenous peoples and other minority community-led projects. So often, we look to other places – bigger cities, rural or wild places – for recreation or inspiration, but the What’s Out There Weekend afforded us the opportunity to explore the unique landscapes embedded within our own downtowns and neighborhoods – thereby deepening our understanding and connections to these places."
What’s Out There Weekend Twin Cities would not have succeeded without support from ASLA Minnesota, the National Endowments for the Arts, Green Minneapolis, Landmark Center, Rice Park Association, the National Trust of Historic Preservation, the Minnesota Historical Society, and Clean Water Land & Legacy. Also essential was the tireless involvement David Wilson, Michael Jischke, Charlene Roise, Amy Mino, and many more who generously volunteered their time and knowledge.
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