Theodore Wirth Park

Theodore Wirth Park is the largest park managed by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. The park land is shared by Minneapolis and the neighboring suburb of Golden Valley. The park includes two golf courses (an 18-hole course and a 9-hole par 3 course), Wirth Lake, Birch Pond, and other amenities. It forms a significant portion of the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, linking the Chain of Lakes area with the Victory Memorial Parkway.The park that became known as Theodore Wirth Park was established in 1889 with an initial acquisition of 66acre. The park currently occupies 759acre, which is 90% of the size of New York City's Central Park at 843acre. It was eventually named for Theodore Wirth, who was superintendent of Minneapolis parks for 30 years from 1906 to 1936.A geographic marker at one corner of the park grounds, at Wirth Parkway and Golden Valley Road, marks the 45 degrees latitude line, exactly halfway between the equator and the North Pole. The badly weathered plaque was refurbished around 2006.