The unobstructed view over the beautifully undulated open country to the west, obtained from the concourse at the 26th Avenue entrance to “The Victory Memorial Drive”, is, in my estimation, the greatest asset of the Grand Rounds. This is the second highest point of the boulevard system; the highest being the concourse of St. Anthony Boulevard at 31st Avenue northeast and Fillmore Street, elevation 965. The elevation of Sunset Hill is 955 feet above mean sea level, or 245 feet above city datum. Zero of city datum is 709.89 feet above mean sea level. With the opening of the Glenwood-Camden section of “The Victory Memorial Drive”, the people of our city will be given the benefit of this panoramic view, which at the time of this writing is known to but a small percentage of the city’s population. I am quite sure that the people will most earnestly desire the preservation of the present rural scenery for all time to come.
The west boundary line of the parkway, which at this point is also the city limits, is 350 feet to the west. Adjoining is the large McNair Farm of about 250 acres bounded as follows: On the north by Lowry Avenue; on the east by the parkway; on the south by 19th Avenue, and on the west by the Great Northern Railroad. It is only natural to assume that with the improved parkway available for access, that this tract of fine rolling land will be utilized for residential purposes in the near future. As soon as this is done the fine rural landscape feature, the very life of the magnificent picture we now behold, will be destroyed. In place of looking out over the open country, for which specific purpose the parkway was here located, we will look down on the roofs of the houses of a new suburb, the residents of which make use of the parkway, without paying their share of its cost of construction and maintenance. The hereto attached photographs depict the present scenery and the change which would take place should such a residential district be established, and I introduce them as conclusive evidence that steps should be taken to prevent the spoliation of the now so restful, rural scenery.
Minneapolis Park Board Superintendent Theodore Wirth
38th Annual Report of the Minneapolis Park Board of Commissioners, 1920