Exploring the Upper River: Sheridan Memorial Park

Article by Kathleen Boe, Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership

Exploring the Upper River

A look at places that are hidden gems along the Minneapolis Riverfront

At the end of 13th Street NE in Minneapolis is one of the city’s hidden gems: Sheridan Memorial Park.

Head west, down 13th Street, past the old Grain Belt brewery and you find yourself in Sheridan Memorial Park. One of the newest parks in the city of Minneapolis, the park was dedicated just over two years ago. It is an important place, not just for Northeast Minneapolis or the city as a whole, but the entire state.

Sheridan Memorial Park is dominated visually by the orange globe in the center. The real significance is that it serves as a veterans memorial park for the entire state of Minnesota – recognizing those who served in 10 conflicts the U.S. has been involved with since statehood – starting with the Civil War.

The Sheridan Neighborhood Association worked with World War II veterans to get this accomplished. The veterans’ stories can literally be found all around the memorial. Pillars around the perimeter of the memorial give a brief synopsis of each conflict, along with a veteran’s personal story. The pillars also record the number of Minnesotans killed in each conflict, from seven in the Persian Gulf War to 104 Minnesota soldiers and militia and 30-50 Dakota warriors in the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 to 7,903 in World War II.

Each also prominently features a bronze casting of the face of a veteran of the conflict. The Civil War pillar cites Patrick Henry Taylor, who was a sergeant in the First Minnesota Regiment. His brother, Isaac, was killed in the Battle of Gettysburg. “Isaac has not fallen in vain. He died for a noble cause. As we laid him down, I remarked, ‘Well, Isaac, all I can give you is a soldier’s grave.’ I then sat down on a stone while two comrades buried him.”

The most touching pillar is from World War II, featuring a casting of the face of Howard Weller, who was the last surviving member of a group of more than a dozen people, headed by Ed Karbo, Sr., who got the ball rolling on a veterans memorial. Weller, who lived in northeast Minneapolis for more than 50 years, is depicted with oxygen tubes to help him breathe.

Although the memorial is in place, the park itself is still a work in progress.  The Minneapolis Park Board plans to expand this park as part of the continued expansion of parkland along the east bank of the Mississippi River. The Park Board was awarded a federal grant of $500,000 to help fund improvements in the form of a picnic shelter, restrooms and a playground at Sheridan Memorial Park.

The park is accessible not just by car, but by foot or bicycle along the new East Bank Trail. It’s a reasonable walk from Boom Island, along the river through the former Scherer site and past Graco. From the overlook on the edge of the park you can see the river and see across the river to where more green space sits, in front of Broadway Pizza, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the Lifesource building. Parkland is expanding to the northern reaches of the City.

While you’re there, warm up with a drink at SiP Coffeebar, or if you’re craving something different, try Bunny’s Bar and Grill. You won’t regret it.

I'll be back each month to talk about some other unsung spaces along the Upper River.

Kathleen Boe is Executive Director of the Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership. She can be reached at kathleen.boe@minneapolisriverfront.org via email, or minneapolisriverfront.org on the web.