Prospect Park / East River Road

No neighborhood does a better job of creating its own world so close to the center of a metropolis. Prospect Park is a go between for many landscapes; Minneapolis to St. Paul, industrial areas to green spaces. This community started as a suburb that served this exact purpose, where citizens could travel in and out of downtown Minneapolis using the street car in the late 19th century. Now it has I-94 running through and it directly touches the University of Minnesota campus and the Mississippi River.

Prospect Park is home to the Witch's Hat Water Tower, which is one of the highest points in Minneapolis. At the top, locals and visitors can get one of the best possible views of the city. The population is an eclectic mix of families, single professionals and students. Most of the homes are modest single family houses while there is a small cluster of apartment buildings to cater to a student population. The neighborhood contains several businesses that most residents can walk to. Residents have access to two different public parks, Luxton Park and Tower Hill Park, and children attend the nearby Pratt Elementary School. Prospect Park is a prime example of different lifestyles living harmoniously.

Prospect Park is a village nestled among two major cities. Situated to the east of the University, north of the Mississippi River, west of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and south of an industrial area, Prospect Park is almost like an oasis of homes. An old neighborhood developed in the 1800’s, Prospect Park was originally a suburb for commuters using the streetcar line to reach Minneapolis.

Perhaps most unique and noticeable about Prospect Park is the famed Witch’s Hat Water Tower, seated at the highest point in the neighborhood, and possibly the city. This famed location is open once a year on Memorial Day to allow residents and visitors the opportunity to have a panoramic view of Minneapolis.

The neighborhood consists mainly of small homes owned and lived in by families and individuals, and a few apartment buildings for students. There is a housing complex called the Glendale Housing Project that is home to about 700 families living on an average of $9000/family. There are small businesses and stores in the neighborhood as well within walking distance of the homes.

Set among the steep hills and winding streets, Prospect Park also includes Pratt Elementary School and Luxton Park (a community center). Architecture lovers will appreciate the Malcolm Willey House that was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and still sits today on Bedford Street.