Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is a free, somewhat small, walkable park area that's across the street from the Walker Art Center, and it's open for visitors from 6am to midnight every day. I love the concept of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, but it feels like some updates to the space - or better maintenance/upkeep - are needed. I fully understand that there's an intention/claim that they work to restore native flowers and habitation by letting things grow, but the *look* of the park is that it's fairly overgrown and poorly maintained. Honestly, it just looks like a bit of a mess. It's entirely possible to allow for growth of the natural flowers and all that while also accounting for general maintenance of the space... and you have to be able to balance those things in order to really allow for a garden like this to be appealing while also aligning with intent. In addition to the look of overgrowth, it seems like the overall remodeling of the space hasn't been especially positive. After I visited, a friend of mine (who has been living in/around Minneapolis for YEARS), noted "You should have seen it years ago. It's changed and a lot of us don't like it." I can understand why... besides the remodeling essentially meaning minimal shade and full views of the highway, it sounds like the remodeled sculpture garden is just really bare. On top of that, the areas where you are able to walk are inconsistent - some are paved, some are gravel. Some of those unpaved areas have metal that can stick out (they were probably once covered by gravel, but the general lack of maintenance has meant it's likely they haven't received proper attention either).I guess I was just generally underwhelmed. Besides the Spoonbridge and Cherry, and then the blue rooster, there's not really much going on here that you'll remember after you leave. I LOVE museums, arboretums/gardens, public art, and all kinds of similar spaces... so I really wanted to love the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden too. I just don't think this garden is really all that appealing as it's currently organized or maintained. TL;DR. Glad I went once, but wouldn't feel the need to return unless there was some kind of larger design overhaul. If you're pressed for time? You can definitely skip this space.

This is a nice park located right in the heart of Downtown Minneapolis. It offers a lovely trail with some art installations along the way, making for an enjoyable stroll. Parking is super easy and affordable, costing only about $4. Originally, I thought there were no restrooms available, but I was relieved to find them when I had to rush the kids for an emergency! Overall, it's a great place for a bit of fun, light exercise, and a nice overall experience.

Such a fun (and free) park to visit!I love date nights wandering this park, there are so many insta-worthy spots. We even love having formal extended family photo sessions here, since there's so much to check out while you wait. A few on-street free parking spots are available, but there is ample paid parking a block away, or for a few more dollars you can have covered parking in the Walker Art Center's underground garage.

We love going to the sculpture garden on a beautiful day, is a great way to see fun art, let the kids run and play outside, and see a great view of downtown

Perfect way to end our day with cherry on top [Minneapolis MN]... a trip to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The park is located near the Walker Art Center free and open to the public from 6:00a to midnight 365 days a year. The Sculpture Garden is one of the crown jewels of the city so we had to see for ourselves. This art installation is huge! Unfortunately, it was starting to get dark around 8:30p and we were unable to see all the sculptures. The ones we saw, though, were cool especially that iconic spoon with cherry on top [Spoonbridge & Cherry], and the blue rooster [Hahn/Cock] and also the LOVE sculpture by Robert Indiana.I'm happy that I got to see a piece of the 11+ acres of sculptures and art pieces but I would love to see the rest of them so hope to get another glimpse on my next business trip back. Review #3120

Fun park!There is a parking lot or street parking available. It is a short walk around the park with several sculptures throughout the walk. The sculptures are interactive and thought provoking. Bring a camera so you can take some fun pictures.

Very fun, free outdoor sculpture garden. I recommend parking in the paid garage across the street which is temperature controlled and then has restrooms to access. Can be done in as short of an hour or take your time and spend 2 hours roaming the grounds.

This is one of those spots in Minnesota you have to visit at least once! The spoon and cherry are iconic to MN. It doesn't have a ton of shade, but it's a nice casual walk nearly any time of the year. The bridge connects the Sculpture Garden to Loring Park, which is convenient considering the major road it crosses. Both the garden and the bridge have accesible features. The outside of the garden is paved, which is helpful for those who need assistance walking. The bridge has a ramp, which is nice for the same reasons. All in all, the space is picturesque and worth (at least) one visit.

What a fun way to wrap up our visit to Minneapolis, and see part of the city from across the highway. We loved the art installations, especially the giant spoon with the cherry! And what a nice sized park! It's small enough that you can really enjoy what you're seeing without needing to spend loads of time doing so, but spread out enough that you're not right on top of each other. Loved following the paths and taking our time; wish we'd had time for a picnic!

A must-stop while you're in Minneapolis! I went on a day when the museum was closed, but you can still walk around the garden to take in all of the sculptures. There's a lot to check out, but I found you could see everything and take all the photos you want in about 45 minutes or so.Pro tip: Since I went on a weekday when the museum was closed, no one got in the way of my photos! If you're looking for the perfect picture consider doing the same!