This is a huge park that has a little of everything. This park has a fine mix of modern amenities and rustic appeal. It is a little piece of calm just outside the busy city. It spans 34 acres and is named after Charles Loring, an American businessman, miller and publicist who was the first Minneapolis Park Board and considered the "Father of the Park System" in Minneapolis. The park has an astounding flower garden. It was very pretty. You will also find a very nice lake/wetland here. It has seating and is very soothing. The lake is home to many animals. Fishing is welcome at the lake. They even have a fishing pier. The park has a full basketball court and a half-court basketball court that are in great shape. The park's horseshoe pits could use some TLC, though. The park is home to about 10 pits. If you are a pickleball player, then the park has a couple of nice courts to play on. Other park amenities include tennis courts, shuffleboard, and two playground areas on wood-chip beds. One area is fenced in and is for smaller children. This area has a bank of swings, a saucer swing, slides, a modern merry-go-round, a bebble bridge, and a jungle gym. The other playground area, for older kids, has a climbing net, balance beam, slides, pebble bridge, and rock climbing wall. This area is not fenced in. I have seen a lot of parks, and this is a nice one. They host events such as movie screenings, ice skating, and lunchtime concerts. You can easily spend half a day here. I really enjoyed my time here and am sure that you will too. read more

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I love a beautiful park in the middle of the city! Loring Park is a tranquil oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Minneapolis. Lots of beautiful flower beds in the Garden of the Seasons. Great place for a stroll or picnic. Lots of benches to stop and take a rest and enjoy nature. Spring is my favorite time to visit because I love to see the tulips! read more

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After a wonderful dinner at Gai Noi, colleagues and I took a stroll of Loring Park. It's a pretty park with a lake, walking pathways, and nature all around. We also encountered a variety of birds, and I saw one of the cutest and chubbiest squirrels I've ever seen. read more

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Loring park is a nice walking/area to take in some nature. There's a bridge that connects it to the Mpls Sculpture Garden (so you can avoid crossing the busy intersection). They have hosted Pride as well as art fairs & a host of other events here for many years. Not sure if it ever came back/they turned it back on but they used to have a dandelion water fountain that was really pretty - closer to the DT/College side. Also restaurants and coffee shops around the area. There's metered parking closer to the DT side. And around most of the park. For the most part it seems quiet and chill besides the traffic. read more

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Loring Park continues to be a beautiful place for a leisurely walk. There's a lot of history at this park since it's beginning in 1883 and in 1884 was the first park in Minneapolis to install electric lights. read more

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WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 'DANDELION' FOUNTAIN? As tourists, (in June 2024) we came in search of the Berger Fountain, the iconic one that looks like a dandelion that we'd seen in many photos of Minneapolis. After trekking through the park, we came across the derelict, non-functioning fountain which clearly hadn't been in operation for a while. How disappointing! The rest of the park was decent and obviously a haven for dog walkers from the surrounding apartments. As far as wildlife, we saw a few geese and squirrels. If you're a tourist, I wouldn't go out of your way to visit Loring Park. read more

Loring Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Fun dog park within Loring Park boarding the Minneapolis Community College. Length of the park is great for zoomies and plenty big enough to accommodate 15-20 dogs which you rarely see that many. One thing to note there is no separation for Big/Small dogs so make sure your pup can hang with the big dawgs. There is a water hose on site for fresh water and plenty of tools/scoopers to keep the area clean. Also plenty of shade for those steamy summer days and it's a close walk to Lakes and Legends for the afterparty! Cheers read more

Loring Park - Dawgs - Dog Parks Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

This park is gorgeous covered in snow so I bet when it's green in the summer, it's spectacular. We wandered through the park to get to our final destination and had a blast while doing so. We walked a bit through the closed Holidazzle and took some pics and had fun with the attack squirrels. I had no idea you could get a squirrel to come to you as a dog would. Even with snow, the walkways are fairly clear and you can take a nice stroll through the park. it's a good size to be able to enjoy whatever your day may bring. read more

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Very nice urban park with a community college at one end, a dog park at another corner, and a peaceful pond in the middle. It's really well designed, but the people who maintain it are fighting a losing battle with those who litter and those who don't clean up after their dogs. I enjoyed a brisk walk through the park on a wintry day, I can only imagine how nice it is in warmer weather. read more

Loring Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Initially, I was nervous about this dog park because there was no separate small dog area. I ended up having a great experience here. Not only was The dog park very nice with plenty of shade and space, but the other dogs and owners were great too! Things to know: - no separate small dog area - multiple wade pools in the park which could be a pro or a con depending on your dog. My dog got pretty muddy but thankfully there was a hose there to wash her off - plenty of shade from the trees and chairs for owners to sit in - it's a pretty area with the city in the backdrop and gardens nearby read more

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I been here long ago buy today was amazing. The place is surrounded by nature and has great walking trails as well as bike paths. There are play grounds for the kids as well as a pool. If you just want a nice place to to hang out this is the spot . If you get here early then do that to take advantage of the place. read more

Loring Park - The park are this morning while setting up for pride - Dog Parks Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

This park is everything you want in a park and more. I can't tell you how blown away I was by how beautiful and serene and massive this park is. I found parking extremely easy, which in this part of the city which is like downtown, I was shocked. So simple. I brought my dogs and we walked down there was a lake with ducks, The skyline against the lake was just gorgeous, there was a beautiful flower garden that was breathtaking. A bridge that overlooked this almost wildlife looking area where I saw a stork! Beautiful buildings, just the most stunning park I've ever been to. Every time I come to Minneapolis I find something more I love about it, this trip was no different. I also had conversations with people, people are so nice in this city that it fills my heart with joy. I just love this and I love Minneapolis! read more

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Squirrels all over The water is kind of green Awesome skyline views I'm now the Duke of Loring Park, so I gotta thing or two to say about the place and you're all gonna hear about it! It is a squirrel lovers paradise. They have your typical gray squirrels and also quite a few albino and black squirrels. The squirrels are quite accustomed to human interaction. Many have been rehabbed by humans and released into the park. You can feed them by hand with no worries. I only tried so once. Still makes me a little nervous. The Park is just on the fringe of downtown Minneapolis and there is a pedestrian bridge over a busy urban intersection connecting you to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and the Walker Art Center. My complaints are twofold. One, they need to clean up the ponds. They are completely covered with algae and are a funky green most all of the time. Secondly, the walking paths seem to have no rhyme or reason. Still figuring out the quickest way from point A to point B on the paved trail. Great spot for taking pics if from out of town. Both for the squirrels and for the nearby skyline. It is the home of the Twin Cites Pride Festival, and the Park used to have a bad rep for cruisers back in the day. With the Internet and social media, that is mostly all underground now. I've walked through the park at all hours in nearly three months of living in the neighborhood now and felt completely safe and only been hit on once (sigh). Guess I don't have it anymore, not that I ever did. read more

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Gem of a downtown park in the middle of an urban city. Take a stroll around Loring Pond, have a picnic, enjoy the garden, play some basketball, check out the Berger "Dandelion" fountain-or just stop and enjoy the scene. read more

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This is a small park in Minneapolis. It's in a residential area although there's also traffic there. There's a lake and lots of bikers are there in better weather. read more

I LOVE Loring Park! I was just there for Twin Cities Pride and it was beautiful as always. Whether it's an event like Pride or if you're just looking for a place to take a stroll or bike ride, Loring Park is the cutest. It's located in the heart of Minneapolis across from the Sculpture Garden, and attracts all the locals in the summertime. The pond is darling and whether it's just you or you want to take your fur babies for a walk, Loring Park is one of the most well-kept and cleanest parks in the metro. It's walking-distance to a lot of popular spots and restaurants as well. read more

The Central Park of Minneapolis. With its sister park the Minneapolis Sculpture Gardens on the other side of the Hixon Whitney Footbridge ( also called the Loring Greenway Bridge over Interstate 94), Loring Park is the Central Park of Minneapolis that separates Downtown from Uptown. It is a 33.94 central park jewel that dates back to 1883. Its original originally name was Central Park. In 1890, Government officials renamed it in tribute to the first president of the Minneapolis Parks Board who was extraordinary passionate about preserving green space in Minneapolis for future generations. I can easily exceed the Yelp character limit speaking highly of this man named Charles Morgridge Loring. I will say that his determination and vision played a significant role in the creation of Loring Park. It is a park that created many firsts for Minneapolis including the first to have a heated building, lights, ice rink, and numerous others. Charles Morgridge Loring's legacy lived on during the day that we visited Loring Park. It was part of a long walk that took us from City Center to Uptown and ultimately Bda Maka Ska. The contiguous Loring Park Greenway provides a vital connection linking Loring Park to the Nicollet Mall and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. In a sense the Loring Park Greenway can be an extension of the Nicollet Mall. It is in the vicinity of where the mall proper ends and Nicollet Avenue leaves the downtown core. Across from the Westminster Presbyterian Church the shady Greenway travels westbound towards Loring Park. It is a relatively short walk between buildings set back from the concrete walkway. Upon entering Loring Park from the east, the Berger Fountain greeted us. Built in 1975 and also known as The Dandelion Fountain, the pictures below are evidence that a beautiful, unique, and charming fountain greeted us to the park. Walking deeper into the grassy park that is interspersed with mature trees and gardens, we made our way down the walking path that led to Loring Lake. On my visit the lake was so grassy that I was gazing upon a green lake. It is a green lake that silhouetted the Minneapolis and Loring Park Neighborhood skylines. While I was gazing at the lake wildlife was grazing in the grass. Sitting on a shady bench I took in a mother waterfowl with her baby and nearby a bunny rabbit. This was a, sharp contrast from the Nicollet Mall that we had just passed through and Interstate 94 that we were about to walk over. After relaxing in nature, we proceeded to the west boundary of the park and back onto the Loring Park Greenway where it crossed Interstate 94 along the artful Hixon Whitney Footbridge that dropped us off at its sister park the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden where our Minneapolis adventures continued. read more

Update: still love strolling through Loring Park. Either alone or with the kids! So much green space, shade from trees and other sights to see. With the social distance orders in place there are fewer people out and about, which makes distancing easy! read more

The Lake is really what makes this park pop. The pedestrian and biking trails are basically to help you better enjoy the lake. The other kiddie attractions, benches and things are for when you're content with how much of the lake you saw. read more

Loring Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Loring Park & the Greenway is a peaceful park in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. Full of lush trees & beautiful landscape, it is conveniently located near the Basilica, the Sculpture Garden, & more. One thing I must note, is that the park is full of SQUIRRELS. Not just any-old-run-of-the-mill squirrels, but gray squirrels, albino squirrels, & for the first time in my life, I saw a very rare black squirrel (aka Mankata Squirrel?)! Anyway, I was so excited to see this beautiful creature, that I had to stop & snap a photo of him from distance. Unfortunately, he/she spotted me, was not happy being photographed, so he/she literally ran up to me, squared-off, & chased me out of the park. I actually got a brisk morning run that morning --- in addition to the leisurely walk. But....the squirrel was beautiful, nonetheless. :) So...If you are not afraid of squirrels, Loring Park is a great way to enjoy a peaceful morning walk, & have a good laugh to get the day started off nicely. read more

Loring Park - The Mankata Black Squirrel!!! :) - Dog Parks Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Nice park that's situated right in the middle of the city. Quiet and peaceful to sit by the pond without hearing the hustle and bustle of cars or people. Perfect for joggers and bikers to go around the pond area. You can take your children there on their cute little playground or shoot some hoops with friends. read more

Loring Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Loring Park feels like an oasis in the middle of Minneapolis. I enjoyed walking around on the various paths. There are lots of old trees that provide plenty of shade. I especially loved the little gardens and bridges throughout the park. (If you're a local, you can also take advantage of the tennis courts). Side note: the squirrels here are well fed and somewhat intimidating There's a pedestrian bridge crossing over the highway that connects to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. Nearby is Lurcat, a well-known cafe and bar. Throughout the year, Loring Park hosts many events. read more

This was my first time walking around Loring Park.. and at night. I've been to attend events, but I've never just walked around the entire lake to see what it has to offer. Ambiance: It's really nice to have the backdrop of dtwn Mpls adjacent to the park and the Lake. It's almost like you're in a secluded area, but you're really in the middle of dtwn Mpls adjacent to the freeway. LOL The lake had a lot of moss on it and appeared completely green and thick. Lol Outside of that, it was really pretty and the flowers made it smell really great. There are a lot of homeless people hanging around the lake and sitting on benches. Over all it was clean, except for a one trash can overturned and a table full of trash. Parking is complicated around the park, but you may find parking in the evening, like we did, around MCTC.. the college on Hennepin... ar ound the back side of the school, read more

Loring Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

For those of you into history, this park has plenty of it. It is one of the first tracts of land purchased and designed specifically for a park. It dates to the 1880s and infant Minneapolis Park Board. It's really is a beautiful location with connections not only the past but to places like the sculpture garden and a dog park, Minneapolis Technical College. I've noticed that the spots around the lake seem to collect garbage and dog fecal matter tends to be left on the ground. While this isn't a park specific problem and more of a problem with the people that go here I'm giving it three stars for appearing but four and half stars for fun. read more

Great place to go on a stroll, walk the dog and get your daily steps in! I don't know about walking at night tho.

Great park during non festival time and if a outdoor festival is going to happen then it is probably going to happen here. Some of the larger festivals that occurred here are: - Twin Cities Pride - Art Festival - Holidazzle - and many more I love that the park is very spacious and that multiple sections. Even though a event is occurring people are able to walk through the park. There is a lake in the off center of the park. This is a great place to bring a dog to walk when it is warm or to run yourself. Parking is a bit challenging with it being street but most of the meters are free after Friday at 6pm through the weekend. If you want see iconic statues of MN, just cross the bridge to check out the sculpture garden. Loring Park is a great place. Go check it out! read more

Loring Park is without question the grandest park in Minneapolis. It is definetely the closest thing we have to famous parks like Central Park in NYC. Loring is huge, and there is a greenway that connects it to Nicollet Mall.This makes for a real nice pedestrian connection to Downtown Minneapolis (10 minutes and your there). Throughout the park are many gorgeous gardens and valleys, as well as ponds. Its probably not a bad idea to avoid walking through the park when it's dark out. However if you use common sense streetsmarts like walking in groups I'm pretty sure you won't have any trouble, other than an occasional pandhandler asking for money. Overall the park is located in a fairly high end area so it's not like gangs hang out here or anything. During the day, there are usually alot of people around such as college students from M.C.T.C. so I wouldn't worry about walking through the park at all that time of day. Loring Park is a must see in Minneapolis, I'd highly recommend not just taking in the beauty of the park but also to take advantage of it's pedestrian friendliness. Once you walk through the greenway and up Nicollet Mall to Downtown I'm sure you'll be a fan. read more

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I love this park. It has a great combination of walking / bike paths, activities and plenty of green to just chill. The activities include shuffle board, horseshoes, and tennis. I usually run around the park at lunch and I enjoy the scenery (grass/trees). Many times there will be some sort of event held there as well and there are a few places to eat and drink before or after your stroll. Parking can be tricky, but so can anywhere in Minneapolis. Plenty of shade to sit under some of those hot days and a cool fountain to see. Right across the street is the sculpture garden so it had a good location. read more

This is a beautiful park in Minneapolis. I brought my husband here on one of our first dates and we took some cheesy pictures by the fountain. Have spent many a Pride festival here walking around enjoying the day, people watching, sitting by the pond and just enjoying the scenery. Nice views from the park and a nice little walk over the bridge to the Sculpture Gardens. read more

So close to downtown and so close to perfect as far as any volunteer garden could ever get. This is such a beautiful circular garden. Very peaceful! Places to walk, sit down. Zen near downtown. Hours: 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. read more

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It's not a big space, but it's nice to have located in such a convenient spot. It is kept extremely clean, and there's always a supply of water on hand (well, except in the Winter...but there's usually snow) It's busiest weeknights after work and on weekends, but even then it's not overrun with four-legged pals. Occasionally you'll see a city worker stop by to check for tags on all the dogs, so make sure you've got your pooch licensed with the city and you have an off-lease permit. You can purchase both online at: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/animal-control read more

Came here after the pride parade during pride week. What a blast. It was really crowded with a beer garden, concerts and tons of booths. On calmer days I liked to stroll by the fountain and watch kids playing in the basketball/tennis courts. Not sure about the convenience for parking since it typically is a pain in downtown Minneapolis. I only visit if I've dined at a restaurant nearby or if I was in the area because of an event. read more

Yeah! Pretty lake! Native wetlands! Fishies! Critters! Fountains! Horse-shoe tossing! No, really, horse-shoe tossing. A league plays here. Seriously. I'd say this is an "only in the midwest" phenomenon. The park was nice and calm my few times through during early July. Restful, a perfect break from a busy meeting. Plus, the sculpture garden and museum are right next door, and the park's connected over to Nicollet Mall right next to our conference by a well-kept greenway. read more

Loring Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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We came here for the Wells Fargo Mpls WinterSkate and had a great time. We found parking on the street right by the path leading to the rink. Once inside the tent, the attendant asked our sizes so we could make use of their complimentary skates. Skating on the rink is free as well, so you really have no reason not to come out and enjoy a free activity. I'm awful at skating, but since there weren't a lot of people on the rink at 5:30 pm on Friday, we just had fun going around and taking pictures. When we returned our skates, there was also complimentary hot chocolate to try! As we were leaving, more people were arriving as they were going to show Miracle for their Movie Skate from 6-8 pm. All information I found was on this link: https://www.mplsdowntown.com/winterskate/ read more

Loring Park is steeped in the urban mythology of Minneapolis. One story claims that the park was once a nexus for late night hook-ups, and affectionately referred to as "whoring park". Gay-straight men would cruise other gay-straight men after the downtown bars closed, and the cops would catch a few of them entwined in various compromising positions. According to another tale, Loring Park served as a convenient dump-site for victims of crimes of passion. One day, the park system decided to drain and clean the pond at the center of the park only to discover the remains of 20 bodies, each of them deeply implanted in the water bed silt. Whether these stories are true or not is irrelevant; urban tales are usually attached to places, like the Loring Park, which are worth visiting. Who would bother inventing a story as captivating about a strip mall in suburbia? The Loring Park is intimately connected to the communities and institutions surrounding it. South of it lies the scenic Sculpture Garden; the mighty dome of the Basilica towers over the west (along with the Harmon Place shops and MCTC); and the downtown skyline can be seen to its north. A seat on the sidewalk patio of the Dunn Bros. coffee shop on 15th street (to the east) offers a panoramic view of the scenery. The beauty and location of Loring Park affords it a multitude of uses throughout the year, especially during the summer. From June through September, the park joins the Walker Arts Center for its "Movies in the Park" series. The annual Twin-Cities Pride Festival, which draws over 300,000 people over the course of two days, has been there for decades. In early August, the park is part of a trifecta of art fairs, each of which you can visit through a courtesy bus service. A well-used basketball court, two tennis courts, and a small flower garden are fixed features of the park. Even with all the pleasures I find in Loring Park during the summer months, my heart grows fonder of it in winter. Amidst the brutal chill of the crisp Minnesota air, the park seems so refreshingly idyllic against the backdrop of a glass and steel city, as if to soften its edges: buildings and tress blanketed in snow... children skating on the frozen pond... city lights illuminating the whitened landscape at night... read more

A perfect place to take a stroll and enjoy the nice weather (of the three months that there's no snow here.) A wonderfully open, well maintained park with lots of mature shade trees. Park benches are plentiful if you just want to sit to enjoy the scenery and gardens. As Scott L. mentions - it does look a lot like the Lake Merrit area in Oakland. read more

This is one of many great green spaces in the middle of Minneapolis. Take the bridge over to see the sculpture gardens as well. There are a few ponds, beautiful shade trees and benches everywhere to sit and soak it all in. Take a stroll or ride your bike on the many paths that cut thru here. All year long there are wonderful events hosted in Loring Park. Some examples are beer festivals, Chipotle Cultivate music festival, Tour de Fat, Pride and now Holidazzle. I prefer to sit near the round fountain. Look for it! It reminds me of the white dandelions that blow away in the wind all summer. read more

This review would be much higher if it weren't for the drug dealers and aggressive homeless people lurking about on a consistent basis. Plenty of creeps. I spent the majority of my life living in this part of the hoods-er, -woods... So I've been here dozens of times. It's lovely, visually, and is located in the heart if an artsy area. The museum and sculpture park are pretty close, as is the basilica. The squirrels here are so cute! One is albino and there is a solid black one. They love caramel corn from candy land down town. The pigeons love it, too. I guess even the animals here are panhandlers. ;) read more

Urban parks are the greatest, aren't they? My earliest memory of Loring Park was when my high school boyfriend planned a picnic here. (Awww.) Well, long story short... I had never seen such giant, fearless squirrels in my young life. Herds of giant squirrels, I kid you not. It was a terrifying picnic. Adult Annie has a little more perspective on Loring Park (and urban squirrels): I love the tennis courts, though they could use some resurfacing. I love the shuffleboard and horseshoes. I love the gardens and the pond. I love Pride weekend. I love that the sculpture garden is just a quick pedestrian bridge away. I love music and movies and brown-bagging a bottle of wine here in the summer. I love cutting through Loring Park to meet my downtown worker bee friends for happy hour. I love biking through Loring Park to meet my yelper friends for food truck lunch outings. Lastly (but not leastly), I love the dandelion fountain. Even when there was a basketball stuck in it for weeks. Note on safety: I feel like Loring Park has become safer than it was in the olden days. I still don't walk here alone at night, but I don't really walk through empty parks alone at night as a general rule. read more

I worked at Emerson during the summers, and took students on prolonged trash walks (where we collected trash), that would often take us in and around this sweet urban green space. There are so many stories I could tell, but I'll focus on just a few. One time, I was playing basketball with two of my students in the early afternoon. If you've ever done this on a weekday, you're sure to be surrounded by quite a cast of characters, old-timers, youngins, dealers, G's, etc, all gathered to watch and critique the basketball ability of those still able to play. Well, at one point, a rather bragadocious youth sauntered up with a few of his friends cradling a bottle of Grey Goose vodka. "Time to get my goose on boys!" One of the old timers warned him, "You best be careful now. you know the police won't take kindly." The youth, perplexed at the old-timer's lack of vision, retorted, "Man, I ain't got no problems, I AM the police." Maybe he was undercover, who knows. He walked past the courts, over to the small lake and found a nice patch of earth in the sun on which to enjoy his top shelf vodka. At Loring Park, you will be faced with these types of situations. Get used to it, and don't try to intervene. There was another time I took some students on a trash walk through the park a day after the annual Gay pride festival. I tell you what, we made a mint picking up spent cans of bud light. Unfortunately, I had a hard time explaining some of the other things we found (spent prophylactics, pee-drenched cell phones). Despite the motley crews you will surely come across, Loring is one of my favorite of the city's parks. It's so close to so much (Walker, Basilica, Downtown, etc.) that you must make this a mandatory stop on any amble through downtown Minneapolis. read more