Park maintenance crew with lawn mowers at 38th and Bryant (South Side Service Center at Lyndale Farmstead Park) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, circa 1934. MPRB Collection, Minnesota Digital Library

Park Mowers Then and Now

Park staff gathered along Theodore Wirth Parkway in 2023 to recreate a photo taken in 1934. The vintage image showcases Toro Park Special mowers, introduced in 1924, as Asset Management staff lined up for spring inspection. Back then, these four-cycle motor-powered mowers aided in maintaining 3,988 acres across 144 properties with the help of versatile attachments. The Park Board owned 32 Park Special mowers by 1932. Today, dozens of Asset Management staff collaborate to maintain almost 5,000 acres of grass or turf annually, highlighting the enduring commitment to well-maintained field, lawns and green spaces for people to enjoy.