About the Restoration and Renovation

Victory Memorial Drive is a historic landmark located on the border of Minneapolis and Robbinsdale, Minn. As part of the Grand Rounds - 50 miles of parkways and parks encircling Minneapolis - Victory Memorial Drive stretches 3.8 miles. It extends along Theodore Wirth Parkway from Lowry Avenue North to 45th Avenue North, and east to Humboldt Avenue North and the entrance to Webber Park.

The newly restored and renovated drive is a grand amenity for the community. More than 40 new trees have been planted, including Harvest Gold Crabapple, Eastern Red Cedar, Black Hills Spruce, Autumn Blaze Maple, and Whitespire Birch. These new trees will allow for expanded programming and family events throughout the year at the enhanced flagpole plaza.

New lighting and irrigation systems have been installed to improve the appearance, safety and maintenance of the flagpole plaza area that now includes benches. The flower areas were also expanded, and new sidewalks have been built along the southeast corner of the plaza area. The green space along the drive has also been extended, making the walking and biking paths more continuous and accessible, and new street lights have also been installed.

The Victory Memorial Regional Park Master Plan was adopted by the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board in 2004, and the Minnesota Legislature established the Victory Memorial Drive Task Force in 2006, to preserve and improve the parkway.

A special thanks to all those providing static displays, military plane flyovers, and military historical activities.

• Commemorative Air Force - Minnesota Wing
• Minnesota Air Guard Museum
• Minnesota National Guard
• 133rd Airlift Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard

Project partners include:

• Hennepin County
• Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
• State of Minnesota
• City of Minneapolis
• City of Robbinsdale
• Hennepin History Museum

Victory Memorial Drive Task Force members include:

• Commissioner Mike Opat, Co-Chair, Hennepin County
• Commissioner Mark Stenglein, Co-Chair, Hennepin County
• Commissioner Jon Olson, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
• Councilmember Dan Rogan, Robbinsdale
• Council President Barb Johnson, Minneapolis
• Senator Linda Higgins, Minnesota Senate
• Senator Ann Rest, Minnesota Senate
• Rep. Lyndon Carlson, Minnesota House
• Rep. Joe Mullery, Minnesota House
• Mr. Steve Fiscus, Veteran Representative
• Ms. Pat Schon, Veteran Representative
• Mr. Patrick Burns, Citizen Representative
• Mr. Bob Zagaros, Citizen Representative
• Nina Archabal, Minnesota Historical Society