Shriners’ Hospital for Children, Twin Cities Unit, was opened in 1923 for the benefit of children whose parents can not afford to pay for treatment. All patients are admitted without regard to race, creed or color. This hospital is one of sixteen owned and operated by the Shriners of North America.
Beautiful grounds in keeping with the attractive structure have been planned for the $300,000 Shriners’ Hospital for Children on River Road East, opened last week. Tho time for starting the work on the grounds hag not been set, but it is expected that it will be under way within year. Phelps Wyman, landscape architect, will be in charge. The area on which the hospital hag been constructed is spacious and possesses enough irregularity of contour and growth of background trees tor an Adequate setting. The landscape problem is to get the maximum use from the land while giving It the appearance expected from its function and from the artistic pitch struck by the architect.
This building sets on a level shelf well back from the Parkway with a sharp slope at the rear covered with a grove of substantial trees. The gentler slope at the front goes to the river gorge at the edge of which is the park property. In the planning of the grounds, the landscape architect gives a generous approach to the main entrance from River Road East. At the center of the turn there is to be a open lawn where drills and outdoor performances by small groups can be given tor the children on the terraces and at the windows. Out patients reach the hospital by another drive and walk at the west from Cecil Street. The service and garage drives at the edge of the woods meet an as yet unimproved street entering Cecil Street from the west.
For easy access, the drives and walks require considerable grading. At one point this quite heavy. The slopes resulting must be made flat and rolling so as not to destroy the attractiveness of the present topography, but conform with it. The building must still, in appearance, stand solidly upon its earth platform and be visible plainly and attractively from the Parkway.
A system of walks. broad enough tor wheel chairs, encircles the woods, following existing surfaces. If the ground to the east of the building is not needed for hospital purposes, provision by a little grading can easily be made for drills of considerable magnitude to be viewed not only from the hospital but from seats on the hillside.
Minneapolis Sunday Tribune– March 18th,1923
