MINNEAPOLIS HAS THE LAKE HARRIET Rose Garden. St. Cloud has the Munsinger/Clemens Gardens. Chaska has the Minnesota Landscape Aboretum.
A view of German Park from the street-side steps that lead to the park. There’s also access at the bottom of the hill so you don’t need to take the steps.
And New Ulm has German Park, centered by a replica of the Bethesda Fountain in New York City’s Central Park.
Stroll the paths and enjoy the flower gardens. Or sit and contemplate.
If you haven’t discovered this park in the heart of Minnesota’s most German community, then you need to visit this oasis just a block from New Ulm’s downtown business district. I came across German Park a few years ago and revisited it on the Fourth of July while en route to a family gathering an hour farther west along U.S. Highway 14.
The Angel of the Waters Fountain centers the park which features an abundance of plants and flowers, a picnic shelter and other amenities.
Here, in a tranquil setting of fountain and flowers, my husband, son and I lunched on sandwiches and fruit while delighting in the beauty of this place. There’s a reason the New Ulm tourism website lists German Park as one of the “Top Ten Things to See.” This place, this park, is poetic and pleasing, and just plain lovely.
Gigantic urns overflow with flowers like these petunias, lilies, marigolds and more.
This is a flower lover’s delight.
These roses, which remind me of the wild roses that bloomed in road ditches when I was growing up in southwestern Minnesota, were nearly done blossoming.
The pathways are designed to allow visitors a close-up look at the flowers.
I love these rustic urns, which are so large and heavy it would take several people to move them.
A shady spot to rest.
The fountain is a small reproduction of the fountain in New York’s Central Park. French sculptor Jules-Felix Coutan created this fountain purchased in 1998 from an auction house in Atlanta. It is a gift to the city from Barbara Sweasy Haroldson.
Be forewarned.
Splashing your hands in the fountain is not forbidden.
Water spills over the fountain cherubs.
Angel of the Waters, the focal point of German Park.
In another section of the park, greenery and benches, marked by lovely columns, offer a place of respite.
Imprinted on columns is information about what I assume to be park supporters. The August Schell Brewing Company is a major New Ulm attraction and on the list of “Top Ten Things to See” in this city.
German Park was obviously a community effort. I love when a community works together to create something stunningly beautiful like this park.
Local history is imprinted on pavers.
This granite statue along German Street just above the park honors the German-Bohemian immigrants who lived in the section of New Ulm known as Goosetown.
A portion of New Ulm’s downtown business district along N. Minnesota Street with the Glockenspiel in the background.
FYI: German Park is located at 200 N. German Street, several blocks south of U.S. Highway 14 and a block from N. Minnesota Street. The Summer Concerts in the Park series at German Park continues every Monday through the end of August. Music starts at 7 p.m.
© Copyright 2015 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
It is an oasis, isn’t it? We went to the Dothan Botanical Gardens again yesterday for a quick “event” but we did not linger as the heat was horrible and we had our minds on some ice cream. 🙂
Perfect weather here in the Midwest yesterday after the heat and humidity vanished. In the 70s this week. You would love it.
It is blistering hot here, as you can imagine, but I am embracing it. 🙂
Oh, I know. You will make the best of anywhere you are and you are definitely a Southern girl.
I am “glistening” a lot today.
Oh, my. But a beautiful glistening, I’m sure.
Well I don’t know about that. 🙂
A beautiful space overflowing with vibrant color. Parks are a huge asset to town/cities. A green space oasis among the concrete/asphalt jungle.
You are 100 percent correct. I especially love parks that feature water fountains. We have a lovely fountain here in Faribault. However, it’s, in my opinion, in the wrong place, in a space that is not widely used. I’d like to see a fountain in our Central Park. It would add so much to a park that centers community activities.
Beautiful Park – Loving Your Captures – Thanks so much for sharing – Brightened My Day 🙂 Happy Week – Enjoy!
You are welcome. It’s such a beautiful park. Lots of effort to create and maintain.
I didn’t realize New Ulm was a German community. The park is lovely The cherubs in water drops photo was my favorite! Even though the movie, “New In Town” was not actually filmed in New Ulm, MN, the city is the focal point portraying a mostly blue collar population in a “nowhere” town in Minnesota. I’ve seen that movie a dozen times – it is a great depiction of what winter and everyday life is in the north and central US states.
Ah, yes, I remember that movie…barely. I need to watch it again.
“Nowhere,” huh? I suppose some consider the edge of the prairie to be “nowhere.”
New Ulm celebrate its German heritage unlike any other community in Minnesota. I love New Ulm. So much to see and do there.
Beautiful scenery.
You would love this park, Missy.
What a beautiful oasis for sure. Love the Rose photo, so vibrant and crystal clear…lovely post!
Have you ever been to New Ulm, Jackie? You and Rick would love it. So much to see and do there.
I have not but I would like to…. maybe while I’m yet on crutches Rick & I could do a road trip to New Ulm…. a new adventure!
Yes, and it would be a full day.
Such a wonderful town and a place we will visit again 🙂 Great work! I adore the fountain Cherubs
There’s always something to photograph (and do) in New Ulm. Love this city.
What a wonderful garden this is. I love your photos. It is very nice when a community gets together like this to create something beautiful.
This does seem to be a community effort which shows great pride in New Ulm. It’s a beautiful garden from fountain to flowers.
My daughter was married in this park several years ago……it was beautiful then and has become even more beautiful now, Makes one proud to be a part of the history of New Ulm .
What a beautiful place for a wedding.
Just to inform ya’ll ; I have hand colored prints that Ive done of Angel Fountain; interested ?
Excellent. Thank you, Curt. Readers, if you’re interested, connect with this New Ulm artist.