Franklin Steele Square was named in honor of Franklin Steele, one of Minneapolis’s first European settlers and a civic leader who built the first bridge over the Mississippi River at Nicollet Island. He also served as the president of the first Board of Regents for the University of Minnesota. In 1882, Steele’s daughters—Mary C. Morris, Catherine B. Steele, and Caroline H. Addison—donated the land for the park to the city, requesting that Charles Loring oversee its development. The city accepted the offer, and ownership was transferred to the park board in 1883. Though generous, the Steele family once unsuccessfully fought further land seizure for Minnehaha Park.
Initial improvements included fencing the park, planting trees and shrubs, and adding an sidewalk. In 1906, walkways were added and realigned. A 1912 plan proposed a small playground along 17th Street. In 1916, the school board’s request to use the park for Madison School was denied due to donor restrictions. These were lifted in 1948, enabling new plans: a wading pool, play area, sports courts, and a unique shelter with removable walls and automatic heating.
Freeway construction in 1962 claimed part of the park and cut it off from nearby neighborhoods. A “totlot” was added in 1975, updated in 1990, and the shelter was removed in 2006. The park was completely rebuilt in 2008–2009.
