Loring Park Girls

Loring park is Minneapolis' answer to New York City's Central park.

Proportionally smaller, it still occupies several square blocks (including a pond) in downtown Minneapolis. In the late 60s it hadn't yet reached the pinnacle of its notoriety but even then it was a place best to be avoided after dark. There was the Salvation Army home for unwed mothers next to it, a funky “junior college” and many apartments around its perimeter. Its reputation as a gay cruising spot was (and still is) completely warranted.

At the time there were kids who played there, kids on their own, doing kid stuff like using the swings, playing hopscotch and, like the girls pictured above, even doing a little dress-up role-playing. When those of us attending the college used the park for impromptu photo sessions these kids would insist on getting in on the action.

The park has made a comeback since then, The Walker Art Center Sculpture garden is connected to it and the once humble “JC” is now a mammoth community college: Loring has become its “Quad”.

These girls are in their late 40s now, I wonder if they ever play in this park now?