Talmage Triangle
A Tale of Two Gardens
The vision to transform the abandoned triangle at 21st Avenue SE (south of Talmage Avenue SE) into a flourishing garden has existed since the street was vacated.
In 2012, the Talmage Crossing Garden took root on the western half, as efforts to remove the asphalt from the former roadway were unsuccessful. To this day, the eastern half remains barren.
With an upcoming expansion, both sides will soon be unified as the Talmage Triangle Community Garden.
This is the story of two gardens, destined to become one.
The Beginnings of the Talmage Crossing Garden
Before its transformation, the land that became the Talmage Crossing Prairie Garden was routinely used by BNSF Railway for storing crushed rock and treated annually with strong herbicides to control six-foot-tall weeds.
In 1977, 21st Avenue SE between the BNSF railway and Talmage Avenue SE was permanently closed to traffic. By 2008, frustrated by the persistent weeds and waste, a group of local residents approached BNSF Railway to request permission to plant a garden.
2004-2006: A Clean Slate
During this period, the City of Minneapolis installed curbs and a sidewalk over the vacated street while maintaining the barricade. From that point on, 21st Avenue SE would never cross the railroad again.
2010-2011: New Ideas
In 2010, a Minneapolis Public Works Sewer Technician met with neighborhood members on-site, proposing the removal of asphalt and the redirection of street drainage into a rain garden. However, it was discovered that part of the vacated right-of-way (ROW) was privately owned and would need to be acquired before the project could move forward.
Despite this setback, the neighborhood persisted, following up in May 2010 and November 2011, but without success.
2010: Paths & Plots
Undeterred, the community mobilized, drafting design plans and conducting soil tests.
That year, Stephanie Hankerson, the Garden Coordinator, recruited students to help enrich the soil by planting Dutch White Clover and securing free woodchips for the project.
2012: Breaking Ground
In 2012, BNSF Railway agreed to lease the land for the creation of the Talmage Crossing Prairie Garden. As part of the agreement, a chain-link fence was installed along the tracks, and the garden was subject to certain restrictions.
That fall, gardeners, neighbors, and students came together to plant, officially establishing the garden.
However, the asphalt had to remain in place.
2019: A New Design
The vision for the Talmage Triangle Rain Garden was revived. The Southeast Como Improvement Association (precursor to the East Bank Neighborhoods Partnership) hired Metro Blooms to develop a landscape and planting plan, and the project was scheduled for inclusion in the Minneapolis Public Works 2021 schedule.
2021: Seed Funds Secured
In 2021, SECIA approved a resolution to establish the Talmage Triangle Raingarden Sustainability Fund, made possible by a generous donation from a neighborhood couple.
Their advocacy ensured that the fund would not only support the creation of the Talmage Triangle Raingarden but also contribute to the long-term sustainability of SE Como’s pollinator gardens.
Today: The Petition
For over 45 years, the vacated street has remained unused—gathering trash and contributing to stormwater runoff that pollutes the Mississippi River. The Talmage Triangle Raingarden Project seeks to change that by expanding the Talmage Crossing Prairie Garden, replacing the former blacktop with a thriving habitat for pollinators, wildlife, and the community.
Join your neighbors in urging City Council Members to support the Talmage Triangle Raingarden Project and help bring this vision to life.