the minneapolis park and recreation board (mprb) began acquiring land for the "parkway" in 1910. the parkway was completed in 1921 and was dedicated as a memorial to servicemen and nurses from hennepin county who died in world war i. the statue of abraham lincoln on 44th and victory memorial drive was dedicated on may 25, 1930 by surviving members of the grand army of the republic in honor of their comrades who gave their lives in the civil war.