Parks projects preview

Parks projects preview
By Jake Spitzack | Staff Writer | May 2026

Summer fun is just around the corner and cities in the St. Paul Voice distribution area are hard at work making sure their parks are hubs of activity for all ages to enjoy. Whether you have a few favorites or like exploring those of neighboring communities, this update will help make sure your visit isn’t interrupted by a jackhammer or construction tape. And if unbearable sweltering heat tries to force you inside, remember the land of 10,000 lakes has no shortage of swimming spots to take a cool dip.

St. Paul
Baker Park, 209 Page St. W. – The 6.5-acre park will get a new synthetic turf field and restroom building. Other improvements include added parking, improved walkways and more landscaping. The existing tennis and basketball courts will remain.

Osborn Plaza (Wabasha Park), 376 Wabasha St. N. – The reimagined Osborn Plaza will be constructed this summer. Work includes adding more seating and a shade structure, and refurbishing the existing public art sculpture. The St. Paul Parks and Recreation Commission recently voted to rename it Wabasha Park, following a community engagement process.

Harriet Island, 200 Dr. Justus Ohage Blvd. – A survey will be available through the end of May to provide input for a new long-range plan the city is creating for the park. Following expected approval in early 2027, the plan will guide park investments for the next 20-30 years. To take the survey, visit stpaul.gov/HarrietIslandLRP.

Lower Landing Park, 200 Warner Rd. – Designs are being made for the creation of a bicycle pump track east of the bridge. Pump tracks are a system of connected asphalt berms that can be ridden with dirt and BMX bikes, skateboards and scooters. Construction could begin this fall, and work includes creating a paved connection to the Sam Morgan Regional Trail.

Como Regional Park, 1199 Midway Pkwy. – Nine access paths for fishing and lakeside viewing will be made around Como Lake. Work includes installing stone pavers and decomposed granite to create durable paths, restoring vegetation and expanding the shoreline buffer. Temporary trail closures may take place but detours will be provided. Work is expected to be completed in early August.

Installation of a geothermal heating system at Como Zoo is expected to be complete this year, as well as other sustainability upgrades, altogether costing about $16 million. The zoo is the largest energy user within the City of St. Paul’s building portfolio, with energy costs exceeding $1 million annually. The Como Park Zoo & Conservatory Decarbonization Project began in 2024 and is part of the city’s plan to reach carbon neutrality for city operations by 2030.

Crosby Farm Regional Park, 2595 Crosby Farm Rd. – The pavilion near the north entrance to Hidden Falls, 1313 Hidden Falls Dr., is expected to be renovated. It will feature new canopies, rain gardens, bike racks, grills, a variety of seating and upgraded bathrooms. The overlook near the north entrance will also be repaved and the stone wall rehabilitated. The parking lot will also be repaved in a new layout. The boardwalk and fishing pier around the north side of Upper Lake will be removed due to flooding that has made the walkway structurally unsafe. A new fishing pier will be built this summer on Crosby Lake near the east entrance. Designs for a new boardwalk will begin shortly after, with construction dependent on securing funding.

Common Cent Sales Tax – Since 2024, $60 million in deferred maintenance projects have been completed across 100 city park and recreation projects using funds from the Common Cent sales tax, which was approved by public vote in 2023. The 1% increase to the local option sales tax will ultimately generate nearly $1 billion over 20 years, $738 million of which must go to street work and $246 million to park and park facility improvements. When the sales tax was approved, the parks and recreation department had $100 million in deferred maintenance projects, including $60 million in critical condition and $40 million that would reach critical condition within five years. Altogether, the department has more than $600 million in assets. For more information, visit stpaul.gov/salestax.

West St. Paul
The City of West St. Paul adopted a new parks system plan in January dubbed “WSP Parks Rising.” It replaced the plan adopted in 2000 and lays out long-term goals for each of the city’s 17 parks. This year’s projects are below. Planning will also begin this year for renovation projects expected to take place within the next five years at Weschcke, Emerson, Southview and Haskell parks.

Albert Park, 991 Dodd Rd. – Albert Park was expanded in 2025 as part of the project to realign Smith Avenue and Dodd Road, and work to complete the park is expected to finish this year. Plans call for a circular multi-use lawn, birch trees, pergola and overhead lighting, the Albert Memorial obelisk that’s been at the site, sculptures of the letters “WSP” to act as an entry sign to the city, seating and more. The notorious “Rock of Doddway” will have a spot in the park. The protective boulder near the Doddway shopping center become an inside joke in the city after several people accidentally drove onto it and got stuck. The park will be rebranded as Albert Park & Plaza upon completion, and the city is in discussions with the owner of the Doddway shopping center to explore expanding the plaza into a portion of its parking lot.

Officer Patrick Memorial – Located just across Smith Avenue from Albert Plaza will be a new memorial for Officer Scott Patrick, who was tragically shot and killed near the Smith-Dodd intersection during a routine traffic stop in 2014. It will feature memorial panels, a badge plaque set into stone, swing bench, perennial garden, trees, seating and more. Officer Patrick’s family provided input for the design.

City pool renovation, 92 W. Orme St. – The 70-year-old pool, last spruced up in 1999, is being renovated this spring and fall to last another 25 years and is expected to be open for the full summer season. Work this spring will focus on fixing the slide, which was closed last year. This fall, the pool vessel, decking and mechanical equipment will be replaced, and more seating and other cosmetic improvements will be added. The bathhouse and Poolside Park will also see some improvements.

Sports Complex, 1650 Oakdale Ave. – The horseshoe courts will be removed and replaced with a flat concrete floor to make the facility more suitable for multifunctional purposes such as community celebrations.

Thompson Park, 360 Butler Ave. E. – Construction will wrap up early this summer to create a pollinator promenade and restored stream along a trail segment in the park. Interpretive signs will be installed as well as a variety of native trees and plants. Short-term closures of the Lake Loop Trail and the River to River Greenway are expected but detours will be provided.

150 Thompson Ave. E. – Work may begin this summer to prepare a new 2.5-acre park site near the multifamily housing development being built at 150 Thompson Ave. E. Plans call for the park to become the city’s premier outdoor venue, featuring a bandshell, picnic shelter, playground, splash pad or similar water feature, connection to the River to River Greenway, seating plaza, lawn space, public art and more. The original plan was to create the entire park this summer but it has been delayed due to a funding shortfall. This summer’s work includes extending Crawford Drive, creating a parking lot for the future park, planting trees, grading and other landscaping.

Mendota Heights
Hagstrom King Park, 555 Mendota Heights Rd. – A trail will be constructed on the north side of the park from Hampshire Drive to Pond Circle West. This is part of a pavement improvement project to nearby streets. The Hagstrom King Ballfield (infield) will also be resurfaced.

Ivy Hills Park, 635 Butler Ave. W. – A new playground will be installed this spring, featuring play equipment including swings and a large tube slide.

Wentworth Park, 739 Wentworth Ave. – The wooden hockey rink boards will be replaced due to their age and poor condition, and the half-court concrete basketball court will be expanded to full size, with another hoop added and new court lines painted.

Valley Park, 821 Marie Ave. W. – The city has submitted a grant application to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for a $140,000 replacement of the playground. It is also seeking $170,000 in grant funding from the DNR to significantly refurbish the picnic shelter. Work would include creating a new concrete surface, adding stone to the concrete walls, re-shingling the roof, adding electricity to improve lighting and provide outlets, and painting. Dakota County, in partnership with the City, is constructing and reconstructing 1.4 miles of the River to River Greenway between the Big Rivers Regional Trail and Dodd Road. Improvements to the segment between Marie Avenue and Dodd Road, through Valley Park, are slated for this summer.

Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are being installed at Mendakota, Kensington, Friendly Hills and Wentworth parks. They will be housed in 9-1-1 integrated enclosures and 9-1-1 operators will provide the caller with the code to enter the enclosure to obtain the AED, as first responders are simultaneously dispatched. Marie Park received one in 2025 as a pilot project.

South St. Paul
Northview Park, 635 18th Ave. N. – Northview pool is closed this summer and next as the city creates a new outdoor aquatics facility onsite. Lorraine Park Splash Pool remains open.

Summit Park, 1073 15th Ave. N. – A new playground was installed last year and improvements will continue this summer. Work includes replacing the basketball court and creating a trail connecting the playground and tennis court.

Lorraine Park, 756 3rd Ave. S. – The old playground will be replaced with a new nature-themed playground featuring play structures for children of all ages. More trees will also be planted and trail improvements done. Work will kick off in June and is expected to be completed in September. The City was awarded a $184,000 matching grant from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to support the project.

Dog Park, 800 Bryant Ave. – Work recently wrapped up to repair the fencing at the 6.3-acre dog park.

Kaposia Park, 1028 Wilde Ave. – The ballfield infield will be regraded to restore proper drainage and overall playing conditions.

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