Street Views: On Frozen Lakes
The Land of 10,000 Lakes means that hearty residents get acres more of parkland when those lakes freeze during the winter.
Category: Parks
St. Paul’s Cherokee Park: A Brief History
From a treaty that ceded land to the U.S. government to a “tourist campground” and proposals for housing and a ski run, Cherokee Park has a varied history.
Framing the Familiar: Exploring Perspectives on the Grain Belt Sign
A deep dive into one photographer’s decade-long quest to get the perfect shot of the iconic Grain Belt sign in Minneapolis.
Gold Medal Park: Defining Good Design in Urban Spaces
Drawing from historical inspiration and the surrounding location, intentional design has made Gold Medal Park into a vital community gathering space.
Successful City Parks Create Safe, Inclusive Communities
When public parks incorporate measures to make the space feel safe and welcome, it fosters positive social interaction across diverse communities.
St. Paul’s ‘Biblical’ Flood: The Story of Highland Creek
According to Dakota legend, Minnesota was once the scene of a big flood. One of those floods made Highland Creek the highest volume stream in prehistoric St. Paul.
The Arrival of Playgrounds in St. Paul
The 1904 opening of the first enduring playground in St. Paul launched the lauded system of community centers and playgrounds we currently enjoy in the city.
The Largest, Hardest-to-Find Park in St. Paul
Hidden behind industrial facilities and a maze of streets, Pig’s Eye Regional Park is St. Paul’s hidden — yet unpolished — gem. The park’s peaceful nature makes a visit more than worthwhile, yet it demands some revitalization and decontamination, efforts which are being pioneered by the Great River Conservancy.
Camping for Urbanists
Going all-in on urbanism doesn’t mean you have to give up on spending time in the outdoors; in fact, many urbanists love going camping! We’ll talk to a city planner about creating car-free camping opportunities, and then follow a group on a hare-brained winter bike trip to ski and camp at Afton.
“An Eruption of Springs”: The Diverting Story of Cascade Creek
Cascade Creek was named after a waterfall in the W 7th St neighborhood of St. Paul. The stream was most famously associated with Ayd Mill.