Local news needs local support. Join now to keep your community informed.
After a multi-year process, West St. Paul is about to approve an updated parks master plan with a bold vision. The plan dreams big, emphasizes community engagement, and is something that won’t remain static.
- What is it: “WSP Parks Rising: 2025 Parks & Recreation System Plan” is a 38-page document laying out a vision for West St. Paul parks.
- Why it matters: It sets the direction and priorities for future park improvements.
- Process: The old plan was approved in 2000. Work began on the new plan in 2023. It’s gone through multiple rounds of surveys, workshops, and community engagement.
- What’s next: City Council will consider the plan at
the October 27a future City Council meeting. They reviewed it on September 22 and said it looked great.
Park Priorities
Some of the priorities for West St. Paul parks listed in the plan include:
- Unique parks: No more generic, cookie-cutter parks.
- Accessible: Connect parks and make them more accessible.
- Community: Create more gathering places to foster community.
- More investment: Increase funding for parks and programming.
- Amenities: Examples of potential park amenities include more native plantings, looped trails to create more connections, multi-use amenities (horseshoe pavilion is highlighted), dog park, community gardens, more art, all-ages play, indoor spaces, and more. Fewer ice rinks and baseball fields, more volleyball and soccer.
Implementation
The plan acknowledges that it won’t implement itself. It ends with a definition of “grit,” identifying pluck, spirit, moxie, and perseverance among other attributes needed to improve parks.
“This is a big, bold vision, but with some grit, hard work, and determination, we can achieve this,” said Parks Director Eric Weiss. “None of this is impossible, we just have to get to work.”
Neighborhood news is a full-time job that only brings in part-time pay. Join now to support our work and keep your community informed.
