Last year, we set an ambitious goal to generate and recognize $10 Million
dollars in public and philanthropic investment in the North End neighborhood.
I’m proud to say we are well on our way, and after this construction season is
complete, we will have surpassed our goal. Below are just a few of the projects underway now in the
North End. To receive real-time updates and follow our path to the $10M mark,
visit www.facebook.com/tenforthenorthend.
Sylvan
Field and Play Area Renovation: Construction is underway! Sylvan Park is a 3 acre neighborhood park with amenities that include an athletic field, a play
area, and a restroom building. The current field and playground
are substandard. This summer's project will include a multi-use synthetic
turf fields that are designed to meet today's recreational needs.
Improvements to the play area include replacement of equipment and surfacing.
Marydale
Play Area and Kato Courts: Marydale Park is a 23.95 acre neighborhood park. The
park primarily provides a natural resource area offering trails
throughout the park and around Loeb Lake, fishing pier, picnicking
area, restroom building, parking lot, and a play area. The
project will provide modern play area equipment and surfacing. This will enhance the park's site features and will fill the family oriented
activity needs of in the adjacent diverse neighborhood, including Kato
courts. Construction begins soon.
Wheelock
Parkway/Grand Round: At
last! The street reconstruction of Wheelock Parkway will be underway in
the coming weeks. Wheelock Parkway is also the east/west leg of the Grand
Round, which is a 30 mile recreational trail that circles the entire city.
Two years ago, the section between Rice and Edgerton was completed. Last
year it was Como Lake to Danforth. This year, Danforth to Western will be fully renovated from sewer to gutter, street
lights to sidewalks. The Grand Round project narrows the road bed to help
slow traffic. In addition, a recreational path will be added along the
south side. Next year, we expect to see Western to Rice rebuilt and the
connection between Lake Como and Lake Phalen will be complete! The brand
new road, multi-use path and sidewalks will put the “Park” back in Wheelock Parkway.
Rice and
Larpenteur Gateway Vision: Saint Paul, Roseville and Maplewood have
come together to create a shared vision for the Rice and Larpenteur
intersection and surrounding area. The area has a growing population and
lots of commerce, but feels neglected. Not anymore. Each city has adopted
the vision and is putting resources into improving the area. Additionally,
Ramsey County is looking at re-designing Rice Street in the next several
years, and shares our goal to make a safer, more welcoming gateway into
our community. Saint Paul has awarded the project $350,000 in Commercial
Vitality Zone funding to begin capital improvements.
Rice
Street Transportation Study: Ramsey County is making a plan to start reconstructing Rice Street incrementally over the next 5 years. So far, they have collected
data and gotten community feedback. For many, walking on Rice Street and
crossing has felt unsafe. I am encouraging Ramsey County to make traffic calming and pedestrian safety a priority in their design.
Washington
Technology Magnet Safe Routes to School: State and city funding was
awarded to make walking and biking to and from school safer for students
at Washington Tech. This summer, bike amenities will be added to Arlington
Ave east of Rice Street as part of a planned mill and overlay project.
Next year, the city will complete technical design on safety improvements
around Washington Tech recommended in the plan (including sidewalk infill
and bump-outs), with construction beginning in 2020. These improvements, combined with Ramsey County's safety study for Rice Street, will ensure a much safer route to school by the time today's underclassmen are upperclassmen.
Como, Front and Dale: Commercial
Vitality Zone funding was awarded to this project in 2016 and
construction will be done this year. The improvement will include bold
crosswalk and bicycle lane markings, landscaping improvements, public art
and opportunities for exterior improvements for the local businesses.
Maryland Ave. Home
Ownership Project at Willow Reserve: Saint Paul is awaiting word from Ramsey County on an
application to close the gap for environmental remediation work at
Maryland and Western (by the Willow Reserve) after building materials
containing asbestos were found on site. Construction on 11 single family
homes for ownership by Habitat for Humanity stalled last summer when the
contamination was found. Once funding is secured for clean-up, that work,
and laying foundations for the homes will begin.
Sincerely,
Amy Brendmoen, Councilmember Ward 5
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