Amendment News:

St. Paul Benefits from Legacy Amendment Funding

Topic: St. Paul Projects   

The City of St. Paul has been a beneficiary of funds from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to the State Constitution approved by Minnesota voters in November 2008.

The City of St. Paul supported “equitable distribution of the new arts and environment sales tax.”  St. Paul worked closely with the ten metro parks implementing agencies to put forth a bill that addressed statewide needs equitably. The final result for the spending of the Parks and Trails fund within the constitutional amendment closely mirrored the metro parks’ original bill. Metro implementing agencies also worked closely together on projects submitted for consideration the Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council.

A major Legacy Amendment grant will help implement a plan that calls for transforming Harriet Island-Lilydale Regional Park into a more attractive and easy-to-use destination.  Counting both direct and indirect funding, the City and its institutions have already received over $4 million in new funds for water pollution cleanup, parks and trails improvements and renewable energy demonstration projects.

"St. Paul’s parks, green spaces, and natural assets are a big part of what makes us a world class city," Mayor Chris Coleman said. "The funds we have received due to the Legacy Amendment have become a critical element of our ability to invest in and maintain our urban environment. In the years to come, these funds will give us the tools we need to ensure that future generations have the ability to enjoy and expand our commitment to keeping St. Paul one of the most naturally beautiful cities in the world."

Here are the specifics:

Clean Water

Central Corridor Light Rail Stormwater and Tree Trench pollution control project, $500,000

The City of St. Paul, the Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD), Metro Council and Ramsey County will use green infrastructure practices in the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit (CCLRT) project area to achieve three goals:

•    To maximize reduction of stormwater runoff volumes through infiltration;
•    To minimize polluted stormwater runoff to the Mississippi River; and
•    To achieve other environmental and community benefits including improved aesthetics, more green space, cleaner air, reduction of urban temperatures, and creation of wildlife habitat.

The project provides a unique opportunity to “green” a major transportation corridor that will serve as a regional and national model for sustainable transportation.

Four categories of green infrastructure practices have been selected to achieve the runoff reduction and water quality goals of the project:

•    Integrated tree trench system;
•    Stormwater planters;
•    Rain gardens; and
•    Infiltration trenches.

The integrated tree trench system will be constructed on both sidewalks along 5.2 miles of University Avenue where good soils exist.

The system will receive runoff from University Avenue via catch basins that will direct runoff to infiltration trenches and from sidewalks via pervious pavers that will direct runoff to structural soils. The structural soils will support the vigorous growth of boulevard trees that provide evapo-transpiration, infiltration, and nutrient uptake. 

Approximately fifteen to twenty additional green infrastructure practices will be constructed along the Corridor on adjacent connecting streets to University Avenue.  These additional practices include rain gardens, stormwater planters and infiltration trenches, which will collect and infiltrate stormwater runoff from adjacent connecting streets.

It is anticipated that all green infrastructure practice designs will be finalized in 2010 with construction beginning in 2011.  The City, County, and CRWD will inspect the construction of the best management practices (BMPs) to ensure proper installation of permanent stormwater practices and proper installation and maintenance of temporary erosion and sediment controls to protect the newly constructed BMP and the river.  CRWD also plans to assess the performance of these practices.

With ridership rates estimated at 42,000 trips per day by 2030, there is tremendous opportunity for public education regarding the importance of sustainable stormwater management in urban areas.  Educational signage will be created and coordinated with the existing Met Council public art program.   Other outreach activities include project information in newsletters and websites, presentations at regional and national stormwater conferences, stormwater education curricula, and public walking tours.

In addition to the $500,000 to be used by the City, $125,000 goes to the Capital Region Watershed District.  St. Paul will provide a local match of 25% or more.

Parks and Trails

Lilydale-Harriet Island Regional Park, $2.5 million

Funding will support implementation of a new plan that calls for transforming the park into a more attractive and easy-to-use destination by cleaning up and restoring the site and adding some improvements while also preserving its unique natural resources.

Specifically, the funds will promote priority site work modifications necessary for a future road and picnic shelter and lake picnic area; site clearing, earthwork including rubble relocation, cut, fill, grading, technical assistance investigating possible contaminant cleanup and landscape restoration necessary for a future middle section (Pickerel Lake Area), road re-alignment and site preparation a for picnic shelter/restroom facility.

Cherokee Regional Trail, $136,575

Funds will be used to construct a 1.3-mile section of a regional trail within the park, taking it from Ohio to Smith Avenue. Amendment funds are supplemented with $1 million in federal transportation support, $193,000 in state metro park support and other funds.

Phalen/Keller Regional Park Master Plan Development, $60,000

Funds will update the 1975 Phalen Regional Park Master Plan to respond to current facility conditions, demographics, regional recreation trends, and sustainable carrying capacity.  The project includes planning for Phalen and Round Lakes in St. Paul Park’s jurisdiction and coordination with Ramsey County Park’s plans for Keller and Spoon Lake Regional Park.

Joyce Kilmer Fireplace/Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom, $25,000

Funds will be used to restore a historic outdoor fireplace in Como Regional Park as the centerpiece of a new Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom.  The Classroom is a 17-acre restored woodland that provides environmental education and historical interpretation for inner-city school children and adults, habitat for native wildlife, and an urban woodland oasis for the community where local place-based, hands-on environmental learning opportunities are rare.

A $218,000 state grant will also contribute to the project.

Como Park Zoo Shuttle, $125,000

This grant will provide 600 or more hours of shuttle service in the park connecting visitors to various park amenities.

Como Park Lilypond Renovation, $590,000

There have been mounting public concerns about the century-old lily pond at the west end of the footbridge across Lexington Avenue, once considered "a fabulous feature” but now dry and crumbling. The dried-up and neglected lilypond at Como Park will get a major renovation.

Volunteer Coordinator, $60,000

The coordinator will recruit, coordinate and lead natural resource volunteers in land stewardship and wildlife monitoring projects.  The coordinator will also lead volunteers in performing responsible natural resources and environmental work.

Education Coordinator, $52,000

The education coordinator will develop and implement environmental education programs including general initiatives and site-specific programs including presentations, tours, lectures, field labs and nature observations.

Crosby Farm Regional Park Parking, $350,000

The city will develop a new east side entrance and parking area, which will prevent park visitors from backing out of the park into high speed traffic on Shepard Road.   The city will also construct new connections to Sam Morgan Regional Trail and other existing park trails.  A large portion of unused roadbed will be removed and converted to green space.

Como Park Interpretive Programs, $333,000

A grant  (provided by the Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund) will support several initiatives:

•    Update the educational and interpretive signage in two animal collection areas.
•    Offer a new animal stage show in summer 2010 to over 200,000 guests.
•    Develop three off-peak seasonal art shows celebrating artists who have some connection with Como’s mission of inspiring the public to value the presence of living things in our lives.
•    Present Blooming Butterflies, an experience featuring hundreds of butterflies from around the world, which will be viewed by 40,000 guests.

Solar Wayfinding Signs, Grand Rounds, $21,000

This project is to install a photovoltaic (PV) lighting system, PV panels, a battery, and timing system for four St. Paul Grand Rounds Trail Kiosks.

Outdoor Heritage

Emerald Ash Borer, $2 million

The Legislature appropriated $2 million to help local governments, including the City of St. Paul, fight the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer Beetle.  The funds will be provided through the Department of Agriculture and may be used for those costs related to controlling the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer on public property or on property under permanent conservation easements.

St. Paul Oak Woodland Enhancement, $125,000

This project will enhance and manage approximately 54 acres of native oak woodland within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) in the City of St. Paul through invasive species removal and control, prescribed burning, and reforestation efforts.  The City of St. Paul, the National Park Service, Friends of the Mississippi River, Great River Greening, Conservation Corps Minnesota, and community volunteers will generate over $55,000 of in-kind match.

Metro Big Rivers Habitat, $65,000

In coordination with Great River Greening, through the Metro Big Rivers Habitat partnership, St. Paul Parks and Recreation will restore thirty acres of native prairie and oak savanna on Mississippi River blufflands at Indian Mounds and Cherokee Regional Parks while engaging volunteers in science-based restoration. Project partners, including the city, will offer in-kind match of $20,000.

Comments (2) | Post a Comment



June 30, 2010 at 6:50 AM
Margot Galt:
I'm particularly thrilled at the tree-plantings, run-off and rain garden items to accompany the Central Corridor. University Avenue's trees have always struggled to survive--too much pollution, probably too little soil for sustained growth. These new projects could help green the avenue and surrounding areas. Thank you! Margot Galt


June 30, 2010 at 6:49 AM
Curt Schiebel:

I served on the USS Saint Paul (CA-73) & participated in helping our ships association, transport one of the anchors from Washington to its present site on Harriet Island.  Are there any plans included in the your transformation plan, to enhance the present location of the anchor?