Parks &#038; Nature Reserves

Concrete & Grass Festival Photo: Nigel Parry

The city of Saint Paul is home to one of the best park systems in the country, and features well-kept hiking trails, sports facilities, woodlots, picnic areas, and fishing piers. Saint Paul holds so many parks that this publication was unable to include all of them. The following is a compilation of community and regional retreats that best represent the city; a list that offers something unique for sports and fitness fans, pet lovers, urban anglers, nature enthusiasts, and the child within all of us.

For more information visit www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?NID=245

Arlington/Arkwright Park (Community)

400 Arlington Ave. E.
651.632.5111
Known for a large off-leash dog area, this park includes wooded trails and a long, rounded slope that is perfect for play. It is tucked in a quiet neighborhood with a nearby baseball and soccer field. There is also a shelter for rainy picnic days.

Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary (East of Downtown)

Commercial St. and 4th St. E.
651.266.6400
After a century of industrial use, the land lay vacant and blighted until a coalition of East Side and Lowertown residents, with the help of the City, launched an effort to purchase the land and transform it into the 27-acre Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary.

Como Park (Regional)

1199 Midway Pkwy.
651.632.5111
A Saint Paul jewel for over 100 years, Como Park plays a vital role in the social and recreational needs of the city. Both the shelter and pavilion provide electricity and seating for private events, and Como Lake, Como Zoo, and the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory are busy destinations year round.

Crosby Farm Park (Regional)

2595 Crosby Farm Rd.
651.632.5111
In 1858, the park was the 160-acre farm of English immigrant Thomas Crosby. It now offers multiple trails for hiking and jogging, a sandy beach, and picnic shelter.

Harriet Island Park (Regional)

200 Dr. Justus Ohage Blvd.
651.292.7010
Historic Harriet Island hosts festivals and books riverboat excursions all summer long. Just across the Mississippi from downtown, it features a newly renovated picnic area with a large shelter and easy parking.

Hidden Falls (Regional)

1415 Mississippi River Blvd. S.
651.632.5111
The scenic beauty of the waterfall is worth planning a visit. With spacious grounds, towering trees, a boat launch, and a picnic area, Hidden Falls offers a variety of summer activities.

Highland Park (Regional)

1200 Montreal Ave.
651.632.5111
Acquired in 1925, Highland Park now features an 18-hole golf course, aquatic center, pavilion, picnic shelters, and a Frisbee golf course.

Indian Mounds Park (Regional)

10 Mounds Blvd.
651.632.5111
An integral part of Minnesota’s history, this park on the bluffs is home to native prairie flowers and a Native American Indian burial ground. Enjoy a stroll through the past with a view of downtown and the banks of the ancient River Warren.

Irvine Park (Neighborhood)

251 Walnut St.
651.632.5111
The beautifully ornate fountain is a central feature of this popular park for weddings. Nestled in a neighborhood just west of downtown, it offers shelter, seating, and electricity.

Kellogg Mall (Neighborhood)

62 Kellogg Blvd. E.
651.632.5111
An inspiring view of Mississippi commerce lies just beyond the wall while two fountains and an arbor are reminders of work’s rewards. The mall offers a view of fireworks on the fourth and during Winter Carnival. The trees shade lunchtime visitors from spring to fall.

Lilydale Park (Regional)

950 Lilydale Rd.
651.632.5111
Bring the whole family for a day hunting fossils along the forested paths.

Marydale Park (Community)

542 Maryland Ave. W.
651.632.5111
This park surrounds Loeb Lake and has a fishing pier where anglers cast for crappies, bluegills, bullheads, and (on a good day) bass. It is designated as a children’s fishing pond by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Mears Park (Community)

221 E. Fifth St.
651.632.5111
Lowertown’s gem has a bandstand for summer music and a garden stream running from corner to corner. It’s surrounded by after-work hot spots like Barrio, the Bulldog, and Bin Wine Bar.

Newell Park (Community)

900 North Fairview Ave.
651.632.5111
One of the oldest green spaces in the city, with rolling hills and large oaks, this 10-acre plot is the place for Frisbee with friends or to sit and read a book. The pavilion is perfect for family get-togethers and has been standing since 1929.

Phalen Park (Regional)

1615 Phalen Dr.
651.632.5111
A peaceful lagoon and family-friendly amphitheater, with sparkling Lake Phalen just a few yards beyond. This East Side park is the city's beach for hot summer days.

Rice Park (Community)

109 Fourth St. W.
651.632.5111
Surrounded by the Saint Paul Hotel, Landmark Center, Ordway, and Central Library, Rice features bronze statues and a beautiful fountain encircled with inviting park benches.

Western Park (Community)

387 Marion St.
651.632.5111
This art park features a sculpture garden, including the work Democracy Speaks; standing 17 feet tall in fabricated steel, this newest installation was created by John Hock and Andrew MacGuffie.