Saint Paul Parks And Recreation Conservancy

THE SAINT PAUL PARKS CONSERVANCY RAISES FUNDS AND PARTNERS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION AND THE COMMUNITY TO ENHANCE AND EXPAND PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES THAT MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS OF PEOPLE IN OUR DIVERSE AND GROWING CITY.

FUNDRAISING PARTNER/FISCAL AGENT FOR SAINT PAUL PARKS AND RECREATION: AS THE TRUSTED PARTNER OF SAINT PAUL PARKS AND RECREATION, THE CONSERVANCY ACTIVELY RAISES FUNDS AND LEADS CONSORTIUMS OF PARTNER AGENCIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION SERVES AS THE FISCAL AGENT FOR PHILANTHROPIC FUNDS FOR PARK PROJECTS AND, LESS OFTEN, FOR OTHER PARK VOLUNTEER GROUPS. IN 2021 FUNDS WERE RAISED AND STEWARDED FOR THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS: -HIGHLAND SOCCER FIELDS SIDEWALK EXTENSION TO PROVIDE CONSISTENT SAFE PATHWAY FROM PUBLIC TRANSIT AND NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS FACILITY WILL SERVE 8,000 YOUTH PLAYERS FROM ACROSS SAINT PAUL ANNUALLY. -ARLINGTON SOCCER FIELD DEVELOPMENT. THIS FACILITY WILL SERVE 6,000 YOUTH PLAYERS ANNUALLY FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 60% OF THE RESIDENTS IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR, WITH ALMOST 25% OF RESIDENTS LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. -RESTORATION OF COCHRAN PARK FOUNTAIN (SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN 2022) -RESTORATION OF HISTORIC IRVINE PARK -ADAPTIVE RECREATION PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM SERVES 2,500 FOR YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES ACROSS THE ENTIRE REC CENTER SYSTEM. -COMO WOODLAND OUTDOOR CLASSROOM SCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT REACH 1,500 STUDENTS.

PARTNER FOR PARKS CAPITAL CAMPAIGN: THE CONSERVANCY IS IN THE EARLY (QUIET) PHASE OF A 5 M CAMPAIGN TO EXPAND EQUITY AND ACCESS WITHIN THE PARK SYSTEM SO THAT ALL FAMILIES HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO THRIVE IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS CAMPAIGN INCLUDES COMMISSIONING A NEW SYSTEM-WIDE PARKS PLAN IN 2022 TO IDENTIFY EQUITY GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS CAPITAL PROJECTS ALREADY IDENTIFIED AS ESSENTIAL BY COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. IN 2021 PROGRESS WAS MADE ON THESE CAMPAIGN ITEMS: -SYSTEM WIDE PARKS PLAN - RAISED A 50,000 MATCH FOR CITY FUNDS; CONSULTANT ENGAGED -WACOUTA COMMONS PARK - 70,000 RAISED TOWARD 110,000 COST OF A NEW PLAYGROUND AT THIS PARK THAT SERVES 180 FAMILIES OF COLOR IN ADJACENT LOW- INCOME HOUSING -SWEDE HOLLOW PARK - CULTURAL/INTERPRETIVE SIGNS DESIGNED AND CREATED (INSTALLATION SCHEDULED FOR 2022); LEADER IN QUARTERLY MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION GROUP; CONDUCTED FIELD RESEARCH ON PARK USE AND COMMUNITY NEED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ARTS PROGRAMS IN THE PARK. -HAMM PLAZA REDESIGN - CONVENED DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS WITH ST PAUL PARKS, PUBLIC WORKS, AND METRO TRANSIT

VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT: -SUPPORTED 160 GARDEN STEWARDS WHO TEND 42 GARDENS THROUGH FOURTEEN PLANTING EVENTS -PARTNERED WITH THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND TO CONVENE A COHORT OF 12 "FRIENDS OF" PARK GROUPS TO STRENGTHEN THE PRIVATE STEWARDSHIP OF PARKS ACROSS THE CITY. -COORDINATED AND/OR CO-SPONSORED SEVEN VOLUNTEER EVENTS (BUCKTHORN REMOVAL, SEED HARVESTING, TRASH PICK-UP) THAT ENGAGED 140 VOLUNTEERS IN FIVE PARKS -CREATED THE CITY'S FIRST PARK VOLUNTEER AWARDS AND SIGNATURE CELEBRATION FOR PARKS AND REC, THE "PARTY FOR THE PARKS"

RICE PARK MANAGEMENT: THE CONSERVANCY CONTINUES TO MANAGE THE RICE PARK REVITALIZATION ENDOWMENT FUND AND CONTRACT HORTICULTURAL SERVICES FOR THIS LANDMARK HISTORIC GREEN SPACE EXPERIENCE BY 250,000 VISITORS IN 2021. PARTNERING WITH THE SAINT PAUL GARDEN CLUB AND RICE PARK ASSOCIATION TO OVERSEE THE LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE OF RICE PARK. THE CONSERVANCY NOW MANAGES THE CITY'S PROGRAMS TO ADD AND DEDICATE TREES AND BENCHES IN SAINT PAUL PARKS. ADDITIONALLY, A NEW PROGRAM TO DEDICATE SCULPTURES SUPPORTS THE EXTRAORDINARY COSTS TO MAINTAIN THE STATE'S SECOND LARGEST COLLECTION OF OUTDOOR ART.