June 2016
U P C O M I N G 
E V E N T S 
Wednesday, June 15
6:30 PM
Community Safety and Improvement Committee Meeting
627 Selby, Suite A

Thursday, June 16
6:30 PM
Neighborhood
Development Meeting
627 Selby, Suite A

Thursday, June 16
6:30 PM
Western District Police Dept. Community Meeting
367 Grove St, St Paul


Tuesday, June 28
6 PM
SUPC Board Meeting
627 Selby, Suite A


Join Our Mailing List
Check out the Summit-University Facebook Page and Blog!
Did you know the Summit-University Planning Council has a Facebook page?

Connect with us online, and share the link with your friends and neighbors to stay on top of all the community news and opportunities.

The more people participate in our community, the better it is, so contribute your news, share your photos of local events, or just drop in to say "hello"!

SUPC also has a blog - contribute stories, announcements about events, or drop in to see the latest happenings in the 'hood!

 Reminder: Youth Art Workshops at Western Sculpture Park
Youth Art Workshops

Public Art Saint Paul is hosting another summer of  Youth Art Workshopsat Western Sculpture Park. Kids will have a grand time developing art making skills and learning about our water system and the Mississippi River, the theme of this summer's art projects. Special guests and activities will be featured throughout the summer. A snack and beverage is provided. No registration is necessary. Participants can be part of one, some or all workshops.

When: Tuesdays, 1pm-4pm from June 14 - August 23, and Saturday, August 20 from 1pm-4pm
Where: Western Sculpture Park, 387 Marion St., Saint Paul, MN 55103 
Cost: Free
Ages: Youth of all ages
St. Paul Summer Blast 
Youth Program
 Summer Blast is a free afternoon program for youth that will be entering grades 1-6 this coming fall. Summer Blast is held at recreation centers across Saint Paul, including Summit University's Martin Luther King Recreation Center and JImmy Lee Recreation Center.

Most locations are  Monday -Thursday from  1 pm to 4 pm . Activities include crafts, art, tennis, cooking, swimming, gym games, water fun, outdoor nature activities, outdoor play, fitness, kitchen science and more. Partnering with the Saint Paul Public Library, youth are encouraged to keep reading all summer through fun activities and programs. A daily snack is provided.

Holcombe Circle, Summit University's Oldest Park

Originally dedicated to the city in 1857 as "Holcombe Park" by William Holcombe, Minnesota's first Lieutenant Governor, Holcombe Circle Park was the fourth park added to what is now the City of Saint Paul's Parks and Recreation Department. It was originally intended as a market square and saw heavy use during the early part of its life as a place for settlers to pick up their provisions and socialize with other community members.

By the late 1950s, however, the city was facing urban decline and the park was bisected to allow traffic to pass through. The park was all but forgotten until the late 1970s when local community members worked with the city to restore the circle. The park was restored during a road repair project and planted with flowers, shrubs and edibles.

One of only two traffic circles in the city at the time, the park created an unsuspecting obstacle for oncoming motorists who weren't used to this unusual traffic feature. It was often hit by vehicles and the majority of the plantings could not withstand the traffic. The circle soon fell into disrepair once again.

The park's fate seemed uncertain until another group of community members organized to reimagine and restore the park. The group, calling themselves the Friends of Holcombe Circle, worked to create lasting solutions to the problems facing the park. The new design included signs and plantings to help guide automobile traffic around the circle, sidewalks and railings to direct pedestrian traffic, lighting to make the park more visible, and low maintenance, bird friendly plantings. Holcombe Circle Park was officially rededicated to the public in 1988 and the Friends of Holcombe Circle still maintain this Summit-University treasure today.

The Friends of Holcombe Circle are now seeking the next generation of avid gardeners and proactive community members to help maintain the park into the future. If you are interested joining or supporting the Friends of Holcombe Circle, please contact Greg Crawford: 

Email: gregcrawford@earthlink.net

Updates from Hallie Q. Brown
Raptor Center Visits Hallie Q. Brown

On June 7, Hallie Q. Brown's Early Learning Center students received a visit from the University of Minnesota's Raptor Center, all thanks to a grant from Project Lighthouse. The kids learned about various types of raptors and had the chance to meet a falcon, screech owl and hawk in person! A representative from the Raptor Center taught the children about how raptors eat, hunt and fly, and answered questions about these impressive birds. Thanks to everyone involved for a special day!
 
Volunteers needed for Rondo Days

Volunteer at the Hallie Q. Brown Kid's Zone for Rondo Days! On Saturday, July 16, Hallie Q. will host a kid's fun zone in our parking lot, featuring a dunk tank, bouncy house, games, prizes and more. Volunteers are needed to help distribute tickets, staff the games, and answer questions. 

If you'd like to volunteer, please email 


or call Lisa at 651-222-1997.

Save the Date for the Annual Night at the Q

On October 1, 2016, "Come fly around the world with us" at Hallie Q. Brown's 87th Annual Gala! Join us for heavy appetizers, fun activities, a silent auction, and more. Help us raise funds for the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center - and have fun while you're at it. 

Tickets are available now at www.hallieqbrown.org

We hope to see you there!

Report: Maxfield Seedling Social 
On a cold Saturday in May, Summit University Planning Council held its annual Seedling event.

Despite the unusual cold, local families showed up to pick up seedlings, learn about gardening, talk about housing and other neighborhood concerns, and participate in fun trivia games.

The winners of the trivia game were Calah P. and Frances G.! They'll each be receiving a $25 gift card to Menard's.

Thank you to all the Subdistrict A community members who participated and to all those on the SUPC board and other who contributed their time and effort to making this event a success. 

Plant those seedlings, and we'll see you next year!


Beginning Plans for National Night Out
You can start registering for NNO 2106 NOW! August 2, 2016, will be here sooner than you think, so please consider registering and getting your block permit to close your street sooner rather than later.
If you have any questions or have ideas for making NNO bigger and better, contact  P amala  M c C reary, 
651-266-55455, Pam.Mccreary@ci.stpaul.mn.us.

News from Our Council
Check out our new website  --  summit-university.org and keep current on neighborhood events, projects, block clubs and recycling information. 

Do you have a community concern or issue?  Do you have some ideas on how to make our neighborhoods safer or more vibrant?  If so please come to the SUPC Community Forum, Thursday, April 14 from 6-7:30 at the SUPC office, 627 Selby, Suite A.

Please consider becoming a board member. Districts A and D each have a vacancy.  If you are interested, contact Jens@summit-university.org.