Six-year-old Ellis Fruen makes Como Park a little more livable during Saint Paul's annual Citywide Spring Cleanup on April 22.
Abandoned Stumps Could be Gone by Summer
Mayor Christopher Coleman and residents walk along a block on Nebraska that was clear-cut of ash trees.
Saint Paul Mayor Christopher Coleman expects stumps left from ash trees will be cleared from neighborhood boulevards by the end of summer, and replacement trees planted within the next year. Coleman and parks director Mike Hamm gave the new details April 26 after meeting with residents and viewing some of the blocks in District 10 most heavily affected by the city's ash removal program. Their new plan, however, depends on reallocating about $600,000 to do the work.
If pieces fall into place, District 10 will see
replacement trees planted this fall and next spring. The replacement trees are likely to be a mix of oak, honey locust, hackberry, and Kentucky coffee tree. At this point, the city plans to plant 2-inch saplings. But the city is working on an option for individual residents to pay extra to plant a more-mature replacement tree. In addition, the city is hoping to revamp its permit process for residents who want to plant their own tree in the city boulevard without waiting that long.
Read more details on city plans on District 10's website.
A concept for Snelling, looking south from Energy Park Drive toward Pierce Butler Route.
Snelling May Never Be the Same
MnDOT unveiled its "final preliminary plan" April 24 that would make Snelling Ave. seem
less like a freeway and, instead, make walking and bicycling safer and less intimidating. The proposals cover the long stretch between Midway Parkway south to Hamline University. That stretch includes the bridges over Como Ave.
, Energy Park Drive, and Pierce Butler Route. The concept would:
Eliminate the current freeway-style "acceleration" or "merge" lanes from Pierce Butler and Energy Park.
Replace those traffic lanes with protected bicycle lanes and wider sidewalks.
Keep the ramps that connect Snelling with Pierce Butler and Energy Park, but use stoplights (instead of the existing merge lanes) to regulate vehicle traffic entering and exiting Snelling.
Standardize the speed limit along Snelling, which now goes as high as 45 mph and as low as 30 mph.
You can
find more details of the proposal on District 10's website, including a link to MnDOT's interactive map.
Spruce Up Our Neighborhood Gardens
Neighborhood volunteers who maintain two public gardens in District 10 are starting the new season with workdays the next two weekends. They welcome any volunteers who want to
dig in with them.
This Saturday, April 29, work will begin at 9 a.m. at the newly expanded Churchill Gardens, at the intersection of Horton, Churchill, and Van Slyke. Volunteers will put in 165 more plants (to join the 1,400 they planted last October), fertilize, and add mulch.
Next Saturday, May 6, work will begin at 10 a.m. at the native-plant garden on the west shore of Como Lake, just north of the pavilion. Volunteers will clean up debris, trim plants, and weed out crab grass.
Register Before It's Too Late
District 10's annual Como Neighborhood Garage Sale is Saturday May 20. That's less than a month away. The registration deadline is Wednesday May 10. That's less than two weeks away. If you're planning a sale this year,
register now. The sign-up fee is only $15; we'll publish and distribute maps of every sale, so shoppers know where to find you.
D10 Committees Meet This Week
District 10's Neighborhood Relations and Land Use Committees both meet this week.
Saint Paul community prosecutor Tamara Larsen will speak with
Neighborhood Relations this Tuesday, May 2. She will discuss her work, including identifying concerns about public safety and crime, developing and implementing strategies to address neighborhood problems, and working to create a justice system that works for everyone in the community.
Land Use meets this Wednesday, May 3. The agenda includes discussion of noise issues at the Twin Cities German Immersion School.
Both committees meet at 7 p.m. at the Como Park Streetcar Station, which is at the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton. Community members are always welcome to attend and participate.
Wheelock Reconstruction Delayed
The reconstruction of Wheelock Parkway between Como Lake and Dale St. likely won't begin until at least July. That
late start means the project might not finish before the end of the 2017 construction season, says Saint Paul Public Works engineer Dan Haak. The Wheelock project originally was scheduled to begin in May. However, the departure of the original project engineer means other Public Works staff now have to step in mid-stream.
Meanwhile, other nearby road construction projects continue:
Highway 10: The westbound ramp to northbound Interstate 35W is closed through August.
Interstate 694: There are lane and ramp restrictions between Lexington and Interstate 35E. The ramp from Rice St. to westbound 694 is closed through November.
Raymond Ave.: The street is closed completely from Standish south to Energy Park; there is limited access from Como south to Standish.
Snelling Ave.: Only one lane is open in each direction between Como Ave. north to County Road B. Larpenteur is also down to one lane in each direction at Snelling. The ramp from Como Ave. to northbound Snelling is closed until May 10. While the ramp remains closed, northbound passengers on Metro Transit's A-Line will have to use a temporary stop at Midway Parkway.
Siama Matuzungidi performs in the library's Kaleidoscope series.
Give Your Youngsters a Worldly Experience
The Saint Paul Public Library unveils its Kaleidoscope international performing arts series "for the very young" in May. The free children's series includes story-telling; dance from Cambodia, Haiti, and Somalia; kabuki; and interactive music, singing, and dance. The first week's events include the Afoutayi Haitian dance troupe this Tuesday, May 2, at Merriam Park; and story-telling from India this Wednesday, May 3, at Rondo. Find the full schedule and details online.
Watching Our Waste: Cameras
If you have working cameras that you no longer use, don't toss them:
Donate them to the Art Department at Como Park Senior High School. They can be point-and-shoot or SLR-type cameras, film or digital. The department will also put camera bags and other accessories to good use. You can drop off donations at the school office, 740 W. Rose. For information,
contact Jason McIntyre by email.
Now, Pull Out the Camera You Use
The city's
Great River Passage initiative is launching a
public contest to gather the best photos of the Mississippi River in Saint Paul in four categories: the natural river, the working river, the urban river, and the people's river. To participate, post your photos of the Big River to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, using the hashtag #STPriver. Winning photos will be featured online and published as a part of the Great River Passage's photography residency, in which three professional photographers are documenting the same thing.
So Much to Look Forward To
Tonight, Friday April 28: Como Park Senior High School Spring Play, "The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon," 7 p.m. Students cram 209 fairy tales into this fast-paced extravaganza in the school auditorium, 740 W. Rose. Tickets: $7 at the door, $5 for students and senior citizens.
This Saturday, April 29: Ramsey County Fix-It Clinic, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. County Library in Roseville, 2180 N. Hamline.
This Monday May 1: Permit-only parking begins on Hamline Ave. and nearby residential streets west of the Zoo.
This Tuesday May 2: Rice Street Transportation Safety Study, 6-8 p.m. Washington Technology Magnet School, 1495 Rice. Ramsey County unveils preliminary concepts for a 4-to-3 lane conversion on Rice between Larpenteur and University.
This Wednesday May 3: Public hearing on installing LED street lights on Como Ave. from Dale to northwest of Jessamine, 5:30 p.m. Third-floor City Council chambers, 15 W. Kellogg Blvd.
This Wednesday, May 3: Block Club Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m. North Dale Community Center, 1414 N. St. Albans.
Thursday May 11: Saint Paul Regional Water Services Open House, 2-7 p.m. 1900 Rice St.
Friday May 19: Deadline to give your opinion on different varieties of LED streetlights being tested in Saint Paul. Maps and information are available online.
Sunday May 21: "Out-of-the-Ordinary Yards," 1-2:30 p.m. Orchard Park Recreation Center, 845 W. Orchard. Part of District 10's Sunday Series.
Sunday May 21: Como Community Seed Library's May Share Seed and Plant Exchange, 2:30-4 p.m. Orchard Park Recreation Center, 845 W. Orchard. Learn more on Facebook or volunteer here.
Wednesday May 24: Saint Paul Public Works Open House, 4-7 p.m. 891 N. Dale. Free
Thursday June 1: Saint Paul Police Safe Summer Night, 5-7 p.m. North Dale Recreation Center, 1414 N. St. Albans.
Heading out of town for a couple of days? A month? Reserve officers of the Saint Paul Police will check your home as part of the department's free
Vacation Watch program. Officers will check doors and windows for signs of tampering.
Just call 651-266-5485. (Be prepared to provide police a list of people who have keys to your place, will be checking on your pets, watering your plants, or otherwise have access while you're away.)
Minnesota Horse Expo: Today-Sunday, April 28-30, Warner Coliseum. 8:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Today and Saturday; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission: Teens and adults, $11; seniors 62 or older and children ages 6-12, $7; children 5 or younger, free.
Machinery Hills Criterium Race Series: This Tuesday, May 2, roadways north of Hoyt Ave. 4-9 p.m. This weekly bicycle road race training series includes four races (beginners-experts). Entry fees: $10-$25.
Sahara Sands Spring Classic Arabian Horse Show: Next Friday-Sunday, May 5-7, Warner Coliseum. 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Free
Pretty Sure You Didn't Expect That
This Monday, May 1, Saint Paul releases
30 goats along the bluff edge at Indian Mounds Regional Park. It's the city's first-ever effort to use goats to reduce the spread of invasive species. Over the next several months, the goats will roam fenced-in sections along the Mississippi River to eat unwanted vegetation. If you want to see for yourself, show up at 3 p.m. Monday.
Spread the Word
District 10 is one of Saint Paul's 17 citizen participation districts. The District 10 Como Community Council is a nonprofit organization, governed by a Board of Directors who are elected by members of the community. The Council's mission is to inform, educate, and connect the neighborhood to increase community pride and confidence.
You are receiving this email because you expressed interest in District 10 activities.
Know someone else who is interested in what's going on in our neighborhood?
