Around (down)town: 4th of July rundown, fitness in the park and more

News from the Downtown Alliance

July 1, 2021

A note from the president

Friends,

Before we head out for the long weekend, we have a few fun things to share. I also want to quickly remind you to follow us on your favorite social media channels and share with us your great experiences in downtown.

First, the Saints are hosting the Welcome Back Downtown Weekend Block Party starting tomorrow. Events will extend beyond the confines of CHS Field, down 6th Street to Mears Park. There will be bands, food trucks and fireworks after each game this weekend, with a super special show planned for Sunday evening. You don't need a ticket to the game to enjoy the block party, but if you want to see top Twins prospect Jose Miranda play before he heads across the river, make sure to get tickets sooner rather than later. Speaking of, there was a great writeup in the Business Journal this week about the Saints’ new Twins affiliation and the positive impact it's having on their bottom line.

Other downtown news this week: A long sought-after second daily train to Chicago will leave from Union Depot; Osborn370-based software company BetterYou raised $2.25 million in venture capital; and initial plans for the Sears site redevelopment project were shared.

Finally, our friends at Goff Public returned to their offices downtown (and made a pitstop along the way) today, and to mark the occasion their COO Jennifer Hellman shared her thoughts about coming back downtown, the future of hybrid working and more. It's a great read and a reminder of the benefits of collaborating in person. Thank you to Jennifer, and to the entire team at Goff for your partnership and investment in downtown!

Keep reading to learn more about the new Rice Park Outdoor Workout Series that will begin next week, as well as a project update on downtown street and sidewalk construction.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Take care,

Joe

Joe Spencer

President

Saint Paul Downtown Alliance

#WelcomeBackStPL events & news this week

For ages we have wanted to bring more outdoor fitness options to downtown, so naturally we're pretty excited to announce three new classes that will kick off in Rice Park in July.

Beginning July 7^th, you can join D1 Training for a noon-hour mix of cardio and strength training. Or, for the earlier birds out there, you can participate in a combination kickboxing and strength class from Farrell's Extreme Bodyshaping happening Sundays at 6 a.m. and Wednesdays at 9 a.m. More information about each class can be found on the events calendar.

Here's a glance at what else is coming up :

July 2-4: Welcome Back Downtown Weekend | CHS Field & Mears Park
July 6: Bands on the Blvd with Roe Family Singers | MN History Center plaza
July 7: D1 Fitness in the Park | Rice Park
July 10: Outdoor Story Time with the Saint Paul Public Library | Central Library
July 10: Big River Pizza Concert Series | Farmers' Market

Be sure to bookmark WelcomeBackStPL.com - new events are added daily!

Summer road work is underway

The three-year project to replace all city streets and sidewalks in downtown has reached its third year. Stage 1 of this summer's construction schedule kicked off this week along 6th Street.

The Downtown Alliance has been working with Public Works and City of Saint Paul leading up to this year's roadwork to minimize disruptions as much as possible as workers and visitors return to downtown.

Click the map for an enlarged view with tentative work dates or learn more about the entire project here.

Snap, Tag, Win

All summer the #WelcomeBackStPL statue will move around downtown, making stops at our favorite parks, venues and destinations.

You’re likely to run into it at one of our events, or you may stumble upon it out of the blue. Either way, we want to see your pictures showing off your StPL pride!

SNAP a picture with the statue - a selfie, a shot of your dog, or just admiring the scenery, we love them all!
TAG us in your post - use #WelcomeBackStPL and @StPLdowntown on your favorite social channel.
WIN - each tag gets you entered to win a downtown gift. Winners are selected randomly.