Plan tackles Como Park congestion

About $30 million could alleviate the most common complaints people have about St. Paul's popular Como Park -- parking and traffic congestion.

So says a draft plan recently released by the city's Parks and Recreation Department. The purpose of the plan is to figure out how to improve getting to and through the park, while also being sensitive to nature and the neighborhood.

"What we do in one spot is going to affect things throughout the entire park," said Michelle Furrer, director/campus manager at Como.

A mix of new signs, parking fees, increased use of a shuttle system and roundabouts are some of the things that could make traffic flow more smoothly and ease frazzled nerves, according to the plan. The suggestions are prioritized to be rolled out over the next 20 years, but small changes could be made as early as spring.

Whether it's to stroll around the lake, peer at a polar bear or smell the flowers, more people are finding their way to Como Park than ever: More than 3 million people visited there in 2009. The busiest times are during the summer.

The 450-acre park was established in 1873 and has several attractions, including a free city-owned zoo, conservatory, children's amusement park, golf course and lake. Over the past decade, millions of dollars have been put into upgrading animal exhibits and buildings. Construction on a new pool is about to begin.

Considered a regional park, Como is nestled in a residential neighborhood in the northwest part of the city. That fact can cause tensions between neighbors and visitors. Nearly 80 percent of visitors come from outside the city, and 92 percent of all visitors drive to the park, according to the study.

Parking, congestion and green space are among top concerns of folks who use the park, according to the study.

Among the suggested changes:

•A permanent parking lot for shuttle use: The contract to use a State Fairgrounds lot is running out, and the study suggests a permanent lot, ideally on park grounds, would get more people on the shuttles. In addition, the study suggests having a shuttle circulate among various attractions, so someone at the pool could hop a shuttle to the zoo, for instance. The shuttle, funded by a $1.2 million federal grant, started running on summer weekends in 2009. It began running on weekdays this past summer. Currently, only about 4 percent of visitors use it.

•A new underground parking ramp: A plan in 1984 called for an underground ramp near the visitor's center, and the new study suggests the same thing. It would have about 400 spaces at an estimated cost of $20 million for construction.

•A better sign system: This is an area for major improvement that could be done relatively quickly, Furrer said. She said often people wind up driving through the same lot over and over because they don't know where to find other places to park. One type of sign that would be considered would tell people when a lot is full. Naming the various lots also is suggested.

•Using roundabouts at key intersections: Roundabouts would eliminate left turns that back up traffic and slow traffic speeds, the study said.

•New and improved bike and trail connections: Making it easier for people to bike or walk to the park would lessen dependence on vehicles, the study said.

People are being asked to give feedback on the draft plan before it goes to the City Council for approval in mid-November. The study cost $100,000 and was done by Kimley-Horn and Associates.

The draft report is at: tinyurl.com/comoparktip.