St. Paul looks at a new strategy for parks, rec

St. Paul is working on a playbook for playtime.

With an uncertain budget environment, aging facilities and changing neighborhood demographics, the city's Parks and Recreation Department is close to completing a plan to reshape the parks system.

Fewer recreation centers, better athletic fields, more trails and natural areas, dog parks and a better strategy for investment and maintenance are all part of the draft plan, which strongly mirrors national trends. The city could save $20 million over the next 20 years by making the changes, according to the recently released draft.

The goal is to make sure that money goes to buildings that can offer a broad range of programs to a broad range of people, and also to increase access to high-demand amenities such as trails, natural spaces and dog parks.

The plan cost about $200,000 to work up and will be presented for public feedback at five meetings in November. The City Council is expected to vote on whether to approve a final plan in January.

Parks and rec director Mike Hahm likes to call what's envisioned a "21st century" system, with a focus on activities, not buildings. He said that by shedding old facilities that cost a lot in repairs and utilities, the system can offer more and better programs and add new amenities.

It's not enough just to have open gym time or a baseball diamond, he said; there also needs to be room for educational programs, community gathering space and other activities. "Quality works. Quality attracts people," he said.

In 2006, St. Paul operated 42 rec centers. Now, that number is 25.

Under the proposed plan, the city actually would do away with "rec centers" and operate "community centers." There would be 19 buildings that would offer more services for people of all ages, such as rooms for fitness or senior activities. A common complaint has been that rec centers are aimed mostly at youth.

The city would provide out-of-school programs and gym time at three other sites.

Operations and maintenance duties for the dozen buildings that the city has leased to other organizations would either be transferred to those groups or the buildings would be torn down. A couple of other buildings would be razed.

Looking for efficiency

Residents often tell parks officials they want more natural areas in the city, Hahm said. Under the plan, some parks throughout the city that don't currently have much natural space might have turf replaced with native prairie plantings or become wetlands.

Making better trail connections and upgrading loop trails at five "signature" sites, including Como and Phalen, are also recommended.

The plan suggests having temporary ice skate parks at the three refrigerated outdoor rinks and a larger destination skate park somewhere else in the city.

It's possible the city could go from running three golf courses to two.

Before any changes are made, though, residents will be consulted, Hahm stressed.