• WSP Parks Rising System Plan

    "WSP Parks Rising," the city's new Parks and Recreation System Plan, is West St. Paul’s blueprint for providing high-quality parks, recreational programming, facilities, open space, community events, and gatherings. The document guides future park improvement projects, plans, policies, and operations. It’s intended to drive the evolution of the city’s park system by balancing big ideas with pragmatic solutions. For more information, or to view the full plan, visit https://wspmn.gov/986/Parks-System-Plan.
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  • VISION

    Our parks vision: We envision parks that are uniquely West St. Paul. Welcoming, well-maintained, and beautiful places for people of all backgrounds to recreate, gather, play, celebrate, learn, and relax, achieved through a place-based approach." For more details on the vision, explore Section 4. Vision.
  • Parks System Vision. We envision parks that are uniquely West St. Paul. Welcoming, well-maintained, and beautiful places for people of all backgrounds to recreate, gather, play, celebrate, learn, and relax, achieved through a place-based approach.
  • Reimagine. Reimagine the layout and design of our parks, focusing on the future while infusing creativity and innovation. Invest. Make strategic and smart investments in the park system to improve usability, access, quality, providing the resources necessary to achieve our vision. Strengthen,. Enhance how individuals engage with the parks and one another by offering top-notch events and programs, improving accessibility, and expanding communications. Engage. Engage in active and genuine listening to understand residents' needs, work practically to find solutions, and cultivate awareness of the issues, opportunities, and limitations at hand.
  • On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being very enthusiastic, how would you rate your level of enthusiasm for the vision laid out for the future of the city's parks system?

  • VISION ELEMENTS

    Vision elements are the broad categories of actions, programs, and efforts we'll pursue to achieve the vision.
  • Creatively redesign parks to balance needs. Say goodbye to generic design. West St. Paul deserves parks that cater to a diverse range of needs, encompassing both active and passive activities. We will infuse our park redesigns with enthusiasm and creativity, free from previous constraints. Our goal is to transform the parks for the 21st century.
  • Vision Element 1: Creatively Redesign Parks to Balance Needs
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  • Focus on place and WSP's unique personality. We’re more than just a typical suburb; we’re West St. Paul! We proudly embrace our unique identity and the qualities that make us exceptional. While we acknowledge that there’s always room for growth, we believe that a little paint, a team of committed individuals, and some hard work can go a long way in making improvements.
  • Vision Element 2: Focus on Place and WSP's Unique Personality
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  • Make the parks work for everyone. West St. Paul is a vibrant community with 23,000 residents. It’s essential that everyone can access our parks safely, whether they choose to walk, bike, use a wheelchair, skateboard, take the bus, or drive. Once they arrive, we want to ensure that all individuals—seniors, youth, women, people of color, and those with disabilities—feel welcomed and included.
  • Vision Element 3: Make the Parks Work for Everyone
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  • Create more gathering spaces. Life’s more fun when we do it together. We can foster community and togetherness by constructing new spaces to come together. Everything from new plazas to picnic shelters and indoor spaces can help. Who’s ready to party?
  • Vision Element 4: Create More Gathering Spaces
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  • Update existing facilities. There’s no doubt that we have ambitious goals. As we strive to implement transformative projects, introduce new amenities, and pursue our bold visions, it’s essential to also take care of our current facilities.
  • Vision Element 5: Update Existing Facilities
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  • Align events and programs with community needs. Recreation programs, celebrations, festivals, and events are what make our community a fun place to be. We’ll continously work to ensure the offerings meet the community’s needs. We’ll keep traditions while not letting anything get too stale. And we’ll consider our residents, both new and long-timers when planning.
  • Vision Element 6: Align Events and Programs with Community Needs
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  • Make decisions through health, equity, and sustainability lenses. Our parks are already making significant contributions, and we have ambitious objectives ahead. As we pursue the goals outlined in this plan, it is essential to focus on outcomes when making decisions. Undoubtedly, our efforts can enhance public health, promote equity, and boost sustainability.
  • Vision Element 7: Make Decisions Through Health, Equity, and Sustainability Lenses
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  • Improve operations and communications. Overall, our small team excels at managing facilities and promoting our services. However, it’s important to acknowledge that there is always potential for enhancement. By focusing on increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations and communication, we can achieve even better results.
  • Vision Element 8: Improve Operations and Communications
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  • Right-size investments in the park system. Ultimately, ambitious goals require larger budgets. While we've made significant progress with limited resources, our potential is constrained without further investments. We can explore various revenue streams, but to meet the community’s objectives, we will need extra financial support from the community.
  • Vision Element 9: Right-Size Investments in the Park System
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  • PROPROSED PROJECTS

    The Parks System Plan lays out dozens of projects to update our parks. The plan highlights several focus areas, placing projects into one of four categories - Athletics, Passive Recreation & Play, Nature, and Community. For more details on the proposed projects, explore Section 5. Action Plan.
  • What proposed Athletic projects do you support?
  • What proposed Passive Recreation & Play projects do you support?
  • What proposed Nature projects do you support?
  • What proposed Community projects do you support?
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