Saint Paul Parks and Gardens

(Saint Paul, Minnesota - MN, USA)

A particularly green state capital filled with recreational spaces, expansive parklands and public gardens, St. Paul certainly knows how to look after its natives. In fact, in the early 1870s, the city acquired the land surrounding Como Lake (some 120 hectares / 300 acres) and transformed it into a spacious, landscaped public parkland, which today boasts a golf course, sports fields, paved walking trails, zoological gardens, picnic shelters and more.

Many of the principal parks and green spaces tend to follow the line of the Mississippi River, on the southern side of the city. Located off Exchange Street South, Irvine Park is very central and is where you will find the Science Museum of Minnesota, while adjacent Upper Landing Park is separated by Shepard Road and boasts a line of four modern fountains, as well as plenty of riverside seating.

Lying slightly to the east and just a stone's throw from downtown St. Paul, the 32-hectare / 80-acre Indian Mounds Park on the Mounds Boulevard is of great historical interest, since it boasts no less than six burial mounds. These were created by the Native American Indians as long ago as 2,000 years and contrast greatly with the modern Airway Beacon tower dating from the late 1920s.

General Information

On the southwestern side of downtown St. Paul, Highland Park is worth looking out for and is bounded by the Hamline Avenue South, Montreal Avenue, Snelling Avenue South and the West Highway Parkway.

The old Water Tower rather dominates Highland Park and measures more than 40 meters / 131 feet in height, being one of the city's tallest landmarks and listed on the prestigious National Register of Historic Places since the 1980s. Several times a year, the tower is opened to the public, who are able to climb the 150+ steps to the observation deck and enjoy the splendid views across the St. Paul cityscape.

Visitors staying in St. Paul may also like to pencil in a trip to the Fort Snelling State Park, which resides at the meeting point of the Mississippi River and the Minnesota River, and is, of course, home to a famous fortress dating back to the second decade of the 19th century.

More than 400,000 people come to the Fort Snelling State Park each year, checking out not only the fort, but also the visitor center and the 23 miles / 37 km of hiking trails and cycleways, which link the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. During Minnesota's harsh winter months, the park becomes a popular spot for cross-country skiing.