Overview

The master plan for Hidden Falls Crosby Farm Regional Park will guide park improvements, natural resources management, and make recommendations for changes within or adjacent to the park. The park does not have a recent master plan, and per the Metropolitan Council, a plan must be approved and adopted for every regional park in the seven county metropolitan area. See the Metropolitan Council's website for more details. City Parks and Recreation asked for input and feedback on this plan throughout fall 2018, and the written report was completed in June 2019.  

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this project, please contact the project manager listed above to the right side of this page.  

A postcard was mailed to neighbors of the park in late September 2018, you may download the postcard flyer. The survey on this flyer is now closed.

Report Status

The Master Plan Report review by the Metropolitan Council is complete.

  • June 6, 2019 - Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission
  • June 17, 2019 - Community Development Committee
  • June 26, 2019 - full Metropolitan Council

The Master Plan report was available for public review and feedback from March 4th until April 1st, 2019 (end of business day). Comments are now closed. See below for links to the document and the feedback form. Thank you to all who shared your input on this report!

1970 Hidden Falls Crosby Farm Park Master Plan

2005 Crosby Farm Natural Resources Plan

Please contact the project manager listed at right with any questions.

Public Meetings

Hidden Falls History

Hidden Falls Regional Park dates back to 1887, when it was selected by Horace Cleveland, a nationally known landscape architect and park planner, as one of four major park sites for the City of Saint Paul. Except for the use of a portion of the land as a tree nursery, no improvement was made in Hidden Falls Park until 1936-37, when the WPA carried out an extensive improvement program on the site. A small spring-fed waterfall is featured in the park, which gives the park its name. In the mid 1960's the park took much of its present form as work began on the park's four primary use areas: the primitive area, boat launching area, general picnic area, and scenic falls area.

Crosby Farm History

Crosby Farm Regional Park is named after Thomas Crosby, an English immigrant who staked out 160 acres in the valley southwest of the present-day junction of Shepard Road and Interstate 35E in 1858. Before Crosby's death in 1886, the farm became one of the largest and longest running in the West End and Highland Park area. A succession of families farmed it between 1902 and 1962. The Saint Paul Port Authority purchased the land in the early 1960s and leased it to the City for park use. Today, Crosby Farm's potential as a nature area accessible to the public is being realized. With about 6.7 miles of paved trails, the park provides a beautiful setting for an afternoon's walk, run, or ride. Trails run along shady, wooded bottom lands next to the Mississippi River, along the marshes of Crosby Lake, past scenic picnic areas, and connects to the Mississippi River Boulevard parkway. Fishing and picnics are other popular activities in the park.

Project Timeline

  • July to November 2018 - public engagement and design advisory committee meetings
  • January 2019 - public open house
  • March 2019 - draft submission to St. Paul Parks Commission and City Council
  • March 4 - April 1, 2019 - public review and comment on draft report (note the date change)
  • April 2019 - nearly complete draft to Metropolitan Council (staff review)
  • May 2019 - review by Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission
  • June 2019 - final master plan adopted by Metropolitan Council

 

Last Edited: July 16, 2019