From Golf Course to Community Gathering Place: New Park Breaks Ground at The Heights
Five-acre park will bring new recreation amenities, green space and gathering places to Saint Paul’s Greater East Side
WHAT:
The City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department and project partners will celebrate the groundbreaking of a new five-acre community park within The Heights, the site of the former Hillcrest Golf Course on Saint Paul’s Greater East Side. Planned amenities include a futsal court, basketball half-court, play area, restroom building, picnic shelter, picnic areas, sledding area, public art and open green space. The event marks the next step in transforming the site into a vibrant, mixed-use development with new homes, businesses and public spaces.
The park project is led by Saint Paul Parks and Recreation, with funding support from the Saint Paul Port Authority and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The project reflects extensive community engagement that began in summer 2025. A new permanent name was developed through the community engagement process and is expected to be finalized soon.
WHEN:
Monday, October 19, 2026, at 4 p.m.
WHERE:
The Heights development, former Hillcrest Golf Course site, Greater East Side of Saint Paul. Enter through the construction gate off Larpenteur Avenue. Limited parking is available in the dirt lot near the construction trailer. Street parking is also available. Safety note: The event takes place on an active construction site. Attendees should wear appropriate footwear and be prepared for uneven ground.
WHO:
- Local elected leaders
- Andy Rodriguez, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Director
- Kristine Williams, Saint Paul Port Authority Chief Development Officer
- Cecile Bedor, Twin Cities Habitat Chief Real Estate Officer
The event is free and open to all.
About Saint Paul Parks & Recreation
Saint Paul Parks and Recreation is a nationally accredited and gold medal award-winning organization that manages 186 parks and open spaces, AZA-accredited Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, 26 city-operated recreation centers, more than 120 miles of trails, an indoor and two outdoor aquatic facilities, a public beach, a variety of premium sports facilities, municipal golf courses, and Great River Passage – which is the new identity for all proposed public development along Saint Paul’s more than 17 miles of Mississippi riverfront. For more information about Saint Paul Parks and Recreation, visit www.stpaul.gov/parks.
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