Como Regional Park Projects

Capitol Region Watershed District and the City of Saint Paul will partner with a contractor to construct formal access paths for fishing and lakeside viewing around Como Lake. Improvements will include installing stone pavers, slabs, fieldstone, and decomposed granite to create durable paths in high-use areas that are currently bare soil. Vegetation restoration will also take place, including expanding the shoreline buffer with native prairie plantings.

Temporary construction fencing will be installed at the entrances to new paths to allow vegetation to become established.

During construction, trails around Como Lake will remain open, though temporary detours may be in place. Please follow all posted signs and detour routes. The contractor will work at only a few locations around the lake at a time to minimize disruption.

Project contact: 
Capitol Region Watershed District

Nine paths will be constructed between April 1 – June 30, 2026. Construction fencing should be removed by August 3, 2026. 

Paths will be constructed at sites 1,3,8,9,16,19,21,22,24 (see map below).

The remaining sites consist of eroded areas that will be restored through revegetation.

Paths installed by June 30, 2026 and construction fencing removed by August 3, 2026. 

Examples of informal access paths that have formed that will be replaced by formal access paths. 

Photos from Capitol Region Watershed District

Examples of what paths may look like (these are only examples and not actual images of future paths).

Photos from Barr Engineering

Project Overview

The City of Saint Paul's Parks and Recreation Department will engage community members to inform and develop an updated Long-Range Plan for Como Regional Park. The Plan update will emphasize improving the connection between the trails within the park to Saint Paul's Grand Round trail network. The process will prioritize connections around Como Lake, Picnic Pavilions, McMurray Fields and Woodland Outdoor Classroom areas over those within the Zoo, Conservatory, or Golf Course areas.

Project Goals

• Ensure community voices are engaged and incorporated in the design of the project; particular attention will be paid to communities that are historically underrepresented in City building projects.
• Clarify pedestrian, bicycle and mixed-use routes throughout the park.
• Improve connectivity between Como Regional Park Trails and the Saint Paul Grand Round Regional Trail Network.

Project Manager

David Ronzani
Saint Paul Parks & Recreation
David.Ronzani@ci.stpaul.mn.us
P: (651) 266-6410

Park Address

1225 Estabrook Drive, Saint Paul MN, 55103

Project Funding 

This project is funded by Legacy Parks and Trails Fund.

Click here for more information

Public engagement will be critical to the success of this project.

Please visit engagestpaul.org/como-trail-master-plan to share your views and experiences within the existing Regional Park. Use the Map and Ideas Board Tools to add to the conversation around the park. 

Funding for the Regional Park Plan update has been secured from the Parks and Trails Legacy Grant.

The Como Regional Park Plan project will build on previous plans and proposals for the area, existing physical assets, as well as feedback received from community engagements.

Meeting presentations, minutes, and other new content will be posted in the Project Documents tab when available. Materials from our first two design advisory committee meetings are available now.

90% Public Comment Period Feedback

Community Open House

A Community Open House was held on October 10, 2023 at the Como Streetcar Station. Materials from the Open House are below:

Open House Presentation

Open House Presentation Boards

Lakeside Pavilion Presentation Board

Please provide any feedback from the Open House, or for the Como Lakeside Pavilion Plan on the Engagement site, engagestpaul.org/como-trail-master-plan.

Design Advisory Committee

May 2023 Update: Design Advisory Committee meetings are underway. Committee meetings will be held every other month between March and July. Materials from the March and May meetings are now available. Check back in July for further updates from our Design Advisory Committee meetings!

Community Engagement Opportunities 

In-person engagement events will continue taking place throughout the summer and fall of 2023. Opportunities to participate at meetings will be listed below when available:

• July 14, 2023 - Ice Cream Social @ Como Streetcar Station
• July 19, 2023 - Design Advisory Committee Meeting 3 @ Como Regional Park
• October 10, 2023 - Community Open House @ Como Streetcar Station, 5:00-7:00pm with a short presentation at 5:45pm

2024:

May 2024: Final Document Completion

August: Final Regional Park Plan Approval and Adoption Processes

Key Dates:

Metropolitan Council 
Wednesday, September 25th, 2024
4:00 pm
Metropolitan Council, 390 Robert St. N. Saint Paul, MN 55101 (Robert Street Council Chambers)

Metropolitan Council Community Development Committee (CDC)
Monday, September 16th, 2024
4:00 pm
Metropolitan Council, 390 Robert St. N. Saint Paul, MN 55101 (Robert Street Council Chambers)

Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission (MPOSC)
Thursday, September 5th, 2024
4:00 pm
Metropolitan Council, 390 Robert St. N. Saint Paul, MN 55101 (Robert Street Room 1A)

City Council Meeting
Review and Recommendation 
Wednesday, August 14th, 2024
3:30-5:00 pm
300 City Hall, Kellogg Blvd. W. Saint Paul, MN 55102

Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Review and Recommendation 
Thursday, June 13th, 2024
6:30-8:00 pm
Northwest Como Recreation Center (1550 N Hamline Ave)

2023:

March - July: Design Advisory Committee Meetings

May - November: Community Engagement Events

November 2023 - April 2024: Regional Park Plan - Draft Document, Revisions and Reviews

2022:

January - July: Project Start, Schematic Design

August - October: Plan development & Community Engagement Events

Approved Como Regional Park Long-Range Plan

In spring 2023, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation engaged a consultant to analyze the Como Lakeside Pavilion and create a vision to upgrade and improve the facility to better accommodate public use and operations.

Design Goals

• renovate and relocate bathrooms for accessibility
• maximize all space for public use
• add vendors and services for year round use
• appropriately size spaces to meet community needs
• maintain the historic quality of this landmark building and upgrade overall aesthetics
• promote community events and connection to Como Lake
• direct amplified sound toward natural sound breaks

These Goals are proposed to be included in the Como Regional Park Long Range Plan. The final design for the Lakeside Pavilion is yet to be determined as outlined in the next steps listed below.

Proposed Vision Plan

The proposed Como Lakeside Pavilion Vision Plan can be viewed here:

Proposed Como Lakeside Pavilion Vision Plan

Project Manager

Anne Gardner
anne.gardner@ci.stpaul.mn.us

Vision Plan Next Steps

• Seek feedback and support from community users, partner groups and stakeholders
• Prepare a cost estimate for preferred improvements
• Identify and apply for funding sources
• Move from 'idea stage' into the next stages of design and planning: Concept plan development, schematic design, construction documents, and bidding

The timeline for the above steps is yet to be determined.

Updates & Community Engagement Opportunities 

Check back for community engagement opportunities.

Como Transportation Improvements Webpage