FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 15, 2024
CONTACT:
Liz McDonald
liz.mcdonald@ci.stpaul.mn.us
651-266-6367 (o)
612-505-6171 (c)
* * * ADVISORY ADVISORY ADVISORY * * *
City of Saint Paul, Community Partners to Host Hmong Plaza Celebration on May 18
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The City of Saint Paul and Minnesota China Friendship Garden Society invite members of the public to attend an event to celebrate the opening of the Hmong Plaza, the first feature of Phase II in the Saint Paul- Changsha China Friendship Garden on Saturday, May 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Phalen Regional Park.
The celebration will begin with a traditional Hmong Opening – Kwv Txhiaj, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The public will then be welcomed to the Hmong Plaza by the Imnizaski Dakota Drummers for a program that will include VIP speakers and international Hmong guests from Laos, China, Vietnam, Thailand, France, Australia, and Canada. The public will enjoy Hmong, Chinese, and Korean cultural musical performances, and exhibitions of Hmong Pandau embroidery and Chinese paintings.
WHAT: China Friendship Garden Hmong Plaza Opening Celebration
WHO: Hosted by the City of Saint Paul and Minnesota China Friendship Garden Society; all members of the public are invited to attend. Program speakers include:
- MN Senator Susan Pha
- MN Senator Foung Hawj
- Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Director Andy Rodriguez
- Hmong 18 Council President Paul Xiong
- MCFGS President Bill Zajicek
WHEN: Saturday, May 18, 2024 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Ribbon cutting ceremony at 9 a.m.; opening speeches at 9:50 a.m.; additional speeches and cultural performances starting at 10:35 a.m.
WHERE: Phalen Regional Park
1624 Phalen Drive
Saint Paul, MN 55106
About this phase of the project
The Hmong Plaza is the first of seven features in Phase II of the Saint Paul-Changsha China Friendship Garden, which is a multi-million-dollar, multi-year landmark community development project that will bring intercultural learning and collaboration alive at Phalen Regional Park. Funding is still being sought for three large scale Hmong art sculptures (silver necklace and two Qeej, Hmong wind instruments) needed to complete the Hmong Plaza. The China Garden is built on the 36-year Sister-City relationship between Saint Paul and Changsha in China and reflects the Hmong ancestral roots traced to this area in China. The China Garden is the only Changsha-style China Garden in the United States and the first China Garden in the world that reflects both Chinese and Hmong cultural elements.
About Saint Paul Parks and Recreation
Saint Paul Parks and Recreation is a nationally accredited and gold medal award-winning organization that manages over 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. Saint Paul Parks and Recreation is recognized by the Trust for Public Land™ ParkScore® as the #2 City Park System in the United States in 2023. For more information, visit stpaul.gov/parks.
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