FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 19, 2019
CONTACT:
Clare Cloyd
clare.cloyd@ci.stpaul.mn.us
612-760-5074 (c)
City of Saint Paul opens new Frogtown Community Center
Brand new facility will support surrounding community through expanded programming, increased square footage, and extended building hours
SAINT PAUL – The City of Saint Paul today celebrated the grand opening of Frogtown Community Center, a brand-new state-of-the art recreation center in the Frogtown neighborhood. The 23,500 square-foot center, which replaces the old Scheffer Recreation Center, is nearly quadruple in size and will offer expanded programs, amenities and building hours. The center boasts new socially and physically active spaces including multipurpose community rooms, a kitchen, a dance room, a teen room, after-school space, a full-size gym and a fitness room, among other amenities.
“Our new Frogtown Community Center is a beautiful and welcoming space for Saint Paul children and families,” said Mayor Melvin Carter. “Safe, supportive spaces like this, where our youth can connect around common interests with peers and positive role models alike, are critical to our vision for the future.”
The $7.7 million project took around 13 months to construct, with initial design, testing, and community engagement beginning in 2016. Phase two of the project, a $2.1 million upgrade to the site’s outdoor amenities, will include a multipurpose artificial turf field, a play area, a new basketball court and a volleyball/Sepak Takraw court. Phase two construction is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
“It is essential for us to invest and provide quality programs and services for our communities that have historically been disinvested in,” said Councilmember Dai Thao, who represents the area. “This community asset will have a lasting impact for generations to come, and I’m honored to have had a role in securing this state-of-the-art facility in Frogtown for everyone to access and enjoy.”
Local artists were hired to design the public art found throughout the building, including a one-of-a-kind terrazzo floor which welcomes visitors into the facility. It took a collaboration of three Saint Paul artists, Tou Yia Xiong, Myc Dazzle, and Megan Tate, almost 18 months to complete their design. The addition of their work represents an important aspect of utilizing community feedback and resources to showcase the talent and vibrancy of the neighborhood.
The building is now open to the public with year-round facility hours. Monday-Thursday from 9:00am-9:00pm, Fridays from 9:00am-7:00pm, Saturdays from 10:00am-6:00pm, and Sundays from 12:00pm-5:00pm. For more details on classes and activities visit www.stpaul.gov/FrogtownCC
About Saint Paul Parks and Recreation
Saint Paul Parks and Recreation is a nationally accredited and gold medal award-winning organization that manages 179 parks and open spaces, AZA-accredited Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, 26 city-operated recreation centers, more than 100 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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