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Home > Our Community > Elected Officials Connect with Elected Officials Who Represents Our Neighborhood? ​ Find your representatives at the city, state , and county. ​ Find out more about the Metropolitan Council. ​ City Council Councilmember A nika Bowie represents Ward 1, which includes areas of Union Park east of Snelling Avenue. City Council Councilmember Mitra Jalali represents Ward 4, which includes areas of Union Park west of Snelling Avenue. Mayor Mayor Melvin Carter Ramsey County Commissioners Commissioner R ena Moran represents Ramsey County District 4. Metropolitan Council W . Tony Carter represents Metropolitan Council district 14. State Representative State Representative Kaohly Vang Her represents district 64A, which includes most of Union Park. State Representative State Representative Dave Pinto represents district 64B, which includes a small portion of Union Park south of Shadow Falls Park, north of Summit, and west of Cretin. State Representative State Representative S amakab Hussein represents district 65A, which includes portions of Union Park east of Snelling and north of Ashland or Laurel. State Senate State Senator Sandra Pappas represents district 65, which includes portions of Union Park east of Snelling and north of Ashland or Laurel. State Senate State Senator Erin Murph y represents district 64, which includes most of Union Park. US Representative Representative Betty McCollum represents Minnesota's 4th Congressional district. US Senate Senator Tina Smith

Home > Committees > Transportation Transportation Committee Our Transportation Committee meets on the second Monday of each month from 6:30-8:30 p.m. A link to the committee agenda will be posted on the UPDC Facebook page one week before the meeting. Past agendas and minutes can be found here. ​ The Transportation Committee advocates for the transportation objectives outlined in the Union Park Community Plan. The Committee addresses roadway design, public transit, bicycle and pedestrian access and infrastructure, traffic safety, transportation aspects of development projects and other topics. The Transportation Committee makes recommendations to the UPDC Board, and to the UPDC Committee on Land Use and Economic Development on transportation elements of development projects. ​ Everyone is welcome to attend committee meetings. Email leah@unionparkdc.org to sign up for the monthly e-mailing list and receive agendas, minutes, and the Zoom link. If you are interested in joining the Committee, you’ll need to attend three consecutive meetings to become a voting member. Learn more about joining a committee here . ​ Learn more about Transportation and planning terms, projects happening in Union Park, and answers to frequently asked questions here .​ ​ For information about how to get around in Union Park, go here. ​ You can learn more about our current and past work below. ​ Ongoing Committee Topics: Planning for the future reconstruction of I-94 through Saint Paul Review of the transportation elements of major development proposals in Union Park Proposed changes / improvements to Metro Transit bus service Responding to community concerns about traffic, bicycle and pedestrian issues, traffic safet ​ Recent Committee Topics Our Lady of Peace Proposed Street Vacation Proposed Street Vacation by Our Lady of Peace Hospice Center: Our Lady of Peace, a hospice center located on St. Anthony Ave, plans to file a request with the City of Saint Paul to close St Anthony to through traffic between Finn and Cleveland. The Hospice would convert the section of St Anthony Avenue into parking for its staff and visitors. This proposal by The Hospice is separate from the approval The Hospice was given by the City to expand its current on-site parking lot from 15 to 40 parking spaces. The work to expand the parking lot will begin sometime in the summer of 2021. UPDC's Stance: At the UPDC Transportation Committee meeting on June 14, the committee voted unanimously to oppose the likely request to the City of Saint Paul by Our Lady of Peace Hospice (The Hospice) to vacate Saint Anthony Avenue between Finn and Cleveland. At its July meeting, the Union Park District Council (UPDC) also voted to strongly oppose the street vacation. In voting to oppose a street vacation, the community and board had concerns about increasing traffic volumes on parallel streets and access for police/fire vehicles and snowplows. The roads running parallel to St. Anthony currently experience significant cut-through traffic during rush hours, especially when Cretin or Cleveland are congested. Closing St. Anthony would add traffic to the parallel streets. Given that the Hospice is currently expanding its off-street parking lot from 14 to 40 spaces, many neighbors and board members stated that a street vacation proposal should wait after the new parking lot is completed and usage of the off and on-street parking can be assessed. The board recommends that a parking study would make sense at that time. The Process: Union Park undertook public engagement in the neighborhood on this topic. The Hospice made a presentation to the Union Park transportation committee in the spring. In late May and early June, Union Park distributed a flyer about a possible street vacation to the residences along Saint Anthony, Finn, Temple Court, Roblyn, and Carroll Avenues. Union Park accepted community input through email and at the Transportation Committee meeting on June 14. Comments received by the Transportation Committee at its June meeting and in writing came primarily from residents in the adjoining neighborhood. Nineteen community members attended the committee meeting. All but one of the residents who spoke were opposed to a street vacation. Nine residents submitted comments by email - with eight expressing opposition and one in support. While many people mentioned the good work of The Hospice, concerns about the plan to close St Anthony Avenue included: ● Result will be increased cut-through traffic and higher traffic volumes on streets to the south (Robyn, Carrol Ave, maybe Iglehart). These streets already get a lot of cut-through traffic during rush hours when Cleveland or Cretin is backed up. ● Residents note that the current Hospice parking lot is rarely full and ask to wait until the Hospice parking lot is expanded this summer (from 15 to 40 spaces) to see what the need will be after that. ● Concerns about emergency vehicle and snowplow access to St. Anthony Ave ● The potential cost of the project and who would pay for it. ● Taking public land for private use. ● Traffic calming is needed on all these streets. A resident of St Anthony Avenue provided comments in support of the project because of reduction of traffic. On July 21st, 2021, UPDC formally sent a letter to Councilmember Jalali and Public Works Director Sean Kershaw opposing the street vacation. At this time, the Hospice is still waiting for the city to respond to its proposal. MnDOT Plans to Raise the Speed Limit on Highway 280 MnDOT plans to raise the speed limit on Highway 280 from 55 mph to 60 mph. UPDC's Stance: On July 21st, 2021, the Board of Directors sent a letter to Melissa Barnes, the current Metro North area manager. The Board of Directors of the Union Park District Council (UPDC) also voted to support a resolution from our Transportation Committee to oppose MnDOT’s plan to raise the posted speed limit from 55 mph to 60 mph on highway 280. Union Park believes that raising the speed limit will increase noise, pollution and contribute to more severe crashes, injury, and death. A higher speed limit will also result in a more significant vehicle speed variation in a corridor with many trucks entering and exiting. Additionally, vehicles will travel into neighborhood streets at a higher rate of speed than they currently do, which will exacerbate the problem. History of Highway 280 Highway 280 was built in the 1950s and connected to I-94 in 1968. After the I-35W bridge collapsed in 2007, Highway 280 was designated as the detour route, resulting in its temporary conversion into a full freeway. The intersections at County Road B, Broadway Street, Walnut Street, and Roselawn Avenue were closed. After the new I-35W bridge opened in September 2008, many of Highway 280's at-grade intersections were not reopened. In October of 2008, MnDOT proposed to make the post-collapse changes permanent and to further reduce local access along Highway 280. Highway 280 now functions more like an expressway. More resources: Pat Thompson, A member of the St Anthony Park Community Council (SAPCC) Transportation Committee, wrote this article on the speed increase. A chart and study demonstrating braking and stopping distances from a publication of the National Association of City Transportation Professionals. Other resources can be found within the Transportation Committee's Highway 280 resolution. Reconstruction of I-94 MnDOT has begun planning for the reconstruction of I-94 MnDOT will be starting the first major rebuild of I-94 since the highway first opened in the 1960s. When it was built, homes and businesses all along the corridor were removed. The heart of the Rondo neighborhood lost 700 homes, 300 businesses and $35 million in intergenerational wealth. Union Park also lost business districts and many homes. Late last year, the Union Park District Council , along with 25 other community organizations signed onto both a community flyer and a letter to MnDOT about the project. UPDC called for less traffic and safer crossings – a quieter, greener, healthier corridor overall. In February, the Saint Paul City Council also passed a strong resolution opposing adding any new lanes and calling on MnDOT to provide economic opportunities to local businesses, especially BIPOC- and women-owned, and reduce traffic volumes, leading to improved air quality, better health outcomes and reduced noise. Later this year, MnDOT will be adopting the official “Purpose and Need Statement” for the project, which will guide the planning and study of project alternatives going forward. Public comments will be important! To learn more, attend the monthly meeting of the UPDC transportation committee (second Monday of every month at 6:30 pm). If you would like a community speaker to address a group of neighbors or a civic organization about I-94 planning, email wako@unionparkdc.org Link to the stakeholder letter Link to the City resolution 2040 Comprehensive Plan - Saint Paul for All The City of Saint Paul has released the draft of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan - Saint Paul For All. The public comment period ended on January 11, 2019. More information on the Plan can be found here . The 10 Year Plan, completed in 2016 by UPDC that informs the Comprehensive Plan, can be found here . I-94 Reconstruction Planning Since 2016, MnDOT has been working with neighborhoods, community groups, district councils, local governments and others interested in the future reconstruction of I-94 between St. Paul and Minneapolis. MnDOT has called this process Rethinking I-94. This process will guide future planning design and identify specific construction projects and their timelines. The goals of the study included: Learning more about how I-94 is used by residents, and forecasting travel demands. Producing a long-term, community-based approach to understand the needs of the area around I-94. Gaining a stronger understanding of the structural conditions of I-94, including its bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure. Determining how to best address the mobility needs of and around the freeway. You can find an interactive map on the Rethinking I-94 page to add comments on your experience with the freeway or read the experiences of others. Union Park hosted MnDOT staff to discuss the project; you can review some of the information discussed in a Q&A with MnDOT . UPDC collaborated with Met Council and MnDOT to host engagement in 2018 along the corridor to hear more from residents on desired changes along the corridor. Brenda Thomas of MnDOT presented on the work completed in Phase 1 of their Rethinking I-94 Iniative and on the plans for Phase 2, which will take place from 2018 to 2020/2021. The presentation is available here . Dale Gade of MnDOT was present to answer questions on current MnDOT projects on I-94 while Phase 2 of Rethinking I-94 progresses. In 2019, MnDOT completed a Mill & Overlay for sections of I-94; more information is available here . More information on Phase 1 of Rethinking I-94 is available here . Union Park concerns about and comments on MnDOT's "Purpose and Needs" statement and Statement of Goals" were identified in a memo passed by the UP Transportation Committee on January 13th 2020 and the Executive Committee of UPDC on January 15th, 2020. The memo can be read here . Metro B-Line The METRO B Line is Metro Transit's planned bus rapid transit (BRT) line that will provide faster and more reliable transit service in the Route 21 corridor along Lake Street and Marshall Avenue. Bus rapid transit provides a faster trip and an improved rider experience on the busiest bus routes. BRT routes have improved signage, faster boarding, more frequent service, a faster trip (with fewer stops and signal priority) and a more comfortable ride. Each weekday, customers take more than 10,000 rides on Route 21, Metro Transit’s second busiest bus route. Buses carry approximately 20% of people traveling by vehicle on Lake Street today and make up less than 2% of vehicle traffic. But Lake Street is also one of the slowest transit corridors in the region. During rush hours, buses regularly slow to average speeds of 8 miles per hour. Frequent stops, lines of customers waiting to board, and red lights mean that buses are moving less than half the time. You can read more about the B-Line here . You can read comments UPDC has approved as a full board here . B-Line Corridor Plan Update: As provided by Metro Transit What's new in the Recommended Corridor Plan? -BRT station facilities and service characteristics -B Line routing and stops -Updates to station locations from the Draft Corridor Plan based on feedback from project partners and community members: -Planned station locations: station intersections and location of platforms within each intersection. Once approved, this plan will set the locations for stations moving forward. Changes to station locations from the Draft Corridor Plan include: A recommendation for nearside platform locations at Lake & Cedar, Lake & Lyndale, and Lake & Bloomington based on continued coordination around bus priority treatments and other potential improvements along Lake Street A recommendation for an eastbound platform at Selby & Arundel as opposed to Selby & Western based on continued evaluation of the two concepts presented in the Draft Corridor Plan Updated scenarios for bus priority treatments and other potential improvements along the B Line corridor Local and limited-stop bus service within and along the B Line corridor, including more information on the factors that will be considered as a final bus service plan is developed to complement the B Line To learn more and utilize the window for public comment (available until August 13th ), visit Metro Transit's B-line page here . Past Committee Topics See older Transportation Committee topics and projects

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Home > Our Community > Community Plan Union Park's Community Plan About the Community Plan: Union Park created a new community plan in 2016 to reflect the consolidation of Merriam Park, Snelling-Hamline and Lexington-Hamline into one district council. View the plan here . Why a create plan? What will it be used for? The plan combines and revises the neighborhood plans of Merriam Park, Snelling-Hamline, and Lexington-Hamline, providing a ten-year vision that identifies priority policies and strategies for growth, investment, and development in our neighborhoods. The planning process allowed for full community participation to discuss and set priorities for the area. The plan will influence local decision-making by the city’s planning department and other public agencies. It will provide a vision for development and investment in our neighborhoods and influence rezoning. Government entities and private foundations also consider the plan when providing grants. How does the process work? We first submitted a work plan to the city’s department of Planning and Economic Development that outlined our primary goals, timeline, staff and financial resources, and anticipated outcomes for the plan. We were assigned a city planner to help guide us through the process and insure that our plan complements the city’s comprehensive plan. We established a Steering Committee and identified sub-committees of community volunteers to work on each section of the plan. Our staff reviewed and edited each section and insured that the language conformed with the community's input. Our board reviewed and approved the plan, and we then submitted it to the city. How does the plan get implemented? After receiving input from city staff, the plan went through a review process by the city’s Planning Commission . The Commission recommended the plan, to the City Council adopted it on November 16, 2016. The Met Council will also approve the plan, after which it becomes an official part of the city’s Comprehensive Plan . How has the community been involved? Broad-based representative community participation is a crucial part of the planning process. We started by crafting a survey to gather opinions on issues important to members of our community. Each section was drafted based on the survey data we collected. During the spring and summer of 2015, we brought elements of the plan to the community through a large number of community events and public meetings to get feedback on the draft plan and community priorities. We presented the plan at our annual meeting in October 2015.

Home > Our Work > Projects > Allianz Field Allianz Field This stadium was built on the former "bus barn site" owned by Metro Transit and extending onto some Midway Center private property. Union Park and the City have separately hosted numerous open houses to present the Midway Center Master Plan, Stadium Site Plan, and the Alternative Urban Areawide Review (environmental review) to the public, and to get public input on the project, and the plans have gone through a formal review process at the City. Earlier Task Force Actions and Recommendations Union Park established an earlier Task Force in April 2015 specifically to prepare a report with community vision, goals, and strategies for redevelopment of the Midway Center. It reviewed existing plans and proposals, including the Snelling Station Area Plan (2008) and the Snelling-Midway SmartSite TOD Redevelopment Strategy (2014). It engaged the various stakeholders, including residents, business owners, and organizations, in a visioning process using surveys, community meetings, and one-on-one conversations to gather data and preferences. This outreach included participation at local events (like the Central Baptist Church block party), tabling at local businesses (like Big Top Liquor) and reaching out to local community groups and leaders. The group's full report was shared with city decision-makers and other stakeholders. In summary, the report reflects the belief that redevelopment of the Midway Center can dramatically benefit our neighborhood with new services, jobs, economic development, and beautiful places. To do so, however, planning for the entire superblock must address five key priorities: 1. Enhance the quality of life in the Midway A. RK Midway should develop community outreach tools to create new lines of communication and partnership with the neighborhood B. Minnesota United and neighbors should begin conversations now about the impact of the new stadium on neighborhood life C. Future development should enhance the visual appeal and beauty of the Midway D. After the site plan is approved, UPDC seeks to work with the appropriate development partners in the creation of a Construction Mitigation Plan 2. Support and utlitize local businesses and workers A. The City of Saint Paul should develop effective measures to better understand and track the impact of redevelopment on local businesses B. The City of Saint Paul should work with RK Midway to reach out to culturally diverse entrepreneurs and existing small businesses prior to final site plan approval C. The City of Saint Paul should explore what public financing tools may be available to support local businesses during the redevelopment transition D. Developers and construction firms should set specific targeted goals for the employment of local workforce and utilization of local businesses 3. Improve transportation and safety A. Throughout the planning process, concerns about traffic, safety, and parking must be addressed clearly and specifically B. The approved site plan should include a safety plan C. Planning for the stadium and Midway Center should serve as a catalyst for a comprehensive review of transportation and safety issues for the entire Snelling Station Area 4. Increase public and green space A. The approved site plan should include a plaza or central gathering space open to the public B. The approved site plan should dramatically increase smaller green spaces throughout the entire superblock C. UPDC invites both Minnesota United and RK Midway to explore how “Snelling Commons” could expand public green space, improve pedestrian safety and provide an additional neighborhood amenity 5. Protect taxpayers A. The city should be preparing to measure the overall economic impact on the redevelopment of the superblock B. UPDC seeks a written plan regarding the potential for the departure of Minnesota United Timeline of Union Park Actions June 3, 2015 : UPDC passed a resolution endorsing a strategic, comprehensive plan between the City of Saint Paul, Met Council and RK Midway for the future development on the Snelling Midway super block. July 24, 2015 : UPDC passed a resolution supporting further exploration of the Bus Barn site as a possible location for a Major League Soccer stadium, if the project allows for and encourages transit-oriented, mixed-use development of the entire 34.5 acre Snelling-Midway SmartSite, consistent with the Snelling Station Area Plan. A letter reflecting this resolution and related community concerns was sent to Mayor Chris Coleman, Council President Russ Stark, and Councilmember Dai Thao. August 11, 2015 : UPDC hosted a Community Conversation to discuss the redevelopment of the Bus Barn/Midway Shopping Center site, particularly in light of accelerating negotiations regarding the potential for a new Major League Soccer stadium there. This Executive Summary identifies the major themes and issues that were discussed at that meeting. This meeting received a lot of press coverage; there is an informative audio clip prepared by Minnesota Public Radio here . December 3, 2015: The Union Park Executive Director and a Land Use Committee member presented preliminary findings on the Task Force's engagement work to the city's Community Advisory Committee, which was established to offer community input on the redevelopment of the Midway area site. This presentation, which you can review here , sets forth the major themes identified in talking with community members. December 14, 2015 : The Task Force presented its recommendations, based on the significant outreach it has completed, to the Union Park Land Use Committee at its meeting on Monday, December 14. The Committee discussed and endorsed the recommendations. January 6, 2016 : The full Union Park board reviewed, discussed and endorsed the recommendations on Wednesday, January 6. The final report was sent to the City, Met Council, RK Midway, Minnesota United, and others. May 4, 2016 : The Union Park board passed a resolution encouraging the City to continue the work of the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) convened to provide community input into the Stadium plan and Midway Center redevelopment plan. The City declined to continue the CAC, but agreed to support Union Park in further engagement. June 2016 : The full Union Park board committed to supporting a reinstituted task force to address the issues with potential community impact still outstanding. February 2017 : The Union Park Committee on Land Use and Economic Development met with members of the Hamline-Midway Coalition to establish a joint task force to address stadium and Midway redevelopment issues. July 2017 : Union Park hosted a community meeting to educate residents on stadium and associated redevelopment plans. Representatives from the Port Authority, Mortenson Construction, MN United, and the City of St. Paul updated the crowd on issues around the construction timelines, neighborhood impacts, and near-term plans for the site. A summary of some of the issues discussed can be found in this Pioneer Press article . December 2017: The Task Force received a report on Perspectives on the MLS Stadium Development: Baseline Study of Snelling Avenue Station Area which was completed by students from Macalester College. February 2018: Union Park made recommendations on the signage variances and noise ordinance exemption requested by stadium owners. You can find details of those actions on our Land Use Committee page . December 2018: Held community engagement session with 100 community members in attendance at Midpointe Event Center. This was supplmeneted with and additional 800 comments regarding the proposed Community Benefits Agreement (Neighbors United Funding Collaborative. November 2019: Launched the Neighbors United Funding Collaborative, you can read more about it here . How often do they play games and when do they play? The MLS regular season runs from March to October, with each team playing 34 games -- about 17 of these would be home games played at the stadium. The post-season includes twelve teams competing in the MLS Cup Playoffs through November and December. In all, the team expects that there will be 18-30 events at the stadium each year. How much is this going to cost the taxpayers? The team committed to privately financing the entire cost of building the estimated $200 million stadium, including any overages on the project cost. At a press conference, former Mayor Coleman said that only a few stadiums around the country have been entirely built with private funds, and no other stadiums in the Twin Cities have been built without any taxpayer money. However, the team has tax-exempt status on the parcel once a stadium is built there. (The property was previously not taxed as it was owned by the Metropolitan Council). About $18 million in public funds are being used for infrastructure around the stadium itself, and it is projected that additional public money will be spent in the surrounding area to support redevelopment of the entire Midway Center super block. What is TIF financing? In short, tax increment financing (TIF) uses the increased property taxes that a new real estate development generates to finance costs of the development. The Minnesota legislature House Reserach Department has put together some basic primers on TIF financing, and how it works in Minnesota. They can be reviewed here and here . It is anticipated that TIF funding will be used to support additional development on the site. Who owns the stadium? Although the team is paying for the stadium, it is publicly owned. Specifically, the team handed over ownership of the stadium to a public stadium authority after it was completed. That public authority leases the land from Met Council (which owns the land) and the team would reimburse the stadium authority for the lease payments. What’s going to happen to the Midway Shopping Center? The Midway Shopping Center owner, RK Midway, has submitted a Master Plan for the entire 34.4-acre superblock bounded by University, Snelling, I-94 and Pascal. The image to the left is from the plan. The master plan is a vision of the type and amount of development the site could accommodate at full build-out. It specifies where new public open spaces and streets will go, and how the streets will be designed to serve pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle traffic. The plan includes many new buildings intended to hold retail on the street level and other uses (housing, hotel, movie theater, etc.) above. The exact density and type of the private development actually built on the site will be determined by what market forces make feasible. Early articles addressed redevelopment potential (for example: Confirmed soccer stadium drawing developers to Midway area ; and this January 2016 Pioneer Press interview with the out-going executive director of the Port Authority) and the American Bank building at the corner of Snelling and University has been demolished in anticipation of future development. The Rainbow and Walgreens buildings have been removed, but many other existing buildlings will remain in place when the stadium opens in 2018. An RK Midway representative has told a group of tenants that it intends to honor every lease, and hopes to be able to relocate the existing businesses to new buildings as they are added over time. Big Top will close in spring or summer of 2018 and hopes to relocate on or near the site. Much of these plans are consistent with earlier City planning documents. As part of planning for the Green Line, there is a “Station Area Plan” for each of the Green line stations. These documents, developed in 2008 with community input, serve as the city’s guide to planning along the corridor. Key recommendations from the Snelling Station Area Plan include: 1) More intense development and a mix of uses, 2) New streets to break up the “super block,” 3) Open spaces to provide focus for redevelopment and improve pedestrian experience, and 4) Shared/structured parking to meet demand and reduce the need for surface lots. The Union Park District Council has supported the recommendations of the station area plan, and will continue to advocate for new development in the area to achieve these goals. What about environmental and noise impacts? The City contracted with a consultant to conduct an Alternative Urban Areawide Review or AUAR (environmental review) to inform the development. The City has made many documents available for review on the Environmental Review webpage for this project. The AUAR found that noise within the stadium is not not expected to exceed St Paul daytime noise level standards; however, it would exceed standards for residential uses at the closest residential areas to the north and east of the stadium. This picture provides a visual of what the noise level is expected to be surrounding the stadium. In order to keep noise level below the city limits, the AUAR is requiring several mitigation strategies including the following: First, the overall system loudness of the stadium speakers will be electronically limited so that the noise level at the closest residences is below 65 dBA. Second, sporting events will be scheduled so that regulation play will be completed by 10pm. And finally, future development on the stadium site will be designed with the understanding of the activites and noise levels already occurring at the stadium. Nonetheless, the City Council approved a blanket noise variance exemption for the stadium in February 2018, despite Union Park's recommendation to limit the noise level allowed to 65 dba and grant any exemption for only a trial basis. Has the Union Park District Council taken an official position on the stadium? In July 2015, the Union Park District Council passed a resolution supporting further exploration of the Bus Barn site as a possible location for a Major League Soccer stadium -- if the project allows for and encourages transit-oriented, mixed-use development of the entire 34.5 acre Snelling-Midway Smart Site, consistent with the Snelling Station Area Plan. In a resolution letter sent to Mayor Coleman and our Council Members, Union Park requested: Meaningful community engagement around the stadium and development. A comprehensive plan for the redevelopment of the whole 34.5 acre Midway Center/Bus Barn site. Attention to specific community concerns including traffic, parking, and potential property tax burdens. A focus on the stadium as a community amenity, with free or low-cost tickets and community-based uses such as cultural programs and events. This recent article has some information about the immigrant community perspective. The Union Park District Council has also engaged community on the development. Union Park's Midway Center task force conducted outreach into the Snelling-Midway area to identify the primary desires and concerns of residents in the area. The task force presented a report and recommendations in December 2015, which were endorsed by the Union Park board in January 2016. Our report is referenced in a MinnPost article on transportation challenges in the Snelling/University area, and has been shared with the City and other entities. < Previous Project Next Project >

Home > Our Community > Businesses Local Businesses With hundreds of businesses in our community, you never have to go far to get what you need. By shopping locally, you are also making our community a more vibrant place. Business districts: Selby and Snelling This growing business node is home to boutique shops and vintage clothing stores. The area encompasses a diverse group of small locally owned businesses like Cahoots Coffee Bar , The Naughty Greek , Flirt and Teeny Bee , as well as the district's newest grocery, Whole Foods . Visit the business association website, Selby at Snelling , for a full listing of shops and restaurants. Selby and Fairview Take a stroll through the Mall of St. Paul , Missou https://www.loc8nearme.com/minnesota/saint-paul/missouri-mouse-antiques/6427281/ ri Mouse Antiques , and the many other antique stores along this stretch of Selby. Egg|Plant Urban Farm Supply is a neighborhood source for gardening, chicken-keeping, and other supplies. Little Africa/Midway (University and Snelling) University Avenue, home to the Green Line, is a central corridor for the Twin Cities and has always had a thriving business presence. Today the area known as Little Africa and the Midway are home to diverse small businesses as well as large grocery and retail stores. Little Africa is a collection of African owned businesses on Snelling Avenue just north of Union Park, such as Fasika, Sunshine Beauty Salon, Snelling Café, to name a few. The area is also home to Allianz Field , home to Minnesota United FC, the city's Major League Soccer team. Cretin and Marshall New restaurants-- Bark and the Bite and Black Coffee and Waffle Bar --join other shops at this corner just south of the Town and Country Club golf course. Cleveland and Marshall This business node is home to Koplin's Coffee , Tillie's Farmhouse , Rising Sun Martial Arts Supply , and many other businesses.

Home > Our Community > Get Around Get Around Find out how to get around in Union Park!​ Biking You can ride your bike on any street you like throughout Union Park. Bicyclists have the same rights as motorists and can legally ride on any street that's not a freeway. Bike routes through Union Park include Ayd Mill Road, Summit Avenue, Mississippi River Boulevard, Marshall Avenue, Pelham Boulevard, Prior Avenue, and Griggs Street. The Aldine and Griggs bridges provide crossing over I-94 for bicyclists and pedestrians. The City of Saint Paul maintains an updated map of all the bike facilities within its borders. The St. Paul Bicycle Coalition has a page with other useful resources, including a Cycling Map and Guide . The City has also passed a comprehensive bicycle plan to add bike lanes throughout the city . Public Transportation The Metro Transit trip planner shows you the best public transit routes to, from, and through our neighborhoods. The Green Line train runs along University Avenue at the north border of Union Park, to both downtown Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Service on the A Line Bus Rapid Transit runs through Union Park providing easy access to the Metro Blue Line and the City of Roseville. If you're unable to use public tranportation because of a disability or health condition, Metro Mobility may be able to help. Sharing Saint Paul is served by the Hour Car car sharing program. The city is developing an Electric Vehicle Mobility Network . Bike and electric scooter share programs have been available in St. Paul in the past--you can check for updates on this year's programs on the city's shared mobility page . Interested in others? Here is comphrehensive list of bike sharing companies. And did you know that Metro Transit can help you organize a carpool ? Parking The City of Saint Paul has a useful summary of parking rules . If you have questions about residential permit parking, start here . During winter, follow the winter parking rules if the city declares a snow emergency. You can sign up for email or text alerts to stay informed of snow emergencies. New Speed Limits Saint Paul and Minneapolis have lowered speeds on city-owned streets. Lower traffic speeds reduce the likelihood of a crash and make a crash less likely to lead to death or a life-changing injury. A person hit at 35 mph is three times more likely to die than someone hit at 25 mph. New speed limits are 20 mph for local residential streets. Saint Paul and Minneapolis have installed new “gateway signs” at entry points in both cities, indicating the citywide speed limit is 20 mph unless otherwise posted. Speed limits may be 25 mph for larger, arterial and collector city-owned streets; and 30-plus mph for a few city-owned streets. Always follow all posted speed limits. Visit the city's speed limits page for more information. Transportation Issues Union Park has a Transportation Committee to address transportation-related issues within our community. Contact info@unionparkdc.org if you'd like to be involved, or have an issue or concern you’d like to bring to us.