Soccer, baseball, flag football and lacrosse are on the program at Victoria Park.
St. Paul voters went to the polls last November and approved a 1% municipal sales tax to support the capital’s streets and parks. On Friday, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter was set to unveil the future fruits of that spending – a new $2.9 million multi-sport artificial turf field to be built at 852 Hathaway St., the site of a former oil tank farm in the West Seventh Street neighborhood on the banks of the Mississippi.
The mayor, who has referred to the new sales tax as a “common cent” program, called the new funding source a linchpin for the construction of Victoria Park’s long-planned sports field, which will be built by next spring on the north end of the 40-acre site. Also expected to attend the 1 p.m. groundbreaking ceremony were St. Paul Parks and Recreation Director Andy Rodriguez and City Council member Saura Jost.
The artificial turf pitch took over a decade to complete, and there is still a lot of work to be done.
The city adopted the long-range plan for Victoria Park in 2013 after the tank’s shape was restored and the property was converted into a municipal park by the city’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority. The multi-purpose sports field will be used for soccer, baseball, flag football and lacrosse. Eventually, it will also include lighting, a restroom building and other amenities. The city has left open the possibility of adding spectator seating and more trail connections.
About two-thirds of the funding comes from the common cent sales tax. Other funding sources include the HRA’s land transfer funds, the Twins Community Fund, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Outdoor Recreation Program.
The sales tax, which took effect April 1, is expected to raise nearly $1 billion over the next 20 years, including about $738 million for street improvements and about $246 million for park and recreation improvements. More information about Victoria Park can be found online at stpaul.gov/victoriaparkproject and about the Common Cent at stpaul.gov/salestax.
