A park on St. Paul’s East Side underwent a major upgrade over the weekend with inspiration coming from those who use the playspace most: neighborhood kids.
The playground at Hayden Heights Recreation Center was about 25 years old and in need of some major updates, said Andy Rodriguez, director of the St. Paul Parks and Recreation Department.
From design to installation, community members led the creation of the new updated playground. In May, St. Paul youth shared drawings of what their dream playground would look like. Those ideas were integrated into the new playground design. Then, on Saturday morning, community members volunteered to help build the new park.
“I’ve had a chance to experience it,” Rodriguez said of the community engagement process. “It’s quite cool to see how excited young people get when envisioning a new play area.”
Over the weekend, neighborhood residents continued to swing by the park throughout its construction.
“It was fun to see them say, ‘Oh, there’s the shade structure that we recommended, or there’s the slide we talked about,’” Rodreguez said.
The new playscape is part of a nationwide effort to improve equity in parks headed by international nonprofit KABOOM!, and St. Paul parks partnered with the Greater East Side Community Council, Equitable Advisors and Canopy Financial Group on the project.
The new playground at Hayden Heights Recreation Center cost around $350,000, Rodriguez said.
It is part of a $7.5 million investment to address gaps in playspace access across the country, according to a KABOOM! news release.
The city expects to accelerate the number of park projects done each year, targeting three to five locations per year, Rodriguez said.
Here’s a look at the kids drawings that inspired the new park:
Credit: Courtesy of St. Paul Parks and Recreation 
Credit: Courtesy of St. Paul Parks and Recreation 
Credit: Courtesy of St. Paul Parks and Recreation 
Credit: Courtesy of St. Paul Parks and Recreation 
Credit: Courtesy of St. Paul Parks and Recreation 
Credit: Courtesy of St. Paul Parks and Recreation 
Credit: Courtesy of St. Paul Parks and Recreation 
Credit: Courtesy of St. Paul Parks and Recreation 
Credit: Courtesy of St. Paul Parks and Recreation 
Credit: Courtesy of St. Paul Parks and Recreation
