ST PAUL, Minn. — The St. Paul City Council just approved a multi-million dollar redevelopment project near Allianz Field.
The first part of it includes a playground that focuses on including everyone in playtime. It will be St. Paul's largest inclusive playground with more than 25 different types of activities.
Longtime manufacturer Landscape Structures is partnering with Flagship Recreation to create the playground meant for all abilities, according to inclusive play specialist Jill Moore who was born with a disability.
"When I was growing up, it was never going to be the place that was going to show people what I could do," said Moore. "The way it’s really changed is people realize we have to go beyond accessibility law and that bare minimum, and create things like this that everybody can use that seeks that just right fit."
Landscape Structures has been in business for 50 years and designed playgrounds at parks in Crystal, Woodbury, Roseville and Shoreview. The new one in St. Paul will be the city's first-of-its-kind and will be installed just east of the soccer field.
"We hear just a lot of people happy to be invited, to be valued enough to know that we need to create a space for them that they can use," said Moore.
The privately owned public space is an agreement in partnership with Minnesota United FC and the United Village redevelopment project. It will eventually also include a hotel, restaurants and a sculpture garden.
The master plan was approved about seven years ago, but the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest has long put it on hold. But construction could start as early as November, in part to private funding from the owner of the soccer team.
"We want something that's going to give back to our community that every kid of every ability can use," said Moore.
The playground design is custom made and being described as "whimsical" with a rubber surface, ramps and sensory experiences. Most of the playground will be built after winter with an expected completion date around Memorial Day.
"It's powerful to feel like we belong," said Moore.
Watch more local news:
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist:
WATCH MORE ON KARE 11+
Download the free KARE 11+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11's newscasts. You'll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota.
- Add KARE 11+ on Roku here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Roku Channel Store.
- Add KARE 11+ on Fire TV here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Amazon App Store.
- Learn more about the KARE 11+ app for Apple TV in the Apple App Store.
- Learn more about KARE 11+ here.