Some 500 new trees will be planted at Lower Landing in downtown St. Paul, by a possible future dock for Viking cruises. Add to that an outdoor bicycle-repair station by Charles Avenue, community-led walking tours off University Avenue, and marketing and coordination for the “Little Africa” business district.
They are all among the big winners of a coveted prize: funding.
A grant contest aimed at promoting the St. Paul neighborhoods along Metro Transit’s Green Line light-rail corridor has announced 12 award recipients who will share $574,000.
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation implemented the Knight Green Line Challenge as an effort to “tap into the potential of the Green Line” and make “surrounding neighborhoods in St. Paul more vibrant places to live and work,” according to a statement from the foundation.
The contest drew 358 applicants from the six neighborhoods: downtown, Frogtown, Hamline-Midway, St. Anthony Park, Summit-University and Union Park. A panel of community readers and Knight Foundation representatives selected the dozen winners. The full list of winning projects is online at KnightGreenLineChallenge.org.
This is the second year of the three-year, $1.5 million Green Line challenge, which is administered by the St. Paul Foundation and open to any individual, business, nonprofit or public agency. The goal is to expand economic opportunity, break down divides, attract newcomers or “strengthen a culture of civic engagement.”
Applications will be accepted in the summer of 2016 for the third and final year of the challenge.
The 2015 winners are:
CHARLES, GRIGGS BIKEWAY TOOL STATION
Erin Pavlica will receive $4,410 to install a bike tool station at the intersection between the Charles Avenue and Griggs Avenue bikeways “where riders and residents can stop, connect and learn more about bike maintenance,” according to the foundation.
E=MC2
We Lighting LLC will receive $45,000 to strengthen the connection between downtown and the Mississippi River by creatively lighting the Sibley underpass.
FRIENDSHIP FOREST
Amanda Lovelee will receive $43,000 to plant 500 trees in a new “friendship forest” at Lower Landing in downtown St. Paul, a likely future destination for Viking cruises.
IMPROVED WALKABILITY THROUGH SIGNAGE
Matt Privratsky will receive $23,250 to encourage neighborhood exploration by installing new wayfinding signs within a mile of the Green Line stations.
JOHNNY BABY’S RONDO PARK
At Chatsworth Street and University Avenue, the bar Johnny Baby’s will receive $60,000 to convert a parking lot into a green gathering space for Rondo residents, bicyclists and Green Line riders.
LITTLE AFRICA CULTURAL CORRIDOR
African Economic Development Solutions will receive $60,000 to create an action plan and design standards for the Little Africa business district around Snelling and University avenues.
LIVING LANDMARKS
The Minnesota Historical Society will receive $35,723 to offer a series of community-led walking tours highlighting the unique strengths and qualities of Green Line neighborhoods.
MIND IF I SIT HERE?
Heather Cole will receive $8,000 to promote interaction between friends and strangers by inviting people to take part in brown-bag conversations at “roving bistro tables” throughout downtown St. Paul.
RIVER BALCONY PROTOTYPING FESTIVAL
The St. Paul Riverfront Corporation will receive $100,000 to coordinate a “prototyping festival” that helps develop “a vibrant public life on St. Paul’s River Balcony.”
ROCK THE PUBLIC MEETING
St. Paul Smart Trips will receive $45,000 to support transportation planning “through creative, youth-led Frogtown neighborhood engagement activities.”
RONDO COMMEMORATIVE PLAZA AND GARDEN
Rondo Ave Inc. will get $75,000 for technology to tell residents’ oral histories in a new public garden space.
BETTER BLOCK WIKI-BLOCK
Team Better Block gets $75,000 to develop prototype and open-source templates for urban street furniture that can be snapped together and reproduced to decorate a street or neighborhood.
Frederick Melo can be reached at 651-228-2172. Follow him at twitter.com/FrederickMelo.
