Overview of Highland

Park Neighborhood

Highland Park is a neighborhood in St. Paul‘s southwestern portion. It is bordered by the Mississippi River on the west, south, and east, and Macalester-Groveland to the north. Highland Park Tower is the main local landmark. Highland Park was at one point the site of a large Ford Motor Company plant, and there are current plans to renovate the old site. A retail hub with a blend of stores and restaurants is concentrated around Ford Parkway and Snelling Avenue.

Highland Park is centrally located and yet possesses its own small-town feel. Families flourish on the recreational options with miles of park land, golf, little league sports, a theater and a newly refurbished park pavilion. Whether it be walking old-fashioned, tree-lined streets to kindergarten or graduate school, or even to the annual 3-day festival, “Highlandfest”, there’s something for every one of the 25,000 residents to appreciate and explore in Highland Park.

Highland Park consists of mainly single-family houses going back to the 1920’s and 30’s. There are plenty of styles such as ranch, split-level, and rambler. Apartments and condos are predominantly located in the West 7th Street-Shepard Road area.

At the Chatterbox Pub, the owners have worked diligently to advance a status as both a unique and flavor-filled pub that will shock visitors, as well as offering excellent and professional services that will make anyone feel content. Laughter and jokes are readily available on any given night. The banquet facility is perfect for rehearsal dinners, business meetings, holiday get-togethers, birthdays and other special events. Movies are available on the projector and screen, including TV specials like major sports events. This pub is a great atmosphere for an evening drink or a late-night hangout.

Highland National Golf Course was renewed and reopened in the spring of 2005. This course is better and more challenging than before with a good variety of patterns and terrains framed by old trees. Pristine holes challenge golfers of all skill levels. Highland National provides the amenities of the modern course with the feel of a traditional and classic old city course. It is an 18-hole, 6,600 yard, par 72 course.   

There are several important amenities within the neighborhood. The Highland Park Community Center is a central location. Located within the famous Highland Park, the center offers a large array of amenities to visitors. Guests enjoy the auditorium, computer workstations, craft room, fitness center, gymnasium, indoor track, kitchen, library, meeting rooms, storytime room, study rooms, teen center, and warming room. The center’s convenient location within Highland Park make it a busy and popular destination throughout the year.

The Historic Fort Snelling State Park is also located within the Highland Park neighborhood. Built in the 1820’s, Fort Snelling State Park offers costumed re-enactments and educational demonstrations on military history, the fur trade, and slavery, in Minnesota. A member of the National Register of Historic Places, Fort Snelling is a great way to learn about the past in an interactive and immersive environment.

The Highland Park neighborhood features numerous parks. Some of the most notable include:

Hidden Falls Regional Park: Hidden Falls Regional Park is a very large site that stretches along the Mississippi River. Visitors can enjoy the park’s four sections including the primitive or undeveloped area, boat launching area, general picnic area, and scenic falls area. The park was named for its spring-fed waterfalls, which are a scenic treat for visitors. In addition to the falls, visitors can enjoy biking or hiking on the miles of trails, sharing a picnic, or going boating or fishing on the Mississippi River.

Homecroft Park: Homecroft Park is a small, active park located within the Highland Park neighborhood. Known for its basketball court, horseshoe pits, playground, soccer field, softball field, and tennis courts, Homecroft Park attracts an active and athletic crowd. For those desiring a more passive experience, the park offers picnic areas and benches. The park also features a recreation center which is sponsored by the local school program.

Crosby Farm Regional Park: Crosby Farm Regional Park encompasses land that was once owned by an English immigrant. A successful farm that existed from the late 1800’s through 1962, Crosby Farm was eventually purchased by St. Paul. Today, it has been converted into a park and natural area for visitors to explore. Common activities include biking, hiking, running, or walking on the park’s 6.7 miles of trails; fishing in the adjacent Crosby and Upper Lakes for game fish such as muskies, saugers, northern pike, and walleyes; or sharing a picnic at one of the park’s many picnic sites. With scenic views of the Mississippi River, the woods along its banks, the marshes of Crosby Lake, and the connecting Mississippi River Boulevard Parkway, visitors are sure to enjoy their time at Crosby Farm Regional Park.

Highland Park: Highland Park is the premier active park found within the neighborhood sharing its name. Acquired by the city of St. Paul in 1925, since then Highland Park has seen large growth. Amenities within the park include an aquatic center, two golf courses, disc golf course, horseshoe courts, playgrounds, picnic areas, BBQ grills, a pavilion, a sledding hill, and cross-country skiing trails. When it comes to the golf courses, the Highland National course encompasses 18 holes, whereas the Highland course offers a shorter, 9-hole course. The Highland Park Aquatic Center is always busy during the warmer months. Visitors enjoy the lap swimming, splash pad, children’s play areas, an aquatic climbing wall, water slides and more. Perhaps the most unique component of Highland Park, however, is its Booya kitchen. Booya is a stew-like food that is cooked in giant kettles for hours and hours. Founded in the early 1900’s, the Booya Shed at Highland Park has perfected their art of Booya making and operates a large scale operation. With 6 kettles and a very loyal fan base, visitors will line up well in advance of opening time to get themselves a cup (or a kettle) full of this delicious, old-time favorite.

McDonough Park Preserve: For those desiring a truly natural experience, the McDonough Park Preserve provides just that. At 7 acres, the park remains entirely undeveloped and covered in dense vegetation. Visitors will find an abundance of wildlife as well as a large selection of birds. Ideal for those who don’t mind a trek through the woods, the preserve brings the area’s original habitat to the large city.

If you have any questions regarding the city of St. Paul, Minnesota, it’s parks, schools, history, or amenities OR if you would like to sell or buy a house in the St. Paul area, please feel free to visit www.DavidOlsonRealEstate.com or text/call Realtor David Olson @ 952.314.9446 or email: [email protected].