Overview of West

Side Neighborhood

The West Side neighborhood is rich with diversity, as it has the largest concentration of Latino residents in the Twin Cities. The landscape extends from the River Flats which are home to many businesses to the Bluffs which offer magnificent overlooks of downtown Saint Paul and are home to some of Saint Paul’s premium older homes. Within the West Side neighborhood, local members come from a background of income, age, cultural, and ethnic upbringings; this diversity is honored through a plethora of public art pieces distributed throughout the neighborhood. West Side hosts many parks and picturesque views as well as many neighborhood commercial areas, such as District del Sol, Stryker/George, and Smith Avenue, which all make the neighborhood of 15,500 residents a lively place to call home. The West Side is just minutes from Downtown Saint Paul and the surrounding suburbs, offering easy access for commuters.

The majority of homes in the West Side neighborhood were built in the 1880’s through the 1920’s and are single-family, Craftsman and Victorian styles. Spread throughout the neighborhood are new-construction, single family homes and apartment buildings.

One major community facility is the El Rio Vista Recreation Center, which offers year round access for locals and provides both indoor and outdoor amenities. Some of the indoor amenities include computer labs, a dance studio, a fitness center, gyms, meeting rooms, lounge rooms, locker rooms, and a walking track. With these components, locals are able to exercise and hosts meetings of any kind. Although seasonal, the outdoor amenities include a football field, baseball field, softball field, and a soccer field, all of which are often utilized for large scale pick-up games.

The West Side neighborhood has many well-renowned parks. Some of the most notable include:

Harriet Island Regional Park: The renowned and popular Harriet Island Regional Park is one of Saint Paul’s, and the Twin Cities’, favorite parks. Positioned beside the Mississippi River and near downtown Saint Paul, the park possesses many amenities, including the Clarence W. Wigington Pavilion, a 5,000 square foot facility that hosts receptions, parties, and weddings, as well as including BBQ areas, biking and hiking trails, picnic areas, and a playground. This park Is also a very common spot for outdoor summer concerts to be held.

Prospect Park: A splendid backdrop of downtown Saint Paul and little to no traffic make Prospect Park one of the city’s one-of-a-kind escapes for families and those looking to have a peaceful or active afternoon. A playground and sufficient seating offer the perfect place for a picnic. Trails within the park lead to the nearby Cherokee Regional Park and Harriet Island Regional Park. 

Belvidere Park: Belvidere Park is adjacent the West Side Boys & Girls Club and hosts two softball fields, a baseball field, and a soccer field. because of its location and amenities, it is one of the most popular parks in the area for young children to play.

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].