150 Thompson Park

Project Overview

Planned in collaboration with a larger redevelopment project, the park will serve as the city’s “front porch.” Situated in the heart of the city, it will offer the chance to connect with natural surroundings, trails, and waterways, while also providing a distinctive town center for family-friendly events and gatherings. 150 Thompson Park will become the city’s premier outdoor venue, featuring unique spaces for play, socializing, and enjoying music, food, and fun. The new 2.5-acre park space will add a central gathering area to the existing 20-acre park. 

For more information about the redevelopment, visit https://www.wspmn.gov/824/Development-Projects. 

Note: The new park will be located at 150 Thompson Ave, on part of the land previously occupied by the YMCA, just west of the Westlyn Apartments, east of Robert Street, north of the Wentworth Library. This project does not include changes to Thompson County Park located at 360 Butler Ave.

Current Design Phase - Step 4: Preferred Concept Refinement

With a clear consensus amongst stakeholders during Step 3, the project team advanced planning and design of the "Spillway" option. 

The draft preferred concept includes a mix of spaces for play, gathering, and respite. 

• The new space welcomes visitors with signage, art, lighting, and tree-lined sidewalks. 
• Multimodal transportation access is supported with approximately 70 parking stalls, bike parking, the River to River Greenway, and nearby transit stops. 
• A feature playground and hillside play offer spaces for all generations to play.
• A unique splash feature will offer a spot to splash and cool off. The adjacent 'urban beach' will be a great spot to lounge and soak up the sun. 
• Stormwater and splash feature water will overflow into a landscaped dry creek bed.
• A building will provide bathrooms and storage. The building could possibly include concessions and/or a small meeting room. 
• Families and friends will be invited to gather at a plaza and lounge space with seating, shade trees, overhead lights, table games, and fire pits. 
• For performances large and small, a two-way bandshell overlooks a smaller shaded seating area and a larger event lawn. 
• Smaller spaces to relax, including seating areas, pond overlook, and hammocking areas, are scattered throughout the park.

At the end of this step, the City Council will vote on the approval of a final concept plan. 

Bird's Eye View of the Park

Second Bird's Eye View of the Park

Main Entry with Art Sculpture

Patio and Lounge Area

Open Lawn and Bandshell

Picnic Shelter and Lounge Space

Boardwalk and Playground

View from the River to River Greenway

Pond Overlook

Hillside Play and Seating Area

Crawford Avenue Entrance from Robert Street (facing east)

Previous Design Phases:

In reverse chronological order

Design Step 3: Concept Alternatives

With feedback from the Park Sketch phase (see below for sketch designs), two concept alternatives were developed. 

Just as students are often encouraged to outline their papers before they begin writing, concept plans are an invaluable tool for brainstorming ideas, understanding site functionality, and sparking creativity. With the park's design still in its early stages, the concepts bring community priorities, initial feedback, and early site assessment into the design of two alternatives. In concept development, complex factors such as grading, utilities, stormwater management, and budget have not yet been finalized. Additionally, specifics such as playground design, trash can placement, tree species, and building materials remain unplanned. At this point, don't worry too much about the finer details.

With feedback from community members, the Environmental Committee, Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, and city staff, Concept 1: Spillway was chosen as the preferred concept plan.

Concept 1: The Spillway

The Spillway concept features:

• Restroom and concession building
• Picnic shelter
• Seating plaza
• Unique splash pad/water feature and creekway
• Urban "beach" sand area with lounge chairs
• Pond overlook
• Event lawn
• Bandshell
• Large "feature/showcase" playground
• Hillside play
• Hammocking area
• Shade trees
• Sidewalk/trails
• Art
• Signage
• Approximately 50 parking stalls

Concept 2: The Drift

The Drift concept features:

• Restroom and concession building
• Picnic shelter
• Seating plaza
• New large stormwater pond
• Existing pond overlook
• Event lawn
• Bandshell
• Half-court basketball
• Table games (table tennis, chess, etc)
• Hillside play
• Hammocking area
• Grove seating area
• Shade trees
• Sidewalk/trails
• Art
• Signage
• Approximately 30 parking stalls

Design Step 2: Park Sketches

Just as students are often advised to outline their papers before starting to write, site sketches serve as a valuable tool to brainstorm ideas, comprehend how a site might operate, and stimulate creativity. Sketches were used to generate conversation and to guide the development of concept plans.

Sketch 1

Sketch 2

Sketch 3

Sketch 4

Sketch 5

Sketch 6

Sketch 7

Design Step 1: Visioning

Early community input identified a desire for a unique, community-centered space that differed from other city parks. Community goals included:

• Take advantage of central location and natural features
• A space for events and gatherings
• Create a vibrant, active, and welcoming space
• A key destination along the River to River trail
• Redevelop a vacant site, create a town center
• Tell the unique story of WSP
• All ages, all seasons spaces
• Gathering spaces, such as indoor space, bathrooms, pavilion, amphitheater, festival/market space, great lawn
• Unique features like a pond overlook, art, landscaping, urban “beach” hangout, hammocking, or yard games.

Project Step 1 - Redevelopment of Thompson Oaks Golf Course

• 2018: Underutilized golf course closes
• 2022-2023: Contaminated soils and debris removal, boardwalk, trails, daylighted creek, water filtration, landscaping.

Project Step 2 - 150 Thompson Park Planning

• 2019: YMCA closes, sells land to Hy-Vee
• 2022: Hy-Vee cancels plans for West St. Paul store, City buys site and begins planning
• 2023: City partners with Greco Development, first community open house and survey
• 2025: Redevelopment Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) and review period, park design consultants Damon-Farber brought on to design park, second open house and community feedback, additional design and planning, redevelopment zoning, site plan, and financial approvals to be considered, final park concept plan to be developed and reviewed.

Project Step 3 - Construction

• Exact timeline to be determined. Park and redevelopment construction to take place in stages.

Visioning

In the fall of 2023, community members provided feedback at an open house and through online surveys. That input helped to shade the vision for the park and public space. The vision includes a vibrant, safe, and welcoming space that encourages connections, gathering, and fun, in a setting that integrates nature, play, accessibility, and uniqueness. 

Site Design Sketching

The park and private development are being planned in a coordinated fashion. Since the fall of 2023, city leadership, developer, and consultants have been working to finalize the site's general layout, considering factors like topography, utilities, water, soil, programming, access, design, and budget. During this phase, the team sketched out seven possible designs. The sketch designs can be viewed under "Project Summary and Concept Plans."

To provide concept plan input:

- Option 1: Complete the Programming and Design Survey

- Option 2: Complete the Sketch Design Survey

- Option 3: Contact city staff

After input, we will narrow the seven options down to two. From there, we will have a good understanding of how the site will be laid out and have moved to concept planning. 

Concept Plan (we are here)

Concept planning is a flexible planning process in which a few designs are moved forward for further review, input, and analysis. The community is encouraged to provide feedback on design alternatives at this stage, as it's the easier (and cheaper) to make plan changes during concept planning compared to later phases. At this stage, planning and design are still high-level and don't include details like playground design, tree species selection, or building materials.

Provide input on the 150 Thompson Park Concept Design Alternatives

Schematic, Detailed, and Construction Plans

After one alternative concept plan is chosen, the design team will get to work on project details. This includes further analysis of budget, civil engineer, landscape design, programming, and project phasing. This phase can take several months, or even years in some cases. 

Funding for the project is likely to come from a mix of sources, including Tax Increment Financing (TIF) from the adjacent housing development, city capital improvement funds, and grants/donations. 

City Contacts

Park and Open Space: Eric Weiss, Parks, Recreation & Environment Director, 651-552-4138 or eweiss@wspmn.gov

Development: Ben Boike, Community Development Director, 651-552-4140 or bboike@wspmn.gov