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I-94 Updates and Thoughts
By Rob Huffman Note: This is an opinion piece and does not reflect the viewpoint of SUPC as an organization. In mid-April Our Streets hosted a dinner and discussion with members of the Rondo community, the Summit-University neighborhood, and the St. Paul Reparations Commission at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center. To promote the event I posted a flyer and got a reply typical of social media, from someone outside the community: “It was 60 years ago. Get over it!” A few days before, I was facilitating a discussion with 8th graders at a neighborhood school to help them design posters about various racial slurs and why not to use them, beyond simply being hurtful. One of the big takeaways they expressed was that these words carry the weight of their histories for the people they target, and that pain is still felt when they are used today. What that commenter failed to realize is that it isn’t just words that hurt; it’s also when people dismiss the pain that marginalized groups still feel from past harms, whether it’s from outright hostility or simple indifference.
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Is it Snowing in May?
By Phil Hague The summer snowflakes blanketing the neighborhood lately are seeds from Eastern Cottonwood Trees (Populus deltoides). The fluffy seeds seem to be everywhere! This year brings an unusually heavy crop, which the trees usually generate the year after stressful conditions like drought. Cottonwoods are among the fastest-growing trees in North America, capable of adding six feet or more in height per year. They can grow into massive trees, with beautiful, deeply textured bark. Over 200 wildlife species rely on the trees for food and shelter. and they were historically used by Indigenous peoples for food, medicine, and fuel. Only female cottonwoods produce the cotton-like seeds. A single tree can release 20 million seeds in one season, Each seed is attached to a silky filament that carries it up to a mile in the breeze. They are tiny but mighty. If one lands on moist soil, it can sprout within hours. So be ready for lots of little trees to appear in the coming weeks. Beware that the seeds will clog your air conditioning condenser, but they can be easily removed with a gentle hose rinse on the outside of the unit.
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Proposed Tree Preservation Ordinance
Council President Noecker joined us at our April Community Forum Night to tell us more about the proposed Tree Preservation Ordinance, and the work of the Tree Preservation Ordinance Public Input Group: The Tree Preservation Ordinance Public Input Group (TPO PIG) convened neighbors, neighborhood associations, local advocates, and residents with technical expertise to strengthen Saint Paul’s approach to protecting urban trees during development and public projects. Guided by principles of equity, transparency, and practical implementation, the group met seven times between May and November 2025 to provide focused input on ordinance language, identify critical gaps, and develop actionable recommendations that balance ecological health with community priorities. The TPO PIG also presented updates and recommendations to the City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Commission, and the Ward 2 office engaged District Councils in the fall to incorporate neighborhood perspectives ahead of the ordinance’s anticipated return to City Council on December 10, 2025.
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Child Care in Our Community
Child Care in Our Community: A Conversation with a Local Director and Founder of Big Wonder Child Care, Celeste Finn By Audrey Clark Child care is one of the most pressing concerns facing families in Summit-University and across the nation. To better understand local challenges, recent safety and financial disruptions, and what our community can do about them, we reached out to Celeste Finn, founder and director of Big Wonder Child Care, a nonprofit child care center. Celeste shared her insights and perspectives, touching on everything from the daily realities of running a child care center to the broader policy fights shaping the future of early childhood education in Minnesota.
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Can the Greenline Get Back to Normal
I have always said, "It doesn't matter if you spend a billion dollars; if people do not feel safe, they will not use it." What is "it"? In this case, we are talking about the Greenline Light Rail Train between Saint Paul and Minneapolis. In recent years, traveling on this train was downright terrifying. You would see people doing drugs, people in unstable mental states, and many homeless people. Basically, it was not the environment any morning commuter with options would deal with. That is changing.
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Something New on Selby: Rondo Exchange is Open
If you’ve traveled down Selby recently, you may have noticed something new at 856 Selby Avenue. Rondo Exchange officially opened on March 21, 2026, bringing a new small business and community space into the neighborhood. For the past two years, the Rondo Community Land Trust has been developing this space, building out 2,800 square feet at the corner of Selby and Victoria to support local entrepreneurs. The result is Rondo Exchange, a small business incubator that brings together retail, creative work, and community space under one roof.
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