Saint Paul's small island oasis sees big turn-around
Since long before the time the settlement known as Pig's Eye changed its name to Saint Paul, Raspberry Island has graced the middle of the Mississippi, a small piece of land at the heart of Minnesota's Capitol City. And just in time for a large convention that recently came to Saint Paul, the City put the finishing touches on a renewal of Raspberry Island.
The two-acre Raspberry Island sits at the base of the center pier of the Wabasha Street bridge, surrounded by the Mississippi. For over a century, the Minnesota Boat Club has operated out of the island, where it still maintains a building.
In recent years, the Boat Club building and other island amenities have attracted countless weddings and outdoor concerts. And in 2002, the Schubert Club dedicated a new band shell on the island, which it uses for its series of musical performances.
The increased attention on the riverfront and the island also underscored its shortcomings. As Gregory Page, Special Projects Director for the Saint Paul Riverfront Corporation noted, much work was needed on the island to help realize the space as the gem it is. "There were no public restrooms, the island was often muddy, and there were few places to sit and enjoy the island," Page said. So in 2007, aided by a state grant, the City of Saint Paul began a $5 million renovation of the island.
The chain link fence was removed from the newly-reborn island's perimeter and the old walkway gave way to an artful red limestone replacement. A new public restroom was added to the Boat Club building. And over 100 trees, 400 shrubs, and 10,000 plants have been added to the island to help transform it into the verdant spot the community had long hoped it would become.
Perhaps the most significant design change was the reconfiguration of the gravel parking lot. The gravel lot has now been contained by a much more graceful and contained parking loop. The parking area is made up of permeable pavers which allow stormwater to be reused on-site.
One of the other major elements of the renovation is erosion control, which consists of rock rip-rap around the island's edge. Page notes that the rock was needed because of the erosion brought on by the fast-moving currents in the river that surrounds the island.
But the rip-rap will soon be graced with extensive foliage. As all the vegetation grows, the island's potential promises to be finally realized as an oasis at the very heart of Saint Paul's revitalized riverfront district.
As Page told the Pioneer Press last year, "It's the last remaining true island in Saint Paul," Page said. "It will be a nice place. It had been a little hardscrabble."