387 Marion Street
This episode spotlights the history of Frogtown's Western Sculpture Park. Now, a popular place for festivals and music gatherings, this land has belonged to the Dakota people for hundreds of years, ox-cart traders once occupied the land trading furs and meats, the land then became part of St. Paul's booming African-American community and business district, Rondo. During the construction of interstate I-94, in the 1960's the park fell into disrepair after the Rondo neighborhood was torn apart. In an effort to revitalize the neighborhood, in the 1990's Public Art St. Paul commissioned artists to create interactive art pieces in Western Park and developed art programs for youth. The park is open to the public and is now thriving.
The Frogtown Walking Tour is an audio tour of St. Paul Minnesota's most culturally and economically diverse neighborhood, Frogtown. From Lexington Ave to Rice Street, and from Interstate 94 to Minnehaha Ave, Frogtown has a variety of restaurants, shops, businesses and organizations with University Ave and the Green Line Light Rail running through the heart of the neighborhood.
Each Frogtown Walking Tour audio episode is produced by a local community reporter and shines a spotlight on a Frogtown neighborhood business or organization.
Katharine DeCelle
Walking Tour Audio Story Reporter
Katey is an audio producer and filmmaker. She lives in Frogtown, is a co-founder of Frogtown Tuned-In and runs Sounds Powerful Productions.