Westgate Commons Park
Solar-Integrated Shade & Public Safety Infrastructure
Capital Improvement Budget (CIB) 2026 Supplemental Report
Submitted by: St. Anthony Park Community Council (District 12)
February 2026 | Questions? Email info@sapcc.org
CIB 2026 Process Update
This project has been accepted as an eligible Community Proposal in Saint Paul’s 2026 Capital Improvement Budget (CIB) process.
Next optional steps include submitting a Detailed Project Proposal and signing up to present to the CIB Committee.
Deadline: Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Community Proposal Presentation Sessions:
Monday, March 23, 2026 – 5:30 pm – Arlington Hills Community Center
Monday, April 20, 2026 – 5:30 pm – North End Community Center
The City will open a public community poll later this spring.
Project Materials
SAPCC was invited to prepare additional materials to support the City’s review process – including a Detailed Project Proposal and a short Committee Presentation. These will be completed before the due date.
Committee Presentation (Slides) →
Links will be activated once the materials are finalized and uploaded.
I. Project Summary
Westgate Commons Park (717 Berry Street, Saint Paul) was completed in 2023 and serves as a neighborhood gathering space and trailhead connection to the Wabash Spur Trail. While the park provides important open space in a rapidly growing residential area, it was delivered without permanent shade canopy coverage, electrical capacity, or sufficient pedestrian-scale lighting.
This proposal seeks to install permanent steel multi-panel shade structures with integrated solar panels and pedestrian-scale LED lighting in designated gathering areas of the park.
These improvements will:
- Mitigate heat exposure
- Improve environmental comfort
- Increase evening visibility
- Strengthen natural surveillance
- Support equitable access to public space
- Advance Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles
The proposed improvements represent long-term capital infrastructure intended to serve the neighborhood for decades.
Westgate Commons Park: A key neighborhood gathering space and trailhead in a growing area of Saint Paul.
II. Site Context and Ownership
Location: Westgate Commons Park, 717 Berry Street, Saint Paul, MN 55114
The park is located at the intersection of Berry Street and Myrtle Avenue in Ward 4 and is directly adjacent to the Wabash Spur Trailhead. The site is owned and maintained by the City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department.
Westgate Commons Park directly serves:
- Adjacent 62+ senior housing residents
- Deeply affordable housing communities
- A dense, multigenerational residential population
- A significant East African community
- Daily pedestrians and bicyclists accessing the Wabash Spur Trail
For many nearby residents, this park functions as their primary outdoor gathering space.
Westgate Commons Park, a City-owned facility serving a growing residential area in Saint Paul.
III. Existing Conditions and Infrastructure Gap
Although recently constructed, Westgate Commons Park lacks several foundational park infrastructure elements:
- Permanent shade canopy coverage
- Electrical infrastructure
- Pedestrian-scale lighting
- Defined shaded gathering nodes
In a 2023 SAPCC survey of 168 participants, nearly every respondent identified the lack of shade as the park’s primary deficiency. Neighbors described the space as “exposed” and “uncomfortable to linger,” particularly during hot weather and evening hours.
Without shade or lighting infrastructure, the park experiences reduced environmental comfort and limited visibility. This decreases legitimate presence during peak sun and evening hours and contributes to perceptions of unsafety.
As surrounding housing density increases and temperatures continue to rise, the absence of shade and lighting represents an escalating health and public safety concern.
Existing picnic seating area without permanent shade canopy infrastructure. Surrounding multifamily housing directly overlooks the park.
IV. Proposed Infrastructure Improvements
A. Permanent Steel Multi-Panel Shade Structures
The project proposes installation of permanent steel shade canopy structures anchored to concrete footings and designed for a 20+ year structural lifespan. Structures would be installed near playground areas, picnic seating zones, primary pedestrian circulation paths, and Wabash Spur Trail connections.
These canopies will provide meaningful shade coverage, define gathering nodes, increase daytime usability, and signal long-term City investment.
Reference example of permanent steel shade canopy structure with integrated solar panels.
B. Integrated Solar Panels and Lighting
Solar panels mounted on canopy structures will power pedestrian-scale LED lighting installed beneath shaded areas.
Solar integration: Reduces long-term operating costs, minimizes new underground utility requirements, supports City sustainability goals, provides resilient on-site power generation.
Pedestrian-scale lighting will: Eliminate dark zones, improve sightlines near playground and trailhead, increase perceived safety during dusk and evening hours, support legitimate community presence.
Reference example of shaded seating area with integrated solar-powered lighting.
V. CPTED Alignment
This project advances all four principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED):
Natural Surveillance
Solar-powered lighting increases visibility during dusk and evening hours, reducing dark zones and improving sightlines.
Natural Access Control
Defined shaded gathering areas help organize circulation patterns and support intentional use of space.
Territorial Reinforcement
Permanent, high-quality infrastructure signals stewardship and reinforces community ownership.
Activity Support
By making the park usable for longer portions of the day, the project increases legitimate presence – a proven deterrent to disorder.
VI. Equity and Community Impact
Westgate Commons Park directly serves senior housing residents and deeply affordable housing communities, many of whom do not have access to private yards or shaded outdoor space.
The lack of shade and lighting disproportionately impacts:
- Seniors and elders
- Residents vulnerable to heat-related illness
- Multigenerational families
- Households reliant on public space for recreation
This project advances equitable access to safe public space and ensures that this rapidly growing area of Saint Paul has infrastructure comparable to other City parks.
VII. Long-Term Capital Value
This proposal represents:
- Permanent capital infrastructure
- 20+ year structural lifespan
- Sustainable solar integration
- Reduced operational burden
- Expanded safe and inclusive public use
The improvements are scalable and may support future park activation and programming.
VIII. Conclusion
Westgate Commons Park is an important public asset in a fast-growing area of Saint Paul. However, without shade and lighting infrastructure, it cannot fully function as a welcoming, visible, and secure gathering space.
Installing permanent solar-integrated shade and lighting infrastructure fills a documented infrastructure gap, strengthens public safety through environmental design, and ensures long-term community benefit.
The St. Anthony Park Community Council respectfully requests consideration of this project within the 2026 Capital Improvement Budget process.
What is the Capital Improvement Budget (CIB)?
The Capital Improvement Budget (CIB) is the City of Saint Paul’s process for funding major, long-term public infrastructure projects like park improvements, streets, and facilities. It prioritizes community needs, sustainability, safety, and equity through public input and review.