City of Saint Paul, Capitol Region Watershed District to Break Ground on McMurray Athletic Fields Park and Stormwater Improvements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 21, 2026

Clare Cloyd
Department of Parks and Recreation
Ph: 612-760-5074
[email protected]

Jessica Bromelkamp
Capitol Region Watershed District
Ph: 651-440-9403
[email protected]

City of Saint Paul, Capitol Region Watershed District to Break Ground on McMurray Athletic Fields Park and Stormwater Improvements

New stormwater reuse system and rain gardens will protect Como Lake, conserve drinking water and support a healthier neighborhood park

SAINT PAUL, MN -The City of Saint Paul and Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) will break ground on Wednesday, September 23, on a renovation project at McMurray Athletic Fields, including upgraded athletic facilities and stormwater improvements that will help protect Como Lake while making one of the city's most valued parks more sustainable and resilient.

The community groundbreaking celebration will take place at 11:00 a.m. at McMurray Athletic Fields (1151 Jessamine Ave W) in the lawn space directly east of Como Regional Park Pool. Parking is available in the Como Regional Park Pool parking lot.

The following individuals will make remarks:
• Kaohly Her, Mayor of Saint Paul
• Andy Rodriguez, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Director
• Garrison McMurtrey, Ramsey County Commissioner
• Anna Eleria, Capitol Region Watershed District Administrator
• Hawona Sullivan Janzen, Capitol Region Watershed District Board Manager

The McMurray Fields project combines planned park improvements with innovative stormwater infrastructure. The park improvements will include replacing three existing softball fields south of Wynne Avenue with a new 5-acre multi-use artificial turf field. These updates will help Parks and Recreation keep up with the current programming demands and create additional opportunities for field use by the surrounding community.

The stormwater improvements will build on existing infrastructure to treat polluted runoff draining to Como Lake. An underground stormwater reuse system will store and treat runoff before using it to irrigate the park's athletic fields and green spaces. Water will also be pumped to a new rain garden, two existing natural infiltration basins and an underground infiltration area below the new artificial turf field. Smart controllers will optimize the system for efficient use and climate resiliency by monitoring National Weather Service data and emptying the system to create space for more stormwater ahead of storms. Together, these investments will minimize runoff, reduce phosphorus pollution to Como Lake, decrease our reliance on drinking water for irrigation, and improve conditions at McMurray Fields for park visitors.

"Investments like McMurray Fields happen when the City and our partners plan together from day one," said Mayor Kaohly Her. "Thanks to these efforts, our neighbors will now enjoy an upgraded green space while protecting Como Lake for generations to come. That's exactly the kind of thoughtful, connected infrastructure we want to provide our Saint Paul residents."

This project is one of the few remaining stormwater treatment investment opportunities in the Como Lake watershed, building on decades of planning and partnership to improve the lake's water quality. At McMurray Fields, that long-term work will deliver benefits residents can experience every day: healthier park spaces, reduced use of drinking water, and infrastructure that puts stormwater to work for the community.

"The McMurray Fields project shows how smart stormwater infrastructure can deliver multiple benefits," said Nate Zwonitzer, CRWD Division and Project Manager. "By capturing, treating, and reusing runoff, we're protecting Como Lake, conserving drinking water, and creating a more resilient community asset for years to come."

The project is a partnership between the City of Saint Paul and CRWD. The City's park improvements are funded through the "Common Cent" program, Saint Paul's voter-approved sales tax dedicated to improving city streets and parks. CRWD's portion of the project is funded in part by the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment's Clean Water Fund and a Stormwater Resiliency Grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

About Saint Paul Parks and Recreation

Saint Paul Parks and Recreation is a nationally accredited and gold medal award-winning organization that manages 186 parks and open spaces, AZA-accredited Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, 26 city-operated recreation centers, more than 120 miles of trails, an indoor and two outdoor aquatic facilities, a public beach, a variety of premium sports facilities, municipal golf courses, and Great River Passage - which is the new identity for all proposed public development along Saint Paul's more than 17 miles of Mississippi riverfront. For more information about Saint Paul Parks and Recreation, visit www.stpaul.gov/parks.
About Capitol Region Watershed District
Established in 1998, Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) protects, manages, and improves the District's water resources that ultimately flow to the Mississippi River. CRWD partners with governmental bodies, community organizations, and residents to solve water quality challenges across the watershed, which includes parts of Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Maplewood, Roseville and Saint Paul, Minnesota. Through monitoring, research, education, grants, and local clean water projects, CRWD helps address water issues within the 40-square mile watershed.

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