State investments in Saint Paul: What the 2026 legislative session means for our city

The 2026 Minnesota legislative session wrapped up in May with a meaningful set of state investments in Saint Paul - projects that have been years in the making and that reflect the everyday needs of our residents and the long-term fiscal health and vibrancy of our city. Together, they represent nearly $82 million in General Obligation bonds and General Fund cash directed to our community.

These investments span civic facilities, neighborhood infrastructure, cultural heritage, and community recreation - and they were made possible by the sustained work of our Mayor, intergovernmental relations team, strong legislative champions in both chambers, and a bipartisan willingness to recognize the needs of Minnesota's capital city.

Revitalizing our civic heart downtown

• Roy Wilkins Auditorium - $40 million in state bonds: Built in 1932, Roy Wilkins Auditorium is one of Saint Paul's most storied civic landmarks - a regional venue that has hosted conventions, concerts, and community gatherings for nearly a century. But its age shows. The building has long needed accessibility improvements, including basic ADA updates that every public building deserves. This $40 million investment begins a phased modernization of the facility, ensuring it can serve the next generation of Saint Paul residents and visitors.
  
• RiverCentre - $10 million in state cash: RiverCentre has been a cornerstone of Saint Paul's convention and events economy since opening in 1998, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors to our downtown each year and is an important regional asset This $10 million will support planning and design for facility upgrades - an important step in ensuring RiverCentre remains competitive as a regional destination for conventions, trade shows, and community events.

Investing in the places residents and love

• Como Zoo Big Cats exhibit - $9.35 million in state bonds: Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is one of the Twin Cities' most beloved free attractions. The Big Cats habitat - home to lions, tigers, cougars, and snow leopards- is ready for a significant upgrade. This investment will improve animal welfare standards, enhance the visitor experience, and make the exhibit more accessible. Como Park Zoo and Conservatory remain free and open to all, and these improvements will help keep it that way for generations to come.
  
• Saint Paul Inclusive Playground - $2.5 million in state bonds (extension of 2023 funding): This funding extends previously committed state dollars from 2023, ensuring the Saint Paul Inclusive Playground project can continue moving forward. Inclusive play spaces are designed so that children of all abilities can play together - a value our community has consistently affirmed. This extension keeps the project on track.
  
• CHS Field predesign - $1 million in state bonds: CHS Field has been an anchor of the Lowertown neighborhood since opening in 2015, drawing more than 400,000 visitors annually and hosting over 100 non-baseball events each year. The city-owned ballpark serves not just the St. Paul Saints but also Hamline University, high school programs, and youth leagues. This predesign funding lays the groundwork for future capital improvements to keep this community asset in good shape.

Infrastructure that keeps the city running

• West 7th Street utilities - $13 million in state bonds: West 7th Street is one of Saint Paul's most active corridors in one of the oldest parts of the city- connecting downtown to Fort Snelling and Bloomington, lined with restaurants, shops, manufacturers, and homes. This $13 million supports critical utility work on the corridor, complementing a larger coordinated effort with MnDOT, Ramsey County, and Metro Transit that is expected to include full street reconstruction and arterial bus rapid transit improvements beginning as early as 2029.
  
• Saint Paul Water Fridley intake station - $1.5 million in state bonds: Saint Paul Regional Water Services provides drinking water to more than 450,000 residents across Saint Paul and surrounding communities. This investment supports upgrades to the Fridley intake station - work that residents may never see but depend on every day.

Honoring our community's cultural heritage

• Minnesota Latino Museum - $3.6 million in state bonds: Saint Paul's West Side has been home to Minnesotans of Mexican and Latin American heritage since the late 1800s, and today the Latino community is woven deeply into the fabric of our city and state. The Minnesota Latino Museum - planned for Harriet Island Regional Park on the West Side Flats - will be the first museum in the Upper Midwest dedicated to Latino arts, history, and cultural heritage. This state investment moves that vision meaningfully closer to reality.

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