Neighborhood
The North End is filled with life, activity and so much character! With many homes and buildings that date back as much as 150 years, it is easy to see the wear and tear, the history of lives lived and businesses that have come and gone. At the same time, their is a constant feeling of newness with a steady stream of new immigrant families, sending their children to school, starting new businesses and finding their way to integrate their cultural beliefs into the framework of what is called the North End.
Please check out the photo galleries below to see the beauty our photographers have found in the people, places and events that take place in the North End.
Parks & Playgrounds
The North End is home to MaryDale Park, Lewis Park, Sylvan Park, Lyton Park and the Front Avenue Skate Park. These places along with the many sports fields and rec centers, bring kids and families out to enjoy summer play and get to know one another.
Sidewalks & Alleys
If you walk through the residential neighborhoods of the North End, you will see the age, the wear, and the ultimate uniqueness of this area of Saint Paul. What is perhaps most striking, is the leftover remnants of play that you can see everywhere, with toys and bikes and chalk drawings throughout. It is amazing! It is beautiful, and it is a home for so many.
Oakland Cemetery
Founded in 1853, the Oakland Cemetery is the oldest in the city. It is the resting place of historical Minnesota leaders as well as immigrant communities that call the North End home. When you walk through the pathways, you will see the names of young and old. You will find small tributes to family members just passed, as well as stones where the words are worn thin. It is a beautiful peaceful resting place in any season.
Homes & Yards
The homes of the North End are so unique. It is one of few neighborhoods that have very little new home construction. The houses in the neighborhood represent an eclectic mix of architectural design and the layers of mix and match of home repairs on older homes in a poor area of the city. Again, these elements make the North End like no other place in the city, as shown in each and every photograph.
Rice Street Parade
The. Rice Street Parade was one of the North End’s proudest events, taking place 1910 to 2018. It served as one of Twin Cities' longest parades, with coronation, softball tournaments, food booths, live music and more.
The North End’s Next Generation
In 2018, youth from the North End neighborhood came out to meet with their new Mayor. Melvin Carter III. It was a proud moment for these young people as Mayor Carter represented the first person of color elected to this important position. The youth wanted to meet this new role model. They asked questions, engaged the mayor in dialogue about what their generation is looking to change and embraced the idea that the moment was special and unique in the hsitory of our neighborhood.
The Rice Street Library
The Rice Street Library serves more than 20.000 people annually as a valuable resource providing a place to meet, a place to learn, and a place to feel like you are welcome. Many use the facility as a place to engage in language tables, or meet with their city council member. Others find it a quiet place to read or play games. In the summer months the library serves lunches to kids, and in the fall and spring youth can stop by to participate in an array of out of school activities.
Fire Station 22
Fire station 22 is one of the busiest stations in the city. It houses both paramedic and fire vehicles and services all of the North End neighborhood. Because of the numbers of old buildings it is often called to attend to house and business fires.
Saint Paul Police
The Saint Paul Police Department carries a strong presence in the neighborhood. It is not unusual to see officers on horseback, on foot or in their patrol cars watching over the neighborhood. Like many poor communities, the North End is often victim to gun violence, gang activity and theft and it is the police who we turn to when addressing these struggles.