Southwood Nature Preserve
City of North St. Paul
Long Range Management Plan
Leah Andersen, Austin Christensen, Erin Denny, Shaun Hansen, Brandon Liddiard,
Adam Maxwell
EnEd 4315 - Operations and Management
University of Minnesota Duluth
December 9, 2013
Table of Contents
Agency Overview ........................................................................................................................ 3
The Management Planning Team .................................................................................................. 3
Mission Statement for Southwood Nature Preserve .................................................................... 3
Vision Statement for the City of North Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department ...... 4
Significance Statement ........................................................................................................................ 4
Objectives for Southwood Nature Preserve ................................................................................... 5
Natural Feature ........................................................................................................................... 8
Geographical Features ........................................................................................................................ 8
Geology .................................................................................................................................................... 8
Hydrology ............................................................................................................................................... 9
Biomes and Habitats ......................................................................................................................... 13
Flora and Fauna ................................................................................................................................. 14
Social Features and Resources.............................................................................................. 17
History of Southwood Nature Preserve ........................................................................................ 18
Social Aspects Effect on Character ............................................................................................... 19
Recreational Facilities ...................................................................................................................... 24
Recreational Resources .................................................................................................................... 25
Recommendations .................................................................................................................................. 26
Mission and Vision ............................................................................................................................ 26
Recommendation: Revise Mission Statement...................................................................................... 26
Natural Features ................................................................................................................................ 27
Recommendation: Use Holloway Marsh in Conjunction with Southwood Nature Preserve 27
Recommendation: Invasive Species Eradication ................................................................................ 29
Social Features.................................................................................................................................... 30
Recommendation: Build a Parking lot as a clear access point........................................................ 30
Recommendation: Improve Interpretive Signage ............................................................................... 32
Recommendation: Increase Winter Recreation ................................................................................... 33
Recommendation: Monitor Usage ........................................................................................................... 34
Recommendation: Build a Shelter ........................................................................................................... 35
Staffing ................................................................................................................................................. 37
Recommendation: Staffing ........................................................................................................................ 37
Concluding Remarks ........................................................................................................................ 38
References .................................................................................................................................. 39
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Table of Figures
Figure 1 North St. Paul Location within Minnesota Metro Area……………………. 6
Figure 2: SNP location within North St. Paul………………………………………… 7
Figure 3: Kohlman Lake Watershed............................................................................. 11
Figure 4: Kohlman Creek Subwatershed ..................................................................... 12
Figure 5: Location of Homestead Site………………………………………………... 23
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Agency Overview
The Management Planning Team
The management team responsible for the Southwood Nature Preserve is a part of
the University of Minnesota Duluth Operations and Management class. This team is in
charge of designating the functions of the Southwood Nature Preserve. The Southwood
Nature Preserve is a 28-acre parcel in the city of North St. Paul and is managed by the
North St. Paul Parks and Recreation Department.
The Southwood Nature Preserve is used by the residents of North St. Paul, yet it
does not offer many opportunities for education and exploration. Signs are placed around
the trails but are unclear and go unnoticed. The North St. Paul Parks and Recreation
Department has asked the University of Minnesota Duluth student management team of
the Operations and Management course, Environmental and Outdoor Education Program,
to design a long range plan to increase community use of the Southwood Nature
Preserve.
This long range plan will include the mission, vision, significance and objectives
set forth by the city of North St. Paul Parks and Recreation Department. The end goal is
to create interpretive opportunities within the Southwood Nature Preserve and increase
the use of this area by the local residents. The management team wishes to use this area
as a place of learning to connect people to the outdoors within the comfort of their
neighborhood.
Mission Statement for Southwood Nature Preserve
The mission statement of an agency leads the course of its actions, it guides the
reason it exists. Therefore the mission statement comes first in a management plan,
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because everything we will be talking about throughout the plan is tied to the mission. If
there is ever a question on an action within the plan, the mission statement is looked at
alongside the action to see if it fits what the site stands for and what the city is trying to
accomplish. The following is the North St. Paul Parks and Recreation Department’s
mission statement:
To help make Saint Paul the most livable city in America, Saint Paul Parks and
Recreation will facilitate the creation of active lifestyles, vibrant places, and a
vital environment. (North St. Paul, homepage 2013)
Vision Statement for the City of North Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department
Saint Paul Parks and Recreation will make Saint Paul the most livable city in
America by:
●
Responding creatively to change
●
Innovating with every decision
●
Connecting the entire city
Significance Statement
The Southwood Nature Preserve (SNP) is situated in an urban area with several
schools nearby and a large wetland on the south side of Holloway Avenue. The pond near
Holloway Avenue filters the runoff from the surrounding houses and the creek that flows
through the park in the springtime. The SNP is a natural learning area for schools in the
area. The schools use it for their science classes, in part because it is a short walk from
the schools to the preserve. The area has historical significance as a homestead farm was
the original development on the site. The foundation of several structures can still be
seen in the deciduous forest of the SNP. The SNP must be preserved and looked after for
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its resources, both learning, ecologically, and for the historical significance to the area.
SNP is an important place to the community and ecosystem of the North St. Paul area.
Objectives for Southwood Nature Preserve
These objectives have been written by the management team with input from North St.
Paul employees and citizens.

Renovate maps and signage within Southwood Nature Preserve

Remove all trash and debris from the park.

Increase and monitor use of Southwood Nature Preserve.

Build a structure to allow educational programs protection from the elements.

Manage native species and remove invasive species.

Manage the preserve in a sustainable manner so that all citizens, current and
future, can enjoy and learn from the site.
5
Figure 1 North St. Paul Location within Minnesota Metro Area
6
Figure 2: SNP location within North St. Paul
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Natural Features
Geographical Features
North St. Paul is a suburb of the Twin Cities metro area, that is home to 11, 460
residents. In North St. Paul there are numerous parks, one of these parks is the
Southwood Nature Preserve (SNP). SNP is a 28 acre park with a pond located in the
middle of the park and a look-out deck on the south end of the pond. There is a cement
foundation in the southeastern portion of the park from an old homestead. Due to the
location of SNP it is home to a diverse population of wildlife and has particularly high
numbers of turtles and waterfowl.
Geology
The Southwood Nature Preserve is located within the St. Paul-Baldwin Plains and
Moraines Subsection of the Minnesota Ecological Classification System (MN DNR,
n.d.). Most of Minnesota’s geological history is based on the effects of glaciation. The
last glacier retreated from Minnesota around 10,000 years ago. Its effects are still seen
today by the deposition of small uniform sized rocks. This subsection is mostly a lobe
end moraine complex, with a series of outwash plains. The glacier deposited unsorted
gravel, and sorted sands and silts, which now reside under the vegetation. The outwash
plains are areas of deposited glacial sediment from the glacial melt water. The
topography surrounding SNP is rolling mounds on the moraine and more level on the
outwash. SNP is located on one of these outwashes (MN DNR, n.d.).
The soil within the area is made of glacial drift generally less than 100 feet thick.
There are two main soil types prevalent in this subsection, including Alfisoils and
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Mollisoils. Within the Southwood Nature Preserve, it is mostly Alfisoils which are soils
formed under forested vegetation (MN DNR, n.d.).
Hydrology
In the center of the Southwood Nature Preserve (SNP) there is a pond, which is
part of the Kohlman Creek subwatershed. Kohlman Creek flows out of SNP near its
northwest corner and flows into Kohlman Lake before eventually emptying into the
Mississippi River – Twin Cities Watershed. Urban pollutants, such as road salt and lawn
fertilizers, are transported by rainfall flowing over the landscape and collect in the pond
from the area roads and neighborhoods (see figure 2).
Kohlman Creek is an intermittent stream, meaning it is normal for it to completely
dry up during certain times of the year. During these dry times the pond within SNP
collects large amounts of runoff from the local roads and homes. This causes the pond to
become filled with large amounts of algae and other vegetation. This is in part due to
excessive nutrients such as phosphorous which enter the water source. Much of these
nutrients affect the many bogs that are part of Kohlman Creek subwatershed (RWMWD).
In addition to the city of North St. Paul, the Ramsey-Washington Metro
Watershed District (RWMWD) is responsible for work on the Kohlman Creek
subwatershed. According to the RWMWD, their goal is to restore Kohlman Lake to a
healthy ecosystem dominated by native plants and fish species. They also state that
shallow bodies of water like Kohlman Lake generally exist in two states. These two states
are clear-water dominated by an abundance of submerged aquatic plants and a murky
state dominated by algae. Due to high levels of nutrients such as phosphorus, Kohlman
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Lake currently exists in the undesired murky state (Ramsey-Washington Metro
Watershed District, 2012).
Recent projects have aimed at completing the RWMWD’s goal by focusing
directly on the removal of nutrients and non-native species within Kohlman Lake. This
includes removing sediment from the bottom of the lake where these excess nutrients are
stored. In 1998 and 1999 the RWMWD completed a project to stabilize the banks along
several spots of Kohlman Creek. This project served to decrease the level of nutrients that
would enter the watershed, thus decreasing the algae growth in lakes downstream of
restoration sites. (Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, 2011)
10
Figure 3: Kohlman Lake Watershed
11
Figure 4: Kohlman Creek Subwatershed
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Biomes and Habitats
Minnesota is home to the convergence of three major biomes: the prairie
grassland, deciduous forest, and coniferous forest. The Southwood Nature Preserve
(SNP) resides within the deciduous forest biome. This biome stretches diagonally from
the northwest corner to the southeast corner of the state, and is characterized by broad
leafed trees that lose their leaves in the fall and winter to grow new ones in spring.
Maples, cottonwoods, aspens, and oaks dominate here. Maples and cottonwoods grow
near rivers and lakes, while near the edge of the prairie biome, oaks and aspens grow
along with the tall grasses. The forests in this biome today are the remnants of what was
left behind from when the Europeans settled the area and Minnesota became a state. Most
areas were logged for farmland development. The pioneers left forest stands to collect sap
from sugar maple trees and for firewood supply. These stands have become the basis for
the forests still present in this biome today (MN DNR, n.d.).
The habitat of the SNP is a mix of forest and wetlands with clearings in the
forested areas that hold tall grasses. In the middle of the southern part there is a pond, the
pond is part of a creek system that runs through the preserve. Water flows though the
creek in the spring and dries up in the late summer. The western and northern portions of
the preserve are oak and maple forests. The southwest corner is an old growth oak
savannah, which consist primarly of Red Oak. The eastern half is a maple forest with
some aspen, and a stand of large basswood trees near the old homestead foundation. This
type of ecosystem is diverse, it has two different water sources and a mix of different tree
species along with tall grass sections. The SNP can thus hold a very wide variety of
wildlife (K. Stachowski, personal communication, September 13, 2013)
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Flora and Fauna
As previously stated, the Southwood Nature Preserve is within the deciduous
forest biome. Its characterized as such because the trees lose their leaves at the end of
each growing season. There are many different types of trees within SNP, which include:
(C. Troendle, personal communication, November 14, 2013)
Native Trees:
 Basswood (Tila americana)
 Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
 Red Pine (Pinus resinosa)
 Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila)
 Box Elder (Acer negundo)
 Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
 White Oak (Quercus alba)
 Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)
 White Pine (Pinus strobus)
 Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)
 Wild Plum (Prunus americana)
 Mulberry (Morus rubra)
 Sumac (Rhus typhina)
 Cherry Tree (Prunus serotina)
 Black Willow (Salix nigra)
 Cotton Wood (Populus deltoides)
 White Ash (Fraxinus americana)
 Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
 American Elm (Ulmus americana)
 Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
Non- Native Trees:
 Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica)
 Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
 Glossy Buckthorn (Frangula alnus)
 Walnut Trees (Junglans)
 Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)
 Apple (Malus domestica)
 Honeysuckle (Lonicera)
 Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
Shrubs:
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 Red Raspberries (Rusus idaeus)
 Common Elderberry (Sambucus)
Southwood Nature Preserve (SNP) provides habitat for many species of urban
wildlife. It hosts many common species such as white-tailed deer, grey squirrels,
raccoons, skunks and red fox. It also hosts many different species of resident and
migratory song birds, which are studied by fourth graders the Cowern Elementary
School. According to Ms. Troendle students have observed a Great Horned Owl (Bubo
virginianus) with their young, Common Egrets (Casmerodius albus), Mallards (Anas
platyrhynchos), Cooper's Hawks (Accipiter cooperii), Canadian Geese (Branta
Canadensis), American Robins (Turdus migratorius), Mourning Doves (Zenaida
macroura), Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus), American Crows (Corvus
brachyrhynchos), Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata), Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis
cardinalis) and American Goldfinchs (Carduelis tristis). In total Ms. Troedle has
identified 98 species of birds within SNP. In the summer of 2013 she observes a species
of dabbling duck, called the Godwall (Anas strepera) with its young in the pond. This
was the first recorded nesting Godwall in Ramsey county (C. Troedle, personal
communication, December 8, 2013).
The pond within SNP host a significant amount of wildlife including, waterfowl
and turtles. During a visit to the site are group observed blue winged teals, wood ducks,
mallard and Canadian geese using the pond. One primary reason that so much waterfowl
uses the pond is because of the large amounts of algae growth, which provide a valuable
food source.
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In addition the pond also hosts a wide variety of species of turtles. While visiting
SNP our group observed Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta belli) and Snapping Turtles
(Chelydra serpentine). Many of these turtles migrate between SNP and the Holloway
Marsh, which is located to the south of Holloway Avenue (K. Stachowski, personal
communication September 13, 2013). This brings up an issue of turtles being killed while
crossing Holloway Avenue. During a visit to SNP several members of our group counted
five dead turtles along the shoulder of Holloway Avenue. According to the MN DNR,
vehicle related deaths are the largest factor in the decline faced by many turtle species. In
order to diminish this problem it might be necessary to create a barrier along the road to
prevent turtles from crossing the road.
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Social Features and Resources
Users and Zones
The Southwood Nature Preserve (SNP) provides a valuable green space to the city
of North St. Paul. SNP is located within walking distance to many residential areas.
Several schools that are located within the city of North St. Paul offer nature lessons and
programs in SNP. The SNP task force estimates that there are 30 people that visit SNP on
a self guided visited each day, of those 30 people 25 re-visit multiple times per week.
Most of the users are pedestrians, dog walkers or bicyclists. There is no break down of
how much each user group uses the nature preserve, however in the future the task force
hopes to have this information.
Maplewood Middle School and Cowern Elementry School use SNP for nature
programs and science classes. The University of Minnesota Master Naturalist Program
(MMNP) leads some of the programs for these schools. Since 2007, Cathy Troendle has
been a volunteer with the MMNP and has played a large part in developing the programs
for these schools. She has used grants sponsered by the Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency’s Environmental Education Advisory Board (EEAB) and the Minnesota
Association for Environmental Education (MAEE) to develop several programs for third
through fifth graders. These programs have been designed to meet the state of
Minnesota’s educational standards. These grants were awarded in 2007 and although the
schools pay for supplies, no additional monetary support has been given since 2007.
The programs that Ms. Troendle developed and currently teaches during late
winter and spring. Through these programs third graders study the leaves of native trees,
fourth graders learn to use binoculars and identify different bird species, and fifth graders
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are involved in a four-part lesson, where they learn about mammals that live in
Minnesota. Recently, Ms. Troendle has begun working with the Maplewood Nature
Center and Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District to coordinate a field day for
students at Maplewood Middle School (C. Tronendle, personal communication,
November 14, 2013).
The trail system within SNP is roughly1 ½ miles long. The most used trail is a
woodchip trail that runs though most of the park and around the pond. The second most
used trail leads to the wooden observation deck. There is a kiosk next to the observation
deck, which provides information about SNP. It has a map of many of the trees, shrubs,
and animals that you might see while in the SNP.
The map at the kiosk splits the park into four quadrants: northeast, southeast,
southwest and northwest. Each quadrant offers something different to see and experience.
In the northwest quadrant there is a trail with signs labeling many of the plants in the
area. The northeast quadrant contains an open field where visitors can picnic and play
field games. In the southeast quadrant there is the foundation of the old farm house.
Finally, the southwest quadrant contains the large old growth oak savamah.
History of Southwood Nature Preserve
The land used to establish Southwood Nature Preserve (SNP) was first acquired in
1969 through eminent domain. Through eminent domain, the government has the right to
sieze private property for public use with payment or compensation to the land owner.
The land that SNP currently encompasses used to be twelve separate parcels of land, each
owned by a different family. Nine of the parcels were bought through eminent domain,
while three of the families refused to sell. In the fall of 1970 the remaining three parcels
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were condemned and acquired for park use (J. Fure, personal communication, November
14, 2013).
The funds used to purchase these parcels came from a few different sources
including, the State of MN Natural Resource Fund Grant, Federal HUD Grant and funds
from other state and federal grants (J. Fure, personal communication, November 14,
2013).
Prior to the establishment of SNP the land itself served as homes to families as
well as a dumping ground for the Berwald Roofing Company and the Allan homestead in
the early 1960 (C. Tronendle, personal communication, November 14, 2013). On August
16, 1968 a letter to the Berwald Roofing Company and Allan’s family stated that they
were no longer allowed to use the land as a dumping site because the city was striving to
mitigate water quality problems. This became a regulation, which in turn helped improve
the water quality of pond within Southwood Nature Preserve (J. Fure, personal
communication, Novemnber 14, 2013).
Through the last 50 years, a lot has changed at the site of Southwood Nature
Preserve. It is now provides green space within community, learning opportunities for
surrounding schools, homes for the local wildlife and recreational trails for hiking and
observing nature.
Social Aspects Effect on Character
The social aspects of Southwood Nature Preserve (SNP) are one of the great and
unique aspects of the preserve. The preserve is surrounded by an urban area which
influences its use in many ways. It serves as a great place for local community members
to participate in nature based recreation. It also provides wildlife with habitat in an urban
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area. However, due to the prioximity of SNP to such a developed area it creates
vulnerabilities by increasing the spread of invasive species and environmental
contamination.
The convenient location of SNP increases its use by local residents. The site is
large enough to provide residents with a place where they can relax in a quiet natural
setting. According to North St. Paul’s Assistant Public Works Superintendent, Keith
Stachowski, over ninety percent of SNP visiters walk to the site from their homes or
schools in the surronding neighborhood. Many of these people access the park though a
series of spur trails that have been created by community members. However, according
to Mr. Stachowski the city does not support these trails. They hope to remove them
inorder to restore natral vegetation.
The location of the SNP also allows local schools to walk to the preserve and use
it as an extension of the classroom, were students can be taught about nature and ecology.
As discussed earlier, teachers from Maplewood Middle School and Cowern Elementary
School work with the Minnesota Master Natralist Program when they walk to SNP with
groups of young students. Their lessons at SNP are targeted toward teaching students
about the outdoors in a holistic method which blends with classroom coursework.
In the past, signage has been installed by volunteers of the University of
Minnesota Master Naturalist Program. These signs, which are generally on small
notecards, have aided teachers by providing non-personal interpretation opportunities.
The signs are placed low to the ground and each label a certain plant or tree species.
Many of these signs have become weathered and are difficult to read. Others have been
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overgrown by plants which make them difficult to find and even more difficult to
determine which plant they are meant to identify.
There are many concerns that arise due to the convenience of SNP. One primary
concern is that many residents use the preserve as an extension of their backyard. They
often use it as a place to dispose of sticks, grass and other yard waste. Citizens often use
SNP as a place to let their dogs run off leash. Loose dogs have a negative effect on
wildlife in the area as they often chase wild animals or leave a scent which scares the
animals out of their habitat (T. Bates, personal communication, October 2, 2013). It also
creates a risk of injuries and conflicts among visitors. These conflicts include dogs
approaching and scaring visitors that may not like dogs. Many visitors may also choose
not to spend time in SNP due to dog feces being on the trails (K. Stachowski, personal
communication, September 13, 2013). Injuries may include dogs biting or jumping on
people.
Furthermore many environmental issues arise due to the location of SNP. Invasive
species, for example, are difficult to control in such a small area within a greater urban
area. Runoff from streets, houses, and lawns also presents a concern for environmental
degradation by reducing the water quality which also affects the kinds of aquatic life that
can grow in the pond and stream. For example, the use of chemicals containing
phosphorous from lawn fertilizers creates a large amount of algae growth on the pond.
The location of the site also means that the city of North St. Paul must run utility
lines though the preserve. This is necessary due to the location of the preserve; however it
does have several negative effects on the character of the site. In order to maintain these
utility lines the city must keep several trails wide enough to allow service trucks to drive
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through the preserve. These wide trails take away from the natural appeal of the park and
also segment the forest resulting in an increase of invasive species and a decrease of
suitable habitat for wildlife such as white-tailed deer.
SNP and the land it is on has been used in many different ways for a long period
of time. In 1969, when the land was acquired by the Southeast Area Village Park there
was a homestead site established in the southeast quadrant of what is now SNP (see
Figure 5) . Although this homestead was deconstructed in 1970 there are still remnants of
the site. These include concrete slabs and pieces of the structures foundation. The area
around the homestead can also be identified by clearings and abnormal parts of the
natural forest, such as non-native trees. Another way that the old homestead site can be
located is by finding trees that are smaller and younger than the surronding forest. For
example, a section of trees that are forty years old within an older section of forest may
be due an old homestead. The forty year old trees are likely to have been planted after the
removal of the homestead. Some of these abnormalities may go unnoticed by most
visitors, but an interpreter or proper signage could help visitors better appreciate this site.
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Figure 5: Location of Homestead Site
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Recreational Facilities
The Southwood Nature Preserve (SNP) has no buildings, but it does have a
platform viewing area, bridge, benches, several trashcans and doggy bag dispensers. The
benches are placed throughout the park on small spur trails off the main trail. There is a
kiosk area at the head of the trail, near the southern end of the pond. There is information
posted on the different species of plants and animals that inhabit the park. It identifies
which of these are invasive species. Straight ahead of the trailhead kiosk is a large
wooden deck overlooking the pond. This deck can accommodate a class of at least 20
students. East from the trailhead sign and overlook area, there is a portable outhouse at
the start of a trail. There is also a doggy bag dispenser and garbage can before the trail
starts. On the eastern edge of the preserve near the road, there is another garbage can.
SNP has several trails that run around the pond and branch off into other trails
that lead to the edge of the woods and out to the street. These trails are 5 ft. wide in most
places and covered with wood chips. There are signposts along the trail that describe
different parts of the forest and include a Google Map picture of the park. There are small
signs near the ground in the northwest quadrant that identifies different plant species.
These were placed by volunteers of the Minnesota Master Naturalists Program (K.
Stachowski, personal communication, September 14).
The SNP has no personnel committed to its maintenance. The city of North St.
Paul Parks Commission takes care of all the parks within the city. Its maintenance is
minimal compared to the preserve’s size and the amount of users.
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Recreational Resources
Southwood Nature Preserve (SNP) aims to create recreational and educational
opportunities for the people of North St. Paul. SNP creates these opportunities while
closly following the mission of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department. This
mission is: To help make Saint Paul the most livable city in America, North Saint Paul
Parks and Recreation will facilitate the creation of active lifestyles, vibrant places, and a
vital environment. (North St. Paul, homepage 2013)
All of SNP’s resources which include the trails, trail signs, viewing platform, a
task force (community based group of volunteers that report to the Parks and Recreation
Comminsion), and other volunteers help to create a facility that promotes active lifestyles
within a vibrant place and vital environment. SNP is fortunate to have a group of people
that are passionate about its future. However, many aspects need to be improved
including: removal of invasive species, increasing interpretive programing and adding
updated signs to the trails. This can be a possibility thanks to the community involvement
and a desire to create a quality green-space for the city of North St. Paul.
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Recommendations
In the final part of our Long Range Management Plan we will make several
recommendations for long term management of the site. All of our recommendations are
based off the information we have collected about the mission and vision, natural features
and social features of the Southwood Nature Preserve (SNP). Thus each recommendation
will be categorized based on which of these areas it best fits. In addition to these three
areas we have also identified staffing as a primary issue and used it as a fourth category.
These recommendations are meant to address concerns brought up during conversations
with people currently involved with SNP.
Mission and Vision
Recommendation: Revise Mission Statement
The current mission of the City of North St. Paul Parks and Recreation is “to help
make Saint Paul the most livable city in America, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation will
facilitate the creation of active lifestyles, vibrant places, and a vital environment”. (North
St. Paul, homepage, 2013) This mission is aimed at parks in North St. Paul as a whole,
but it’s important for Southwood Nature Preserve (SNP) to have a mission statement of
its own. This will allow SNP to follow its own specific needs. There are two options that
SNP can do to provide their own mission statement.
Option 1: Task force makes the Mission statement
The first option is to collaborate with the task force to create a mission statement
for SNP. This allows the individuals most involved and dedicated in the park to create a
mission that revolves around the importance of conservation, maintenance, sustainability,
and promotion of active living throughout the park.
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Option 2: To follow the mission our group has created which is stated below:
“Southwood Nature Preserve aims to make North St. Paul a more sustainable
city by increasing the use and quality of green space by providing
opportunities for outdoor education and environmental education”.
This mission statement is measurable, which provides the city of North St. Paul and SNP
employees to see if they are meeting their goals. Having a measurable mission statement
also allows employees to keep on track and get things done more efficiently.
Option 3: Keep the City of North St. Paul Parks and Recreation’s mission statement
Southwood Nature Preserve currently follows the city of North St. Paul Park and
Recreation mission statement; this however speaks to the Parks and Recreation
Department as a whole. SNP is one small preserve out of many other areas of land
managed by the Parks and Recreation Department in North St. Paul. Having their own
mission statement will allow SNP to be specific with its own set of goals and to provide
the care SNP needs.
Long-range planning team’s recommendation for Revising Mission
Statement: Option 2
Natural Features
Recommendation: Use Holloway Marsh in Conjunction with Southwood Nature
Preserve
Option 1: Work in conjunction with the city of Maplewood to connect Holloway Marsh
with SNP
Our group recommends that North St. Paul work with the city of Maplewood to
incorporate the Holloway Marsh in its programs. The Holloway marsh is a 38-acres
cattail marsh located to the south of Southwood Nature Preserve (SNP). It is in the city of
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Maplewood and managed by the Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Department. HillMurray High School is located along the southern border of Holloway Marsh.
Ensuring the protection of Holloway Marsh and increasing its use will increase
the quality of the experience for visitors to SNP by creating a larger contiguous green
space. By offering programs in Holloway Marsh, SNP would increase its diversity and
thus be able to offer a wider variety of environmental education programs. The
Minnesota Master Naturalists could use this resource to work with school teachers and
further develop curriculum, including wetland ecology.
We recommend building a boardwalk within the Holloway Marsh, which would
allow visitors to get a closer look at the wetland ecosystem. Through an agreement
between North St. Paul and Maplewood, resources such as interpreters could be shared
between these two nature areas.
SNP and the Holloway Marsh share many resources such as water and wildlife.
Therefore if not protected, the degradation of Holloway Marsh would negatively affect
SNP and the citizens of North St. Paul.
Impacts of Option 1
If this option is chosen there will be increased human impact on the Holloway
Marsh. There will be an educational aspect to the Holloway Marsh that had never existed,
which will provide a service to the community and visitors. Holloway Marsh will be a
protected wetland within the city, which will help to preserve the marsh and keep it in a
more natural state. The partnership between Southwood Nature Preserve and Holloway
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Marsh would provide new opportunities for community enrichment and educational
programming.
Option 2: Do not partner with Holloway Marsh.
This option will keep things as they are currently with the SNP and Holloway
Marsh as two separate entities. This option will not protect the marsh and leaves it
vulnerable to potential development.
Impacts of option 2
The Holloway Marsh will not be a protected wetland which can further degrade
water quality in the watershed and will also negate providing unique educational
opportunities.
Long-range management team’s recommendation for: Use Holloway Marsh in
conjunction with Southwood Nature Preserve: Option 1
Recommendation: Invasive Species Eradication
The invasive species in the SNP need to be removed so that native species can be
preserved. There are two methods that can be used to complete this recommendation.
Option 1: Eradicate one invasive species at a time.
If eradicating one species at a time, one must fully remove it and then move onto
another species (Soll, n.d.). This will create a challenge to protect the area that is now
free of invasive species from other invasive species taking over. So, as an example, if
North St. Paul successfully used a treatment such as the Garlon 4 Solution (a broad
spectrum herbicide used to control broadleaved weeds) to kill Japanese knotweed, they
would have to keep all the other invasive species out of that newly invasive species free
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area (Soll, n.d.). However, it would be hard to keep invasive species like buckthorn and
wild parsnip from taking over an open area free of native species challengers.
Option 2: Work on eradicating all of the invasive species in the preserve at once.
Another option would be to have separate groups of people working on each
specific invasive species to eradicate them at the same time. This option would make it
easier to keep different species from spreading to newly disturbed soil caused by the
eradication of the other invasive species. For this to be successful native species would
have to be reintroduced to replace the invasive species.
Option 3: Take no action.
If invasive species are not removed, the biodiversity of the SNP will deteriorate.
The native species will be pushed out and the invasive species will dominate the
preserve. SNP would thus lose much of it educational and environmental value. In order
to be a nature preserve, native species must have a suitable environment to be preserved.
Long-range planning team’s recommendation for Invasive Species
Eradication: Option 2
Social Features
Recommendation: Build a Parking lot as a clear access point
In order to increase accessibility to Southwood Nature Preserve (SNP) our group
recommends building a parking lot in the northeast quadrant. Currently there is no
parking lot for the SNP and visitors have to either walk to SNP or use on-street parking
along Holloway Ave, which runs along the south side of the park. Although Holloway is
a wide road with large shoulders, it is not an ideal spot to park or unload groups of
children. Our group recommends building a parking lot to increase the use of SNP. The
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proposed parking lot would go in the open field located along Parkway Avenue in the
northeast corner of SNP.
Option 1: Put in blacktop parking lot in the northeast corner of SNP
Our first recommendation is a blacktop parking lot, which would reduce dust and
fit in well in its urban setting. This would have a higher initial cost, however it would last
for many years with minimal maintenance.
Impact of option 1
This option comes with drawbacks for the residents living next to the park. There
are houses located on the north end of the open space that would be able to see the
parking lot and hear visitors from their homes. A parking lot would also increase traffic
on Parkway Avenue and other neighborhood streets. Traditional blacktop parking lots are
non-permeable, meaning water cannot infiltrate the ground and water runs downhill to a
common drainage. This type of runoff is known as ‘point-source’ pollution, because it
concentrates all of the pollutants from the runoff area into one drainage point.
Option 2: Put in gravel parking lot in the northeast corner of SNP
The second option is to use a gravel surface for a parking lot. This may have less
impact on the environment, as it would allow water to infiltrate the ground and filter out
pollutants from the parking lot. One benefit of building a gravel parking lot is that it
would cost significantly less than creating a blacktop parking lot.
Impact of option 2
There will be lots of dust caused by a gravel parking lot and nearby residents may
not be happy with dust blowing on their houses and yards. The impact from salt would be
lower because sand is used to manage ice on gravel surfaces.
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These options both come with drawbacks for the residents living next to the park.
There are houses located on the north end of the open space that would be able to see the
parking lot and hear visitors from their homes. A parking lot would also increase traffic
on Parkway Avenue and other neighborhood streets.
We feel that the advantages of building a parking lot outweigh the disadvantages.
These advantages include increase use of SNP, safer access to users of SNP and less
congestion along Holloway Avenue. We recognize the drawbacks of building a parking
lot, yet without increased parking it will be much more difficult to increase the use of
Southwood Nature Preserve.
Long-range planning team’s recommendation for Build a Parking lot as a
clear access point: Option 1
Recommendation: Improve Interpretive Signage
Option 1: Continue without improving signs
There are currently two different types of interpretive signs in Southwood Nature
Preserve (SNP). There are many smaller signs stuck in the ground a few inches from the
soil, which identify the flora and fauna of the surrounding area. These signs are
weathered and difficult to read. There are also larger signs scattered within the park
which do not contain any information due to lack of upkeep. In total there are around 15
signs, few of which are legible.
Impacts of Option 1
Without properly displayed and well written signs, non-personal interpretation is
not possible. Interpretation is a key part of experiencing SNP for many reasons. Without
signs, the users are unable to make a personal connection to the historical and natural area
through self-guided discovery. If no improvements are made on the signs, they will
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continue to fade and become unreadable, eventually making it impossible for users to
gain valuable knowledge about the area.
Option 2: Replace and update existing interpretive signs
In order to improve non-personal interpretation within SNP the current signs have
to be taken down and improved. This can be done in many ways, one of which will be to
replace the current signs that have no protection from the elements. This can be done by
printing and laminating historical information about the park, natural biological feature of
the park, and community involvement. Another way the signs can be improved is by
taking the current flora and fauna signs that are hand-written and replace them with
laminated typed out information and mounting them on three foot tall stands.
Impacts of Option 2
By improving the signage, non-personal interpretation can be an easy and
immediate part of experiencing at SNP. Users will be able to learn facts about the
preserve and all of its features by reading a few sentences as they walk by. The signs will
not be too intrusive, but they will be there for people who would like to learn more
information about SNP.
Long-range planning team’s recommendation for Improve Interpretive
Signage: Option 2
Recommendation: Increase Winter Recreation
Option 1: Continue without increasing winter recreation
SNP provides a natural area that is underutilized during much of the winter
season. Without any attempts to increase winter recreation, the park will continue to sit
dormant throughout the winter months.
Impacts of Option 1
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The property will not to be used to its full potential during the winter season.
Many residents of North St. Paul may choose to recreate in other facilities that provide
maintained trail system.
Option 2: Create a ski trail system
Classic and skate skiing are popular sports; with limited and crowded facilities
scattered throughout the metropolitan area. In order to create a ski trail system,
investments would have to be made in grooming equipment as well as staff trained to use
the equipment.
Impacts of Option 2:
By grooming a trail system, SNP would appeal to a new audience. It would open
up the preserve to regular users in a season where it normally sits dormant. This would
also help increase awareness about the park and create jobs.
Long-range planning team’s recommendation for Increase Winter
Recreation: Option 2
Recommendation: Monitor Usage
The city of North St. Paul has done very little to monitor the amount and types of
users at Southwood Nature Preserve (SNP). It is important to monitor the users of the
site, how they use it, and how often. This information can tell North St. Paul what types
of impacts visitors are having on SNP. This will help to identify the target audience of
SNP and dictate renovations that are made to trails and facilities. If this information is
unknown, then SNP cannot adapt to its users. According to the task force, SNP receives
25-30 visitors daily, and half of those users visit the SNP several times a week. This is an
estimate that does not account for large groups and needs to be refined. There are several
options SNP can take to solve this problem.
34
Option 1: Have an SNP employee count how many people use the park on a given day
This option provides North St. Paul with accurate data about the users of SNP
through the employment of a staff person to monitor and record use. This employee can
also interview individuals to get first hand feedback on what needs to be done to make
improvements within SNP. Our group recommends that North St. Paul employs a person
to monitor the amount and types of users in SNP. This will provide the SNP with
important data on what needs to be done to help conserve the natural features of the SNP.
Option 2: Have a sign in sheet for users at entrances
This option will allow users to independently record their activity by stating their
name and how they are using SNP. This is less effective because it depends on citizen
participation, and can be easily overlooked by passersby. It does however, allow
employees to focus on other work that needs to be done within SNP.
Option 3: Continue loosely monitoring the use of SNP
Currently all of the available information about SNP users is based on
undocumented observations by the task force. This does not provide North St. Paul with
accurate, quantitative information regarding the use of SNP and thus makes it unlikely
that the city will be able to be innovative in meeting the user’s needs.
Long-range planning team’s recommendation for Monitor Usage:
Option 1 and Option 2
Recommendation: Build a Shelter
A shelter should be built in Southwood Nature Preserve (SNP) to establish a
general meeting area and picnic spot that will remain dry during bad weather.
Option 1: Build an enclosed shelter.
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An enclosed shelter could be very useful as an outdoor classroom where
educational programs could take place all year long, regardless of weather. In winter it
could be used as a warming house for skiing or ice skating. The drawback of an enclosed
shelter is that it would have to be locked when not in use. An enclosed shelter would not
provide community access unless an instructor were present. It would also create the risk
of vandalism or break-ins.
Option 2: Build a roof shelter.
The shelter does not have to be an enclosed building. Instead a sturdy roof held up
by several pillars could be build. The size of the shelter should be at least 16x16 feet and
no larger than 24x24 feet. A company called Poligon makes several models that fit this
description (Poligon square shelters, n.d.). The smaller option, would take up less space
in the preserve and still be large enough for most classes to fit into, however most classes
would not have enough space to continue their lesson. A larger shelter is a better option,
because it would provide classes with adequate space to seek shelter and still continue an
active lesson.
Option 3: Take no action.
If a shelter is not built, people will be less likely to visit the SNP for a long period
of time. Educational programs will also be less dependable, because without a shelter
they will be cancelled or delayed due to bad weather.
Long-range planning team’s recommendation for Build a Shelter:
Option 2
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Staffing
Recommendation: Staffing
Southwood Nature Preserve currently has no full time staff to run programs or
maintain trails and facilities. As of now SNP has a task force comprised of 6 community
members dedicated to bettering the site. SNP
could expand and create a lasting impact on the city of North St. Paul if staffing was
created to show the residents the benefits of this natural area. The SNP is used by many
surrounding residents and other community members in the city of North St. Paul, but
these residents and community members do not understand the full impact of this site in
the middle of an urban setting. Here are a few options on how SNP can become a more
recognizable site in the city of North St. Paul
Option 1: Hire a full time interpreter to teach lessons and inform the public
By having an interpreter on staff, the citizens of North St. Paul can learn about the
importance and significance of SNP. An interpreter can teach about the wide array of
plant and animal species found in the SNP creating a personal connection to the place.
Along with informing the general public an interpreter can be used to run school
programs for the nearby schools. Many traditional school teachers are interested in
outdoor programs, but are not experienced enough to teach programs in an outdoor
setting. Having a professional in this field will help to create many opportunities for
schools and increase environmental education. Along with being an interpreter another
job responsibility would be monitoring the users of the SNP.
Option 2: Hire a maintenance crew for upkeep of trails and facilities
It is important to have a site that is appealing to the senses. By having SNP well
kept it draws in a larger audience. If trails and facilities are well kept users will see that it
37
is an important site. An un-kept resource will only continue to become less respected and
filled with trash and create an unappealing area. The maintenance crew will help to
decrease trash and other litter in SNP and make an area that residents can be proud of and
call their own.
Long-range planning team’s recommendation for Staffing: Option 1
Concluding Remarks
The recommendations we have made as part of the long-range management plan
for Southwood Nature Preserve (SNP) were designed to follow the mission statement of
North St. Paul’s Parks and Recreation Department. It is our goal that these
recommendations will make North St. Paul a more livable city by increasing the quality
of green space, increasing outdoor and environmental education programs, sustaining the
natural environment and providing opportunities for outdoor nature based recreation. In
combination these things will lead to active lifestyles, vibrant places and a vital
environment within the city of North St. Paul.
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