City of Saint Paul Celebrates African Americans – Naming

The City of Saint Paul, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation, Saint Paul Public Works, and Saint Paul Public Schools are proud of their overall history and have celebrated that by naming some of their parks, facilities, schools, and honorary streets after individuals that have had a significant impact on Saint Paul history.

NAMES & LINKS

CITY PARKS AND FACILITIES

Roy Wilkins Park @ 900 N. Marion St.

https://naacp.org/find-resources/history-explained/civil-rights-leaders/roy-wilkins

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Wilkins

Roy Wilkins Auditorium @ 175 W. Kellogg Blvd.

https://www.rivercentre.org/roy-wilkins-auditorium

Carty Park @ 705 Iglehart Ave. / est. 1979

• Father Denzil A. Carty

https://www.mnopedia.org/person/carty-rev-den-zil-1904-1975

Jimmy Lee Recreation Center @ 270 N. Lexington Parkway

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denzil_Angus_Carty

Frank Boyd Park @ 335 Selby Ave. / May, 1976

https://www.mnopedia.org/person/boyd-frank-1881-1962

https://www.minnpost.com/mnopedia/2021/03/st-pauls-boyd-park-commemorates-a-black-labor-leader/

Hallie Q Brown Community Center @ 270 N. Kent St.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallie_Quinn_Brown

https://www.mnopedia.org/structure/hal-lie-q-brown-community-center

Martin Luther King Community (Recreation Center) @ 271 N. Mackubin St.

https://www.hallieqbrown.org/site/index.php/mlk-center-administration/

https://www.stpaul.gov/facilities/martin-lu-ther-king-recreation-center

Ernie “Duke” Green Tennis Courts @ 271 N. Mackubin St.

Jimmy Lee Recreation Center @ 270 N. Lexington Parkway

Stacy Robinson Football/Soccer Field @ 270 N. Lexington Parkway

https://www.minnpost.com/two-cities/2013/06/st-paul-renames-sports-fields-honor-late-nfl-star-sta-cy-robinson/

Toni Stone Baseball Field @ 1221 Marshall Ave.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toni_Stone

https://www.mnopedia.org/person/stone-marcenia-lyle-toni-1921-1996

Wigington Pavilion @ 75 Water St.

https://www.mnopedia.org/person/wigington-clarence-1883-1967

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_W._Wiging-ton

SCHOOL DISTRICT FACILITIES

James Griffin Stadium @ 274 N. Lexington Parkway

https://www.mnopedia.org/multimedia/st-paul-po-lice-deputy-james-s-griffin

https://rchs.com/publishing/catalog/ramsey-coun-ty-history-winter-2002-a-memoir-jimmy-griffin-st-pauls-first-black-deputy-police-chief-remembers-his-first-years-on-the-force/

Benjamin E. Mays IB World School @ 560 Rondo Ave.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Mays

https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/mays-benja-min-elijah

Gordon Parks High School @ 1212 Universtiy Ave.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Parks

https://www.minnpost.com/mnopedia/2020/08/pioneering-black-photographer-and-filmmaker-gor-don-parks-bought-his-first-camera-in-minneso-ta/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwxY-3BhAuE-iwAu7Y6s4XczZG3j981FqsTuuLFMXInTJL_CPO-tFK5dmH38Rqgk93YsOoCjRoC4bQQA-vD_BwE

Barack & Michelle Obama Elementary School @ 707 Holly Ave.

RENAMED STREETS

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd

(formerly Central Ave. in front of State Capitol – from University Ave. to Robert St.)

https://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/proclamations/?id=1055-606548

Rondo Avenue

•St. Paul has officially restored the original name of a 2-mile stretch of Concordia Avenue to “Rondo Avenue.” Much of the historic Rondo neighborhood, once the epi-center of the Twin Cities’ Black community, was systematically destroyed between 1956 and 1968 to make way for Interstate 94 (May 6, 2024)

(Concordia Avenue from Griggs Street to Mackubin Street and St Anthony Avenue from Western Avenue to Rice Street (May 6, 2024)

HONORARY AVENUES AND STREETS

Marvin Roger Anderson Avenue

Rondo Avenue, Lexington Pkwy @ Dale St.

https://mn.gov/law-library/about-us/marvinanderson.jsp

Rev. Dr. James W. Battle Avenue

Central Avenue W, between Dale Street and Western Avenue

https://saintpaulhistorical.com/items/show/232

Rev. Walter L. Battle Street

Marshall Ave. at Grotto St.

https://www.northcentral.edu/blog/walter-battles-un-expected-journey-to-north-central/

Rev. & Mrs. Steve Daniels Jr. Drive

Lawson Avenue between Kent Street and Mackubin Street

https://www.shilohmbc.net/

Mr. & Mrs. Tiger Jack Street

Dale Street at Central Avenue W

https://archive.mpr.org/stories/2001/04/04/st-paul-honor-tiger-jack

Katie Mc Watt Avenue

Dayton Avenue, between Victoria Street S and Lexington Pkwy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katie_McWatt

Rev. Dr. Earl F. Miller Drive

Burns Avenue, between White Bear Avenue and Upper Afton Road

https://pbcmn25.wixsite.com/pastorsretirement

Debbie Montgomery Avenue

Marshall Avenue, Lexington Pkwy to Dale St.

https://news.stthomas.edu/publication-article/st-pauls-finest/

Floyd G. Smaller Jr. Avenue

St. Anthony Avenue, between Victoria Street S and Western Avenue

https://www.startribune.com/floyd-smaller-st-paul-central-coach-grief-hall-of-fame/600167991

Dr. A. P. Williams Avenue

Selby Avenue at Oxford Street

https://riverofwatersoflife.com/history/