Discover West St. Paul, MN: A Friendly First-Ring Suburb With Everything Close By

West St. Paul, Minnesota lives up to its city motto, "We're Close To It All," with lakeside trails, neighborhood parks, a bustling Robert Street shopping corridor and a location just south of St. Paul.

Where it is

West St. Paul, often called W.S.P., sits in Dakota County on the west bank of the Mississippi River, immediately south of St. Paul and west of South St. Paul. The city was incorporated in 1889 and had 20,615 residents at the 2020 census. Getting around is easy: U.S. Highway 52, Robert Street and Highway 62 run through or alongside the city, and Interstate 494 is just to the south.

Parks and outdoor fun

West St. Paul's website lists 19 parks and facilities, including city parks such as Albert, Harmon, Marthaler and Emerson, plus the city pool, an ice arena and the Dome regional athletics center. Winter brings outdoor skating rinks and warming houses. Albert Park has been a city park since 1931, and Harmon Park recently marked its 100th anniversary.

The standout is Thompson County Park, a 57-acre Dakota County park at 360 Butler Ave. E. It's free to enter, with a picnic area overlooking Thompson Lake, a fishing pier, wooded trails and a reservable picnic shelter. Trails connect to the River to River Greenway, and the Dakota Lodge is a four-season venue for weddings, reunions and meetings.

Shopping, dining and nature

Robert Street is a roughly 2.5-mile retail strip running through the city, so everyday errands and a night out are close to home. For a change of pace, the West St. Paul location of Dodge Nature Center offers nature preserves and a nature-based preschool.

Schools

Public schools in West St. Paul are part of Independent School District 197. They include Moreland Arts and Sciences Magnet School (K-4), Garlough Environmental Magnet School (K-4), Heritage E-STEM Magnet School (grades 5-8) and Two Rivers High School (grades 9-12). Families also have private options, including Crown of Life Lutheran (K-8), St. Joseph's Catholic School (K-8) and St. Croix Lutheran Academy High School (grades 6-12).

A little history

The community dates to 1858, and today's city took shape in 1889 as the third version of West St. Paul. Local landmarks include the West St. Paul Armory, Signal Hills Shopping Center, Dodge Nature Center and Harmon Park. The city pool opened in 1956, and the Marthaler Park ski hill followed in 1971.

Thinking about West St. Paul?

If you want parks, shopping and the metro close by, West St. Paul deserves a spot on your list. Come explore Thompson County Park, stroll the neighborhoods and see how it feels. E-mail me at Shannon@FreshStartRealtyMN.com.