The Story of Swede Hollow Park

The story of Swede Hollow Park is the story of St. Paul itself. It is a critical natural habitat for endangered species like the native Rusty Patched Bumble Bee and an important migratory flyway. Archeological items have been found in the park indicating that the site had served as a village site for Dakota people. In the 1860s the area became an immigrant enclave for Swedes, Irish, Poles, Italians and Mexicans until the City forced out its residents and burned down the housing stock in 1956.

Every day you can meet Twin Cities residents from all walks of life who grew up in the Hollow. Their stories are captivating. The powerful historic fiction book Swede Hollow by Ola Larsmo (2016) took Europe by storm, translated into multiple languages and turned a stage play in both Swedish and English.

In 2019 the Swede Hollow Master Plan was completed and work is ready to begin. The plan’s focus includes improving park access, increasing visibility and sense of security, natural resource management, options to restore stream flow to Phalen Creek, and historical and cultural interpretation. Planning was funded by major grants from the McNeely and Bush Foundations with major support from Lower Phalen Creek Project.

To date these projects in the long-range park plan have been completed: Creek flow water study. major removal of invasive woody species, cultural/historic interpretive signs, woodland garden redesign and expansion, opening up the viewing viewing opportunity on the bluff. A circulation pattern for the upper park includes a new gathering space and nature-based outdoor classroom. Design studies are underway for the reconstruction of the staircase from the upper park to the valley.