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Community Center & Library

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Map of St. Peter

Map of St. Peter

The St. Peter Community Center is a gathering place for all ages, located in the heart of town. The 90,000-square-foot facility, at 600 S. Fifth St., is operated by the city of St. Peter.

On the facility’s northwest edge is the St. Peter Public Library. The library has programs year-round for readers of all ages and houses over 18,000 items. The library’s St. Peter Reads program has become a popular community mainstay.

The Community Center’s 12,000-square-foot gymnasium, which can be split into two courts, is used for a variety of sports and events – including open basketball and adult volleyball leagues -- as is the walking track above. Open gym is available from October to April.

The gym also serves as a regular polling place for the city and also hosts several community-wide ceremonies, including veterans programs. The Recreation & Leisure Services department, which has offices in the center, handles requests for gym use and can be reached at 507-934-0667.

The center also currently houses the Senior Center, offices for St. Peter Public Schools Community & Family Education, Good Samaritan Home Care, Minnesota Valley Action Council’s county office, Head Start and two daycare centers, as well as several more public and private rooms.

Public meetings are also held in the Governors’ Room where they can be televised through the local cable access channel. The City Council and other city committees and the St. Peter School Board hold meetings here. The council also holds monthly workshop sessions in the meeting room adjacent to the library.

Adjacent to the center is Gorman Park, home to a community-built TREE-mendous Playground. Find the Community Center online at saintpetermn.gov/community-center.

St. Peter Community & Family Education

Operated by the St. Peter Public School District, the department offers lifelong learning opportunities for all ages. Find more at stpeter. registryinsight.com or by calling 507-934-3048.

Senior Center

Open weekdays, the center hosts events and programs for those 55 and older — everything from monthly dances to exercise classes and organized card games. Nutrition and transportation programs are also among its offerings. More at saintpetermn.gov/seniorcenter or 507-934-7434.

Parks, Trails & Outdoor Recreation

St. Peter has over 20 parks and nature areas that offer a variety of amenities.

The crown jewel, the 11-acre Minnesota Square Park on Hwy. 169, now features a brand new pavilion, opened in 2019. At $1.6 million, the multi-purpose facility is larger and higher quality than the previous one. Minnesota Square Park is also the center point of the city’s most beloved and biggest annual celebrations -- the Old Fashioned Fourth of July and the popular Rock Bend Folk Festival.

Also new, the St. Peter Veterans Memorial was dedicated July 1, 2018 and is located at the northeast corner of Minnesota Square Park.

A new happening among St. Peter parks is the joint project adjacent to the new St. Peter High School, Community Spirit Park. The school district and city joined forces to develop the 62-acre park, with 13 multi-purpose fields for soccer and other activities, as well as two baseball fields, two softball fields, and plenty of green space just north of the school building.

There are also plans afoot for a possible sculpture park at Levee Park, at 101 S. Front St., adjacent to the St. Peter Chamber of Commerce building. The redevelopment of the small, 1.3-acre park along the Minnesota River is expected to include a riverwalk and an art garden with statues and sculptures. The Arts Center of Saint Peter is spearheading the project.

Another new project, started by residents in summer 2019, was to build a new dog park in town. The River Valley Dog Park Associa-

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tion raised over $30,000 in funds, and the city contributed the rest to get phase one done in 2020. The new park is located on land at the intersection of North Swift Street and St. Julien Street.

Nicollet County operates the 628-acre Seven-Mile Creek County Park, just south of the city off U.S. Hwy. 169. It offers 8 miles of trails, as well as trout stream fishing, playgrounds, two volleyball courts, a ball diamond, picnic shelters, picnic tables, grills, restrooms and a boat landing to the Minnesota River.

For more information on St. Peter’s parks, shelter rental and alcohol permits, visit saintpetermn.gov/parks.

St. Peter area parks include:

• Community Spirit Park – The newest joint city-school park covers 62 acres on the north side of the new St. Peter High School on the city’s west side. It includes a sports field complex under a share use agreement. • Gault Park -- 20 acres, three soccer fields, a softball field, picnic shelter and tables, playground, restrooms and concession stand • Gorman Park – A 4.8-acre neighborhood park with historic theme, large wooden community built play structure, gazebo, picnic tables, grills, softball field and restrooms. It’s just north of the St. Peter Community Center & Library. • Hallett’s Pond Nature Area -- 19 acres. Though not a city park, the area offers fishing and is located behind Shopko Hometown. Parking off North Third Street. A fishing pier is being planned, along with an upgraded trail. • Jefferson Park -- 13 acres, featuring four softball diamonds (two lighted), batting cage, concession, drinking fountains, picnic shelter, playground and restrooms • Jefferson Park West – 9.3 acres, located west of Jefferson Park, established for a walking or running trail • Johnson Park – 0.1 acres, located at 601 West Broadway Avenue, with picnic tables and rest area • Levee Park -- 1.3 acres,Tourist Information Center, historic and newly painted camelback bridge across Minnesota River, picnic tables, grills, drinking fountains, horseshoe courts and playground. Home of the Chamber of Commerce and “The Pearly Gates.” A sculpture and art garden plan is expected to begin to take shape in 2019. • McGill Park and Nature Area -- 9 acres, native woods, playground and walking trails

Just Keeping It Green

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• Mill Pond/Riverside Park -- 12 acres, on the bank of the Minnesota River, featuring a popular fishing pond-artesian well, riverside fishing, boat launch, camping, picnic shelter and tables, playground, grills, basketball and volleyball courts, restrooms and showers •Prairie Ridge Park – 5 acres, 2023 Essler Drive • Ramsey Park – 3.1 acres, N. Washington Ave., with softball field, dugouts, drinking fountains • Riverside Nature Area -- 215 acres, floodplain forest theme, 15 primitive camp sites, cross country ski trails - 1.2 miles, riverside fishing, canoe launch • Riverside Park Extension -- 80 acres, 1.5 miles of trails, river fishing, disc golf course on Hwy 22 in Riverside Park Nature Area • St. Peter Dog Park (old one) – Hwy. 99 and Rabbit Road, separate fenced areas are available for large dogs and small dogs to run off leash, benches • Stones Park -- 2.3 acres, located along South Washington Avenue, with softball field, playground, walking trails and benches • Traverse Des Sioux Park -- 380 acres, 7 miles of snowmobile trails and 5 miles of trail for mountain biking, snowshoeing, running and hiking, canoe launch and river access • Veterans Memorial Park – 14 acres, includes the city’s premier baseball field and complex, as well as restrooms, picnic shelter, 2 playgrounds, 4 tennis courts, 2 hockey rinks, 4 half-court basketball courts, a multi-use/soccer area; it includes the city’s outdoor swimming pool on the park’s eastern edge, • Warren Park – 2.9 acres, 1500 Lloyd Lane, a neighborhood park, with playground equipment and picnic tables.

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