Published on: Tue, 12/18/2007 - 08:37
Marisa Helms writes about the recent buzz around the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary in this article from MinnPost:
St. Paul’s Vento Nature Sanctuary getting chance to shine
The Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary has recently been the focus of the Close to Nature art exhibit in Mayor Chris Coleman’s office and is competing for national publicity and a makeover through HGTV’s Change the World; Start at Home.
Historic Saint Paul’s Executive Director Carol Carey is quoted in the article:
It’s really an incredible, special site,” says Carol Carey, one of the sanctuary’s many citizen-stewards. “It sits along the Mississippi River. It’s like the ocean bottom that tells you where you are and where you came from. It’s got waves and waves of geological significance, not just of local history but national history.
On a recent stroll through the grassy sanctuary, Carey and Zoe, her (leashed) Lab/husky mix, show me around the place. Carey points out a series of caves once considered sacred space for Dakota people. There are remnants of the commercial and industrial age, too, including the foundation from underground brewery storage. And in the ground, here and there, remain old ties from J.J. Hill’s railroad line.
Despite the park’s remarkable resurgence from polluted railroad land, much work remains to complete the transformation. Click here to learn more about Change the World; Start at Home and to Vote for Saint Paul.
