Pig’s Eye Regional Park
About the Park
The 1,200-acre public park land in St. Paul known as Pig’s Eye Regional Park is the greenspace that too few people know about but whose story is much the same as Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary/Wakáŋ Tipi. The park is surrounded by private industry on all sides; to the west a wood chipper and soil dump, to the north and east the railroads, and to the south a scrap metal processing facility and asphalt plant, all of which present both a physical and psychological barrier to access the space. Historically, the site also earned the title of the state's largest unpermitted dump, accepting trash from nearby private businesses, industry, and the public for over a decade starting in 1956. To make matters worse, this dump site was put on a crucial floodplain area where waters travel to reach the Mississippi. Although it earned a Superfund site designation in the 90s with cleanup efforts starting in 1999, for over a decade the site has been all but forgotten and threats of ongoing pollution remain.
Even amidst these heavy industries and legacy pollution, mother nature has staked her claim in the park. Clean soil and new trees planted in the area as part of the initial remediation have allowed winged and four legged relatives like the Great Blue Heron, the red fox, and eagles to return to the area originally known as C̣hokáŋ Taŋka (the “big middle”) by the Dakota. Less than a mile from Wakáŋ Tipi Cave, the village of Kapoṡia used this land to hunt, fish, and gather in times past as Pig’s Eye Regional Park was once an area of great beauty.
Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi wants to see this burgeoning green space protected and cared for in the coming years. As part of our environmental justice work, we are continually looking to expand our partnerships and host events at Pig’s Eye in order to build community connections to this land, advocate for its protection, and care for the ecosystem.
Directions to Visit
There are two ways to enter Pig’s Eye Regional Park; a north entrance off of Fish Hatchery Road and a west entry point off of Pig’s Eye Lake Road. Specific directions to both locations are listed below.
North Entrance: Pig’s Eye Regional Park Archery Range - This point of entry is easily accessibly by bike or by car and features an official parking lot and extensive walking and biking trails. Follow Warner Road to Fish Hatchery Road before taking the first left into the public parking lot. This entrance and section of the park is disconnected from the southerly half of the park due to BNSF Railway which divides it.
West Entrance: Pig’s Eye Lake Road - This entrance is less easily accessible, but connects to the southern half of the park, Battle Creek and Pig’s Eye Lake. Take Warner Road to Child’s Road before crossing the train tracks to Pig’s Eye Lake Road. Then, follow Pig’s Eye Lake Road south before turning into Pig’s Eye Wood Recycling (2165 Pig’s Eye Lake Road), following the gravel road south along the perimeter of the chip yard and parking at the back.
Pig’s Eye in the News
Senate DFL 3/16/22 “Key Environmental Committee Advances Sen. Foung Hawj’s Bill to Cleanup Pig’s Eye”
Kare11 1/19/22 “Lawmakers asked to help with Pig’s Eye Cleanup”
StarTribune 1/18/22 “MPCA says several contaminants in Pig’s Eye dump, city asks for cleanup funds”
Mn Artists 9/24/21 “What Can’t Be Buried: Unearthing Revival Field”
Pioneer Press 6/29/21 “U.S. Army Corps to create six new islands in St. Paul’s Pig’s Eye Lake out of river dredge soil”
Pioneer Press 10/24/17 “It’s the biggest park in St. Paul. And nobody knows about it.”
