Kasota Ponds Cleanup on April 11

Each spring, neighbors gather along Kasota Avenue with gloves on, trash bags in hand, and a shared purpose — caring for one of St. Anthony Park’s most important natural spaces.

The annual Kasota Ponds Cleanup returns on Saturday, April 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Volunteers will meet at NAPA Auto Parts, 2530 Kasota Ave., before heading into the wetland area to remove litter and debris. The event is open to all ages.

Kasota Ponds are three of only four water bodies in St. Anthony Park and provide habitat for turtles, migratory birds, fish, pollinators and other wildlife. Through the years, volunteers have removed more than 2,200 pounds of trash and recyclables, making a visible improvement in water quality and habitat health.

 “A few hours of shared effort goes a long way — not just for the ponds, but for the connections we build with each other,” said Reyd Jordan, Environment Committee co-chair.

This year’s event will also highlight new restoration work underway. District 12 recently received a buckthorn removal grant from the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization. Volunteers will have the opportunity to learn more about upcoming efforts to restore native vegetation throughout the greater Kasota Ponds area.

District 12 provides gloves, safety vests and trash bags for cleanup. Neighbors are encouraged to dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes.

For more information and volunteer sign-up details, go to http://sapcc.org/kasota-ponds.

Community concerns arise over housing stability

Earlier this winter, the District 12 Board unanimously approved a Letter of Community Concern and Request for Continued City Action.

The letter comes in response to community concerns about housing stability and the impacts of increased federal immigration enforcement activity.

As the city’s designated community engagement organization for St. Anthony Park, District 12 regularly gathers input from residents, workers and local organizations. In recent months, neighbors have shared concerns about how current conditions are affecting daily life, including fear, uncertainty and the risk of avoidable displacement.

District 12 shared its letter with St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her and St. Paul City Council members.

South St. Anthony Park Director Connor Zielinski, who helped lead the board discussion, emphasized the responsibility of the District Council during moments of community stress. “This was about communicating what we are hearing directly from neighbors and workers,” he said.

The full letter is available for review at http://sapcc.org/archives/.

District 12 approves Luther Seminary Lower Campus Task Force Report

After six months of meetings, review and public engagement, the SAPCC Board of Directors unanimously approved the Luther Seminary Lower Campus Task Force report earlier this year, marking an important milestone in a careful, community-centered process.

The Luther Campus Task Force was convened to gather neighbor feedback and facilitate dialogue around the proposed redevelopment of the Lower Campus by Lifestyle Communities and their development associates SW Group and Monarch.

Over the course of their work, Task Force members met regularly, reviewed evolving materials and helped shape questions and discussion ahead of SAPCC’s well-attended public forum held in November.

District 12 Executive Director Zev Radziwill reflected on the process, noting, “This was about creating space for neighbors with many different perspectives to come together, ask questions and share concerns in a way that was constructive.”

Following District 12’s unanimous vote, SAPCC formally submitted its task force report and letter of support to the city.

While this report adoption marks an important milestone, additional planning and public review remain ahead. The proposed redevelopment will continue through City of St. Paul planning processes and will also be reviewed by the City of Lauderdale, with future opportunities for neighbors to follow the project and share input as proposals move forward.

The full Luther Seminary Lower Campus Task Force report, along with the community forum video and presentation materials, is available at sapcc.org/forum25 for neighbors who wish to review the information in more detail.

While the Lower Campus phase has reached this milestone, the Luther Campus Task Force’s work is still ongoing. The group will next focus on future conversations related to the Upper Campus area.

Committee meeting dates

SAPCC encourages neighbors to attend committee meetings, which are held both in-person and online each month. Learn more about meetings and how to get involved at sapcc.org.

March 2026:

• Land Use Committee: 7 p.m. on Thursday, Mar. 5
• District 12 board: 7 p.m. on Thursday, Mar. 12
• Environment Committee: 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Mar. 25
• Equity Committee: 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Mar. 30
• Transportation Committee: 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Mar. 31

Submitted by Zev Radziwill, executive director of District 12 Community Council