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Overview:
At the turn of the last century, public health commissioner, Dr. Justus Ohage purchased, at his own financial risk, a 40-acre wooded sandbar in the Mississippi River. He transformed it into a beautiful park located within a few minutes’ walk from the heart of downtown Saint Paul. On May 26, 1900, he donated Harriet Island Park to the city of Saint Paul for the betterment of the community. Many park improvements were made possible by public donations – the most notable of which was the $700 raised through penny contributions from school children. The swimming beaches, day care facilities, bathhouses, playgrounds, a bandstand and a municipal zoo attracted a million visitors a year – becoming the community’s gathering place. Harriet Island epitomized Saint Paul’s optimism, vitality and relationship with the Mississippi River.

The city’s growth as a commercial center and navigational head of the Mississippi took its toll on the river and the park. Because of pollution, the bathhouses were closed in the 1920s and decades of neglect followed. Happily, times and perspectives have changed. At the dawn of this century, Harriet Island Park was reborn as a premier riverfront park, reflecting a new city with a new attitude toward its river and its people.

The $14.2 million renovation is complete and the new additions to the park have become significant landmarks. The Wigington Pavillion, renovated in 2000, accommodates many large gatherings each year. The Target Stage, designed by Michael Graves, has become the venue for various outdoor performances. The resodded Ohage Great Lawn, the Riverwalk, the Pedestrian Gateway and the Public Dock are alive with family picnics, fisherman, joggers, bikers and visitors.

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