Vento Sanctuary acquires neighboring industrial facility
A nature sanctuary next to downtown St. Paul reclaimed from old railroad land may soon include an interpretive center.
Groups involved in creating the 27 acre Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary bought an abandoned building next to the site.
Neighborhood resident and Sanctuary organizer Carol Carey says one possible use for the abandoned industrial facility is an interpretive center.
Carey said in addition there is hope of finding a way to either tunnel under or bridge over railroad tracks separating the Sanctuary from the Mississippi river in order to connect two bike trails.
"Planning is underway right now for a connection between basically the sanctuary and the river which will also connect the Bruce Vento regional trail and the Sam Morgan Trail," Carey said.
The Sanctuary is named for the late St. Paul Congressman Bruce Vento.
The Trust For Public Land along with other groups including the city of St. Paul made the land deal possible.
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