![DNR Awards Grant to St. Joseph for New Park Project](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2022/08/attachment-East-Park.jpg?w=980&q=75)
DNR Awards Grant to St. Joseph for New Park Project
ST. JOSEPH -- A planned new park in St. Joseph has just been awarded some grant money from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Community Development Director Nate Keller says the city is getting a $250,000 matching grant for East Park. The city will also have to kick in $250,000.
He says this is the first grant they've gotten for the project which means they can now move forward with phase 1 improvements which include installing hard surface trails and natural mowed grass trails.
We'll also have a canoe and kayak access. One canoe/kayak access will be completely ADA accessible. So, if folks are in a wheelchair, they can go right down to the dock area and load from their wheelchair right into their canoe or kayak.
The Phase 1 improvements for East Park are expected to begin in the fall of 2023.
Keller says he's applying for more grant money for future phases so they can add more trails to the park.
We would like to add more trails including potentially a boardwalk area, some areas where folks can engage with the water.
East Park is 98 acres of land just south of the Kennedy Community School along the Sauk River. The city has owned the property since the mid-2000s.
![AM 1240 WJON logo](https://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2021/11/attachment-wjonam-alexacard-big.jpg?w=100)
Once it's open to the public, it will be the largest park in the city of St. Joseph.
Keller says East Park is just a working title right now and it's likely that it will eventually be renamed.
Sauk Centre Has the Coolest Benches You Will Ever Sit On
More From AM 1240 WJON
![St. Joe Mayor Addresses Downtown Parking Concerns](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/03/attachment-La-Playette.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Be Aware of Speed Enforcement on St. Joe Detour](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/03/attachment-Sign.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![St. Joe Expected to Expand Event Offerings With New Hire](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/03/attachment-La-Playette.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Why St. Joseph and Clearwater Don’t Have Their Own High Schools](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/03/attachment-Kennedy-School.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Men From St. Cloud and Waite Park Hurt in Crash Near St. Joseph](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2019/09/Emergency1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Community Challenge Fundraiser Set to Break Records in 2023](http://townsquare.media/site/241/files/2020/09/RS9908_122486570-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Stearns Electric Awards Over $74,000 to 62 Local Organizations](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/11/attachment-Stearns-Electric.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![St. John’s Prep Students Help Provide Thanksgiving Meals](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/11/attachment-Thanksgiving-Food-Drive.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Support Local On Shop Small Saturday! Head to St. Joseph](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2023/11/attachment-Truck-Shop-Small-Photo-by-Ryan-Wallace-on-Unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)