McMurray Fields

Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) and the City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation are working together on park and stormwater improvements at McMurray Fields in Como Regional Park. The stormwater improvements are supported by the Board of Water and Soil Resources’ Clean Water Fund and a Stormwater Resiliency Grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

The McMurray Fields are located at Lexington Parkway and Como Avenue within Como Regional Park. They feature athletic fields, green spaces, and a sledding hill. McMurray Fields are bordered by the Como Regional Park Pool and the Como Woodland Classroom. It is also the site of the long-standing annual Hmong International Freedom Festival, a popular two-day celebration and sports tournament.

CRWD, in partnership with the City of Saint Paul, has multiple existing stormwater treatment practices within the 450-acre Como Regional Park. These projects clean up the water that runs off the parkland and surrounding neighborhoods before it reaches Como Lake, which is a critical component of improving the lake’s water quality.

The biggest challenge facing Como Lake today is too much phosphorus, a pollutant carried directly to the lake through runoff in storm drains. Phosphorus comes from decaying organic matter like leaves, grass clippings, pet waste, and soil. Over time, high levels of phosphorus — three times higher than Minnesota standards — have led to algae blooms that choke the oxygen from the lake, leading to fish kills and strong odors mid-summer.

Como Lake is part of Como Regional Park and is surrounded by an urban landscape. Stormwater drains from roads, rooftops, parking lots, and sidewalks and flows into Como Lake, carrying pollutants like phosphorus. In this developed urban landscape, there are limited opportunities to capture and clean runoff before it reaches Como Lake.

CRWD and the City of Saint Paul assessed Como Regional Park to identify sites to strategically manage stormwater runoff. Sites were prioritized based on their ability to treat runoff before it reaches Como Lake and the availability of suitable land. Planning for this project began over ten years ago. McMurray Fields was identified as a site with space available for stormwater improvements. During a 2016 street reconstruction project, the city installed a stormwater diversion structure under Lexington Parkway for a future connection.

Now, CRWD and the City of Saint Paul are planning the construction of park and stormwater improvements to McMurray Fields. Polluted runoff from a 160-acre area that drains to Como Lake will be captured and cleaned in an underground storage system at Wynne Avenue and Lexington Parkway. A pump house will move water from the storage system to three surface infiltration areas and one underground infiltration area beneath a new artificial turf field and allow the water to be used for irrigation. Two of the infiltration areas are existing basins in wooded areas, and the third will be built near the parking lots and turf, and will resemble a rain garden.

Smart controllers will optimize the system for efficient use and climate resiliency. The smart system will monitor National Weather Service data. When a large amount of rain is approaching, the system will slowly release previously collected water from the storage system to the infiltration areas, creating space for more stormwater.

Park improvements include replacing three existing softback fields south of Wynne Avenue with a 5-acre multi-use artificial turf field.

The City of Saint Paul and CRWD completed final designs, and the project was open for bidding through June 24, 2026. Construction is anticipated to begin after Labor Day 2026 and will end in the summer of 2027. The estimated cost of stormwater improvements is approximately $5 to 6 million. The estimated project cost, including park improvements, is $8 to $9 million.

The stormwater improvements at McMurray Fields will help improve water quality in Como Lake by reducing the amount of stormwater flowing to the lake that carries pollutants like phosphorus. The anticipated annual pollution reductions are around 85 pounds of phosphorus, 11 tons of sediment, and an 85% reduction in stormwater flow. This project is also anticipated to reduce potable water demand for irrigation by 96%.

Practices like these stormwater improvements increase climate resiliency and reduce local flooding. Storing and reusing stormwater helps address climate trends in Minnesota, with wetter periods interspersed with extended drought.

Updates:

September 29, 2026:

Construction has begun at McMurray Fields! Work is currently focused on grading and excavating the area that will house the new fields and underground infiltration system.

Wynne Avenue and Beulah Lane will be closed to through traffic beginning October 5 through approximately November 20. Parking lots and local businesses will still be accessible but there will be no outlet to Lexington Parkway from Beulah Lane and Wynne Avenue. Traffic will be detoured via Jessamine Avenue.

Trails will also be closed intermittently when needed. Please follow all posted signage.

Additional updates will be provided as they become available.

September 18, 2026:

Construction is planned to begin the week of September 21, and is scheduled to continue through summer 2027.

Beginning in October, a portion of Wynne Avenue will be temporarily closed, and traffic will be detoured via Jessamine Ave. During the temporary closure, Jessamine Avenue West will remain open one-way, but there will be no outlet to Lexington Parkway via Beulah Lane. There will also be temporary trail closures. More detailed road and trail closure information will be provided when available.