Water body: Como Lake
Area drainage: 160 acres
Estimated cost of stormwater improvements: $5 to $6 million
Estimated project cost with park improvements: $11 to $12 million
Anticipated Annual Results
Stormwater flow to Como Lake: 80% reduction
Phosphorus removed: 80 lbs.
Sediment removed: 10 tons
Potable water demand for irrigation: 83% reduction
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.
“Working with the City of Saint Paul, we’re making improvements that help keep polluted stormwater out of Como Lake while also enhancing the park for the community. By capturing, infiltrating, and reusing rainwater, this project will help keep the lake cleaner, reduce flooding, and prepare for more extreme weather. Alongside a new artificial turf field and other park upgrades, it shows how strong partnerships can create lasting benefits for people and the environment.” - Nate Zwonitzer, CRWD Planning, Projects, and Grants Division Manager
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 a 5-acre artificial turf field, along with new restrooms, outdoor seating, parking lot expansion, and lighting, which are dependent on funding.
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 $11 to $ 12 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 80 pounds of phosphorus, 10 tons of sediment, and an 80% reduction in stormwater flow. This project is also anticipated to reduce potable water demand for irrigation by 83%.
Climate-resilient practices like these stormwater improvements increase adaptability for warmer conditions and reduce local flooding. Storing and reusing stormwater helps address climate trends in Minnesota, with wetter periods interspersed with extended drought.
