Union Park / Lexington-Hamline

St. Paul MN

Developed in the late-1800s as a commuter suburb between the urban cores of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Union Park is located on the west-central side of St. Paul. Union Park is comprised of several small neighborhoods: Desnoyer Park, Merriam Park, Lexington-Hamline and Snelling-Hamline. To the north lie I-94 and University Avenue, home of the new light-rail Green Line; to the south is historic Summit Avenue. Lexington Parkway is Union Park’s eastern boundary and the Mississippi River (with its abundant walking and bicycling trails) is to the west. Single-family homes on tree-lined streets are predominant here, and range from one- and two-level post-war saltboxes to bungalows and grander residences in revival styles. The bustling business district at Snelling and Selby avenues includes workout studios, thrift stories and unique retail: a tucked-away shopping allée holds its own Bastille Day fest. At Marshall and Cleveland avenues is Kopplin’s artisan coffee shop, Izzy’s original ice cream emporium, a martial-arts studio, train store and cupcake shop.