ST. PAUL, Minn. — a state of emergency is in effect for a portion of St. Paul, where the Mississippi River could rise another foot before cresting Saturday.
A number of trails and parks had to be closed. rapidly rising and fast flowing Mississippi River has taken over the area around Harriet Island, where nearly a dozen summer events have been canceled.
“It’s just incredible to see how much of an impact water has on people, on people and on things,” said Autumn Parent.
The floodwaters drew spectators from across the Twin Cities.
“It’s just mind-boggling to see the water rise so high and how it’s flooding different areas of the park,” said Rachel Valenziano.
Valenziano and Erica Christenson, landscape architects working on a project across the street from Harriet Island, say a berm will likely keep their worksite safe, but they know the flooding is far from over.
“It’s a little exciting, a little sad. It feels like they planned this park well. That’s how they designed it, but it’s still something to see. You don’t expect to see this,” Christenson said.
The playground on Harriet Island is under water and the pavilion is also full of water, forcing organizers to postpone 11 events at the shelter through July 7.
The National Weather Service predicts the river will rise nearly 21 feet before the water level drops. But that has led some visitors to Harriet Island to praise the city for turning the area around the pavilion into green space.
“By building things like the wall here and the dike behind it that are, as it were, built into the landscape, you show what a city can do to prevent or plan for flooding,” says Paula Swingley.
It also gives people a chance to see how powerful a flood can be.
“Every now and then you see things floating in there,” Lucas Swingley said. “It’s really cool to see how fast the water moves.”
Johannes Lauritsen
