Railroad Park
The City of Wyoming has proudly commenced construction of Railroad Park, a new and exciting addition to our community that will kick off the redevelopment of our downtown development plan. This vibrant community space is being developed in three phases as we work towards celebrating our City's rich heritage, honoring our veterans, and providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for residents and visitors alike. The first phase of Railroad Park, which construction began on in Fall of 2023, is the Veterans Memorial portion of the project. This solemn and respectful area honors the brave men and women linked to our community that served our country. The Veterans Memorial includes thoughtfully designed monuments and donation bricks which have been engraved with the names of loved ones from within the community. This is a great space for reflection and gratitude, while also serving as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by our veterans. This space is a place for ceremonies and commemorations, such as for this past Veteran's Day.
The second phase of the Railroad Park project, for which we are seeking funding, is the History Walk and Stage. The history walk will take visitors on a journey through the storied past of the City of Wyoming, founded in 1855. Informative displays will narrate the City's development, highlighting key figures and events that shaped our community. It will be both education and engaging, offering insights into the local heritage of our community. The history walk will be on level, solid ground with the informational plaques being placed at a height that is accessible to all. Additionally, we will be placing numerous benches along the short path. These benches will allow our most senior residents to take breaks, should they require any, during their time at the park. We want to ensure that all residents feel welcome and able to view this park. Furthermore, creating a natural resting place within the park will encourage those passing through to read about the history of Wyoming during their short breaks on the benches.
Adjacent to the History Walk, the stage will be a versatile venue for performances, community events, and various other gatherings. Designed with modern amenities and needs in mind, the stage will host musicians, speeches, dance teams, and more as it becomes a central hub of cultural activity in the park. The City of Wyoming hosts an annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in December of each year during the winter holidays. The local clogging group and all-ages dance teams always attend this event. In past years, the cloggers have had to bring their own lighting and stage to ensure the proper acoustics are present for highlighting their performance. The new stage will provide a permanent stage which can be utilized by these groups, and many others, to carry out such performances.
Railroad Park is planned to be more than just a park; it is envisioned as a dynamic focal point for the City of Wyoming. By blending historical education with recreational spaces and the honoring of our veterans, the park aims to foster a sense of community pride and togetherness. It is designed to attract residents and visitors, both young and old, while also providing a beautiful and meaningful environment for relaxation, learning, and celebration. As Railroad Park evolves, it promises to become a landmark destination, enriching the cultural and social fabric of our City.
$96,000 the first year is for a grant to the city of Wyoming to build the Veterans Memorial Plaza and related interpretive walk in Railroad Park.
One of the goals of this park is to reach an additional 4,000 people. - SUNRISE PRAIRIE TRAIL #s (Joe Tart) / Vet Dat Event #s
The Railroad Park history walk and stage will result in a new amenity within our City that promotes cultural education and community-togetherness. This section of the park will be dedicated to educating individuals on the history of our community (past), highlighting the current cultural heritage of those within the community (present), and preserving these stories in a physical location for years to come (future). The City of Wyoming has a population of roughly 8,300 people and is within Chisago , a that is home to 58,000 people. As a city that sits fairly close to the Chisago / Anoka border, we are also well aware that there are many residents within close proximity to our community that may have interest in a project such as this. We see all of these people as potential visitors of Railroad Park. Railroad Park is a completely new feature within our community and was constructed in a place where no park or public monument previously stood. The history walk will serve as the first proper display of our cultural heritage and community history within the City of Wyoming. We believe that any increase in the number of visitors would be a positive one.
A second goal of the history walk is to have visitors report feeling more informed on the local heritage of Wyoming and connected to the community as a whole.
The history walk and stage are integral to the goal of connecting residents with their history and getting individuals invested in the community. We believe that we can achieve this goal by having permanent monuments which chronicle the story of Wyoming in conjunction with the events that we plan to host annually. Furthermore, these two components work in conjunction with one another. Our local events are a large draw to members of the surrounding communities, as well as our own, and will do a great job of drawing individuals to Railroad Park where they will be exposed to the monuments which describe our history.