Welcome to Union Park District Council!
District 13 - comprised of Merriam Park, Snelling Hamline and Lexington-Hamline neighborhoods, is one of 17 neighborhood districts in St. Paul. In 2007, the Merriam Park, Snelling Hamline, and Lexington-Hamline Community Councils merged into one organization to represent all residents of District 13, hence the new name, Union Park District Council (UPDC).
UPDC is your portal to city, county, and state officials. Our mission is to provide opportunities for you to participate in planning and decision-making that affects your neighborhood. We invite you to explore UPDC's website and learn more about us!(IT'S THE LAW IN MN!)
St. Paul Police are sending out a warning Monday to watch where you drive, as officers crack down on drivers who put pedestrians in danger. Police say it's a law too many drivers don't know about—pedestrians who step into a crosswalk always have the right of way. But on Snelling Avenue today, 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS found hundreds of drivers ignoring it. "I almost got run over and I had a uniform, a clip board and radio—it’s bad," said St. Paul Fire Chief Tom Butler. It’s these kinds of close calls that prompted police to begin a week-long crack down on drivers who don't obey the crosswalk laws.
In 2007 through 2008, there have been nearly 400 pedestrians and bicyclists struck by vehicles in St. Paul alone. Officials say many of those victims were hit in crosswalks by drivers who don't know the rules. Drivers and people who jaywalk, or who violate the state's crosswalk law, could face up to 90 days in jail and a $700 fine.
Check out KSTP TV online to see a video of neighbors concerned with pedestrain safety in action (0:42 and 1:09 feature cameos by some of our very own board members)!
Interested in getting a weekly electronic crime notification from UPDC? Sign-up by emailing info@unionparkdc.org with "subscribe to crime" in the subject line.