Otis Johnson, 3, of St. Paul took a cue from "Peanuts" character Marcie and read his book Saturday, May 25, 2019 in the newly refurbished Rice Park in downtown St. Paul. (Deanna Weniger / Pioneer Press)

No playground in the newly refurbished Rice Park in downtown St. Paul? No problem. Leo Johnson, 6, of St. Paul climbed on the Peanut's character Peppermint Patty statue instead on Saturday, May 25, 2019. These statues honor the St. Paul native and comic strip illustrator Charles Schulz. (Deanna Weniger / Pioneer Press)

Dhanya and her brother Yuvraj, 4, laugh at the antics of Yorkshire Terrier Eva Gould owned by Michael Gould of Minneapolis. The two came to Rice Park in downtown St. Paul with their grandmother Saturday, May 25, 2019. The family was attending a wedding and the grandma, who asked not to be named, brought the youngsters out to burn off some energy. Folks enjoyed the refurbished park that opened Friday to the public after being closed since last May for renovations. (Deanna Weniger / Pioneer Press)

Rice Park in downtown St. Paul is now open to the public after being fenced off since last May for renovation. The 1.6-acre park bordered by the Ordway Performing Arts Center, the Landmark Center and the George Latimer Central Library was funded with $1 million from the city and $1.2 million raised through St. Paul Garden Club, the Parks Conservancy and the Rice Park Association. (Deanna Weniger / Pioneer Press)

Michael Gould of Minneapolis walked with his dog Eva Gould around the fountain at Rice Park Saturday, May 25, 2019. He said he was campaigning to be the president of the United States. His platform? Equality and environment. "Who can be against those things?" he said. Rice Park recently opened after a year of construction on the $2.2 million makeover. (Deanna Weniger / Pioneer Press)



A man enjoys the first sunny day in St. Paul Saturday, May 25, 2019 after a week of rainy weather. Rice Park is finally open to the public after months of construction due to the $2.2 million renovation project. The park features a wide open layout, new benches, fresh landscaping and a spruced up fountain statue.(Deanna Weniger / Pioneer Press)

Otis Johnson, 3, of St. Paul took a cue from “Peanuts” character Marcie and read his book Saturday, May 25, 2019, in the newly refurbished Rice Park in downtown St. Paul.

The park opened Friday after being fenced off since last May for renovation. The 1.6-acre park bordered by the Ordway Performing Arts Center, the Landmark Center and the George Latimer Central Library was funded with $1 million from the city and $1.35 million raised through St. Paul Garden Club, the Parks Conservancy and the Rice Park Association.

The park was given to the city in 1849 and is considered St. Paul’s first public space. It is well-used by residents and was in need of a face lift.

The park looks much as it did before the renovations with many of the changes being functional. Several trees were removed to open up the space and make it safer, giving it a better line of site for police officers to watch for trouble during crowded events.

New landscaping was installed as well as new sidewalks and curbing.

Anne Gardner, the project manager for the renovations, brought her family to the park Saturday to enjoy the finished product. She said the open design with sidewalks leading to the surrounding buildings was done to intentionally highlight those buildings.