The city of St. Paul is edged by 17 miles of the Mississippi River and 20 outdoor sites nestled along the famous flowage that, according to St. Paul resident Joan Mathison, are perfect spots to enjoy a picnic.

Mathison has partnered with Ecolab, St. Paul Farmers Market, Subtext Books, W.A. Frost & Co. and the St. Paul Saints to produce a map highlighting 20 picnic spots along and near the river gorge. The map is free with a purchase at Subtext Books, W.A. Frost & Co., the Saints ticket office or the Saint Paul Farmers Market. It is also free online at visitsaintpaul.com/riverpicnic.

And yes, they call it a “gorge,” which is technically correct, thanks to the limestone bluffs and all.

The idea stemmed from “forest bathing,” an ancient Japanese tradition in which people go into the forest, meditate and breathe deeply to improve their health, Mathison says, adding that a recent National Institute of Health research shows your immune system is stimulated by trees, and being in a natural setting lowers blood pressure and relieves stress.

“That’s why we have parks in cities,” says Mathison.

She hopes employees and residents of downtown St. Paul make use of the maps.

Mathison calls picnics a “memorable thing.” Not only because they evoke nostalgia, but also because “when we’re outdoors, all of our senses are alive, so the food even tastes better.”

There’s also history in the picnic sites.

Mathison explained that in February 1872, a pioneer landscape architect by the name of Horace Cleveland was invited to Minneapolis to speak to the Chamber of Commerce. He spoke of the pertinence of landscape architecture, emphasizing the need to leave room for open spaces in booming cities.

In the 1880s, St. Paul doubled in population and city fathers were concerned about maintaining appreciation for the beauty of the Mississippi, so they invited Cleveland back, Mathison says. He encouraged the city to buy up the land along the river gorge and keep it and its shores natural looking. “So because of him we have that to enjoy,” Mathison says.

Minneapolis and St. Paul are consistently named some of the best park systems in the country, says Mathison, and all 20 picnic sites are in parks — whether it’s a city, county or regional park or part of a national park. Related Articles With new shops and street improvements, Saturday’s ‘Rice and LarpenTOUR’ showcases three cities

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The area that the map homes in on — the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area — holds the title of America’s first urban national park, according to Mathison, who writes for MNopedia.org, the online encyclopedia of the Minnesota Historical Society.

Mathison leads walking tours along Kellogg Boulevard and through the St. Paul Cultural Garden at 10 a.m. Sundays, July through October. Reservations are required at adventureswithalocavore.com.