St. Paul residents, take note: The Parks and Recreation Department will open its annual picnic shelter lottery at 6:30 a.m. Jan. 2.

The lottery gives St. Paul residents and businesses first shot at reserving popular park shelters and pavilions.

Lottery numbers will be issued from 6:30 to 7 a.m. Jan. 2 at the Parks and Recreation Como maintenance office, 1100 N. Hamline Ave.

Park permits will be issued beginning at 7:01 a.m. based on the random lottery system. Customers arriving after 7 a.m. will be issued permits on a first-come, first-served basis after all lottery customers have been served.

Proof of a St. Paul address will be required to obtain a lottery number and make a reservation. Lottery numbers may not be transferred to other customers.

There will be no phone reservations accepted until Jan. 3, when St. Paul residents and businesses can apply for permit by phone at 651-266-6400 or in person at 25 W. Fourth St., Suite 400. Regular permit reservation hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Beginning Feb. 1, online shelter permits will be available and nonresidents may apply for permits. For additional information, visit stpaul.gov/parkpermits.