Mature trees frame the fairways along St. Paul’s Highland Nine golf course, creating an attractive backdrop for soccer. Or maybe baseball. Why not volleyball, or maybe just picnics in the park?

Whatever happens to the regulation nine-hole golf course on Edgcumbe Road, there’s growing sentiment that it probably won’t remain reserved for just golf.

On Monday, St. Paul Parks and Recreation will host a public meeting at the Highland Park Community Center to discuss an ongoing “visioning study” of how the park could be reused, given growing neighborhood demand for green space.

New residences in Highland Village and the future redevelopment of the former Twin Cities Ford auto plant are likely to introduce thousands of new households to the neighborhood, and competition for youth athletic fields is already high.

St. Paul maintains a “no net loss” rule that requires the city to maintain at least its present level of park space when it sells or leases properties. But there’s no rule that says Highland — which is also home to the neighboring 18-hole Highland National Golf Course — needs a total of 27 holes.

The discussion — the first significant public meeting on the topic — will run from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and is expected to draw a solid turnout.

“I requested this study to provide the community with well-researched and accurate information on the potential of the Highland 9 golf course for recreational and park purposes,” said St. Paul City Council Member Chris Tolbert in a written statement, “and as an opportunity for continued evaluation of how to best utilize our limited park space for modern needs within the 27 holes of golf available in our neighborhood park.”

Tolbert added, “The study is looking only at park purposes.”

DECLINING SPORT

Nationally, golf is seen as a declining sport, with fewer players taking to the tees each year and water scarcity in western states impacting links. That’s left public and private courses alike struggling for survival. Many have been sold off for private real estate development.

Eager to stop a downhill slide that had cost the city millions of dollars, a divided St. Paul City Council voted in January 2014 to privatize management of the Como and Phalen golf courses.

Highland 9 isn’t in quite such bad shape financially, but it’s not exactly a moneymaker for the city, either. Related Articles St. Paul City Council approves $600,000 charge for downtown improvement district

Frogtown Community Center unveils new artificial turf field, playground and outdoor fun

West Side pedestrian bridge mural debuts 6 p.m. Monday

St. Paul City Council debates halting charter school bond requests for six months

St. Paul City Council relaxes housing density restrictions near transit corridors

“Highland 9 largely hovers around breaking even each year,” said Brad Meyer, a spokesman for St. Paul Parks and Recreation. “Makes a little money some years, loses a little money in others.”

Meyer noted that the visioning study will likely result in concept plans but little more than that in the immediate future.

“Parks and Recreation staff will analyze the site, review the citywide park system needs for athletic and recreation facilities, and develop a preliminary cost estimate for discussion,” he said. “There is currently no additional funding for design or construction.”

Financial consultant Peter Butler has created the Facebook page “Playing Fields for Highland Park” to draw attention to the city’s efforts and highlight the need for more youth athletic space. Butler had once proposed collecting signatures toward a ballot question about repurposing Highland 9 but has since backed off in light of the study.

The city posts information about the visioning study at stpaul.gov/highland9.