New interpretive signs share facts, stories of Como Lake

Salma Monani

The trees aren’t the only inviting burst of color around the shores of Como Lake this fall. Visitors to this iconic city lake are also now welcomed by colorful interpretive signs in 13 different locations along the lake’s walking path. Installed by Capital Region Watershed District (CRWD) in early fall, the signs offer insight into the natural and cultural history and present of Como Lake.

Regulars to Como Lake might remember the old, weathered and often unreadable interpretive signs that used to be along the path. Installed in 2001, the content of many of those signs was outdated, and being unreadable, some were well past their expiration date.

The new signs offer an updated and comprehensive overview of Como Lake with an informative understanding of the various initiatives that CRWD in partnership with a host of other organizations is taking to help improve the water quality and ecosystem health of the lake, and relatedly the Mississippi River, into which most of our urban watershed drains.

Take for example the sign posted on the south side of the lake by the fishing pier. It includes beautiful illustrations of various fish that populate the lake. Bluegill sunray, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch, largemouth bass, and black crappie are six common species that are stocked annually in the lake. The sign also includes a scale along the bottom that local fisher folk can use to measure their catch and directs a reader to the Minnesota Department of Health to learn more about which fish are safe to eat.

Ten different topics are represented on the 13 signs, with two duplicates. Along with learning about which fish call Como Lake home, visitors to the lake can learn about different elements of its natural history such as glacial formation, the food web it supports, and how it serves as a wildlife oasis in our urban landscape.

Current initiatives to monitor and manage water quality and ecosystem health are captured by signs that describe the benefits of the restored native plantings along shorelines, rain gardens (the three rain gardens all host the same signage), and the big kiosk by the pavilion that describes watershed impacts around and in the lake.
These signs were developed in partnership with the City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation and designer Background Stories, and funded with the help of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Two signs located on the north side of the park by the pavilion’s parking lot were additionally designed with the help of Indigenous partners, writer Tara Perron and illustrator Thomasina TopBear. They highlight Dakota relations with the land, which recognize this lake as Omníciye Makhóche, the Land Where We Gather.

Equally important, all the signs include a QR code that takes one to the CRWD website where translations are accessible in five additional languages – Dakota, Somali, Hmong, Spanish and Karen.

In all, the signs weave a colorful tapestry of facts and stories that capture how the lake’s historical significance continues into the present and can inform the future through our collective part in restoration efforts.

This continuity was amply clear in CWRD’s Signs and Stories Celebration Event hosted on Sept. 7 at the Como Lake Pavilion. Featuring Indigenous speakers, drummers, singers and dancers, as well as a statement of support from Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, the event was well attended.

It included guided walking tours to the signs led by CRWD staff and collaborators with further information on community-focused efforts to ensure that Como Lake thrives as an urban resource for human and nonhuman residents and visitors alike.

Additionally, CRWD’s website shares all the content of the signs and a map that can be used for self-guided tours of the signs. It’s newsletter and upcoming events invite community to learn about and participate in helping keep our local lake beautiful and healthy.

Como resident Salma Monani is Emerita Professor of Environmental Studies at Gettysburg College, Penn.