Saint Paul Public Library (SPPL) and Saint Paul Parks and Recreation have launched the Rondo-Frogtown Loop (The Loop), a new initiative that provides youth ages 10-18 free after-school transportation to four recreation centers, Rondo Community Library, and the Black Youth Healing Arts Center to attend free educational, recreational, and culturally responsive programming in the Rondo and Frogtown neighborhoods.
"The Loop is about more than transportation – it offers a network of opportunities for youth to connect with enriching activities, mentors, and resources that reflect their identities, cultures, and experiences," said Mayor Melvin Carter. "When young people participate in activities they resonate with, they strengthen their sense of belonging and truly see their place within our community.”
Made possible by a $1.5 million After-School Community Learning Grant from the Minnesota Department of Education, The Loop operates with the help of a 15-passenger van that runs between 3-8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays across Frogtown Community Center, Oxford Community Center/Jimmy Lee Recreation Center, Martin Luther King Recreation Center, Rondo Community Library, and West Minnehaha Recreation Center, as well as Black Youth Healing Arts Center. Pick up and drop-off at select housing sites in the Rondo and Frogtown neighborhoods is also available.
“The Loop is a game-changer for youth in our city,” said Andy Rodriguez, Director of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation. “Through conversations with families, we’ve heard again and again that transportation is a major hurdle, and it’s limiting young people to just one program site instead of exploring all the amazing opportunities available at libraries and recreation centers. This partnership grew out of those discussions and helps youth connect with programs that match their passions and interests.”
In addition to supporting the broad range of programs and activities SPPL and Parks and Rec already offer youth—such as after-school sports, homework help, and teen-led maker spaces—this grant funding expands access to culturally-affirming programming for Rondo and Frogtown youth through supporting contracts with trusted community partners like the Network for the Development of Children of African Descent’s Sankofa program and Irreducible Grace Foundation’s Black Youth Healing Arts Center.
“With this investment, we are meeting Saint Paul families and youth where they are with what they need to connect and thrive, and we’re investing in Saint Paul organizations and leaders of color who are doing incredible work with our young people,” said Maureen Hartman, SPPL director.
Operating with a hop-on, hop-off model, The Loop gives young people the flexibility to explore different activities that support youth development throughout the week.
“One day an individual might choose to play basketball at Jimmy Lee Recreation Center and the next day they will hop on The Loop van to attend a poetry lab at Black Youth Healing Arts Center before heading to Createch at Rondo Community Library,” explained Kali Freeman, Community Services Manager for The Loop. “It is meant to provide flexibility and empowerment for young people within a structured and safe program model.”
Get Started Today
The Loop is already up and running. Permission slips to ride the Rondo-Frogtown Loop are required. Any young person ages 10-18 can get started today by visiting stpaul.gov/the-loop to explore activities, find the van schedule, and download the permission slip.
The Loop is funded with a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education using state funding, After-School Community Learning Programs. The contents of this program do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education or the Minnesota Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal or state government.