St. Cloud to Open Third Community Outpost in 1010 Park, Promise Neighborhood

(KNSI) – St. Cloud will soon have a community outpost in all three counties within its borders.

The city is moving forward with a location in 1010 Park’s Promise Neighborhood in Sherburne County. Mayor Dave Kleis explained to KNSI News that the southeast side outpost will differ from the other two. “Each one is tailored for the neighborhood that they’re in. So, they’re not just a cookie cutter approach [where] each one is exactly the same. They’re all different. They’re all focused on the neighborhood needs, especially the area with the Promise Neighborhood. They’re especially dealing with a lot of education for kids and families.”

Kleis tells KNSI that a $475,000 federal grant received in March 2022 will be used to renovate space at the park to house the program. “It’s an old building. It used to be the Headstart building, and the Promise Neighborhood has been in there now for a number of years. But it has some ADA challenges. It has some structural challenges. And that’s what the federal grant is for, to fix those things up.”

St. Cloud owns the building. Kleis hopes the facility will be operating by the end of the year. Bids for the renovation will be in front of the city council shortly. The city is expanding a program started in 2018 to turn around the neighborhoods that have had some challenges and focus on making them welcoming, safe, and healthy places to live and raise a family.

The first community outpost opened in the Southside neighborhood in Stearns County in March 2018. It acts as a base for community outreach with kids and other programs. In May, plans were announced to place an outpost at Salem Luthern Church in Benton County focusing on mental and physical health. That facility hopes to open in early 2025.

___