Irrigate

Springboard for the Arts

Funding Received: 2011
St. Paul, MN
$750,000
Funding Period: 1 year and 5 months
https://www.facebook.com/SpringboardCreativeExchange
www.twitter.com/@springboardarts
www.instagram.com/springboardarts
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June 24, 2013

In the past month, Blue Ox Mini Golf has had a blast meeting with different local groups in the West 7th neighborhood of St. Paul. From an informal meeting with members of the Society for Industrial Archeology to presenting to the Brewery Task Force Committee, it has been truly enjoyable to make connections and learn more about the community we live in. Enthusiastic supporters of the project have contacted us to let us know they are interested in volunteering and helping in any way they can. Local businesses keep in close contact and continue to be supportive with resources and ideas. Our local St. Paul publications, Community Reporter and The Villager Newspaper, wrote some nice pieces on our development. In short, the community support and engagement is outstanding.

While start-ups can be messy, and Blue Ox Mini Golf is no exception, it's been a great learning experience as some things move faster than expected and others move slower than expected. Overall, we have been encouraged with our progress, and this was recently bolstered by the news that Blue Ox Mini Golf was recommended for St. Paul Neighborhood STAR financing (we love St. Paul!).

We drive by the Schmidt Brewery daily, and it is wonderful to see all the development happening on the 15 acre site. We are eager to break ground, and transform this piece of land into an outdoor, artist-designed mini golf course and community gathering place that encourages community members of all ages and backgrounds to interact with art.