Skyway walkers

Community Skyway walkers

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not to crowd the walkways. Soon, conversations begin, and some late-comers rush to catch up. The small mob elicits stares from passersby, many of whom have undoubtedly forgotten what it’s like to see large groups in the skyways, a result of the pandemic.

Guilfoyle is in the lead and it’s evident she loves her adopted city. She is quick to point out new businesses and share information about what’s happening downtown. However, she understands that the art of conversation involves listening as much as talking, and she practices it well. Guilfoyle also intimately understands the skyway system and issues related to it. She has gained this knowledge by serving on the CapitolRiver Council Skyway Governance Advisory Committee, which seeks to engage the public and make recommendations about issues and policies affecting the system. This includes wayfinding and signage, hours of operation, safety issues, accessibility and more.

Today’s walkers are engaged in a wide array of conversations, most of which are centered on their love of the city and ways to improve it. The group travels by many small retail businesses doing their best to stay afloat, and some vacant properties. They receive an impromptu tour of the Safety Communication Center from John Bandemer, the director of safety strategies, who is also on the walk. They pause to say hello to Terry John Zila, who recently opened Hepcat Coffee in the Osborn370 Building on Wabasha Street.

Councilperson Noecker is pleased that the walking group has formed because she knows that regular, positive activity such as this is the best way to curb bad behavior in the skyways.

“Skyways are meant to be buzzing with people but now they feel empty and less safe,” she said in an interview following the walk. She said the decrease in traffic is due to the high number of people working from home during the pandemic. While she acknowledged that crime has increased in some areas, she is hopeful that will change as more people return to work. She credits Guilfoyle for taking this step in the right direction.

“I thought it was great,” Noecker said of the walking group. “I love the concept that a resident took the initiative to organize it, and I was impressed with the turnout. It was a diverse group and I met new people.”

Noecker said anyone who sees criminal activity in a skyway should call 911. To report trash, burned out light bulbs and the like, contact the city’s department of safety and inspections at 651-266-8989.

Guilfoyle, too, was thrilled with the number who joined the first outing and said she looks forward to seeing the group grow and possibly branch off to accommodate those who cannot make the 9 a.m. walk, which departs each Thursday from the security desk area of the First Bank Building.

How the group evolves is yet to be seen, but one thing is certain: anyone joining it will be surrounded by people who are working to build community one step at a time.

Peg Guilfoyle, far right, organized the newly-formed walking group.

Did you know?

St. Paul has the second longest continuous skyway system in the world. At 5 miles long and covering 47 city blocks, it is second only to Minneapolis’s system, which is 9.5-miles long covering 80 blocks.

In 1962, real estate developer Leslie Park and architect Ed Baker built the first skyway, then called a covered walkway. It was constructed over Marquette Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. In 1967, property owner Watson Davidson built St. Paul’s first skyway, connecting the Federal Courts Building and the Pioneer Press building. While most skyways are on the second level, there is one that is much higher. The First National Bank Building boasts the highest skyway in the Twin Cities. It’s located on the 17th level and connects to the Merchants Bank Building.

For both an interactive and printable map of the St. Paul skyway system, www. stpaul.gov and search “skyway.”

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