Rondo neighborhood explained
The Rondo neighborhood, or simply Rondo, is located within the officially designated Summit-University district in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The boundaries of the historically black neighborhood are sometimes referred to as Old Rondo. For much of the 20th century, Rondo was an important cultural and residential center of the black community in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan region. The core of Old Rondo was demolished between 1956 and 1968, to make way for the construction of the Interstate 94 freeway. At least 650 families were displaced from the neighborhood, as well as many businesses and community locations. The neighborhood, although scarred by highway construction, remained a notable area in Saint Paul with a strong sense of cultural identity. Popular media and historians have the explored the impacts of highway construction and gentrification on Rondo residents past and present. In the 2000s, residents and public officials have discussed ways to reconnect the former community.
Overview
The Rondo neighborhood is located in the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota. From the late 1800s, it has been an important center of the black community in the Twin Cities. As it developed, the Rondo neighborhood became an economically diverse community, supported by social clubs, religious organizations, community centers and an active business community.[1] With the availability of Federal block funds, Rondo's central area was destroyed between 1956 and 1968, for the construction of the Interstate 94 freeway.[2] [3] Families and businesses that did not accept the low financial amounts offered and willingly move were met with violence from the authorities.[4] The displacement from the neighborhood of families, businesses and organizations had a negative impact on the well-being of the black community in the Twin Cities[5] [6] [7]
Geography
In 1950, Rondo was bounded by Lexington Avenue to the west, Rice Street to the east, Marshall Avenue to the south and University Avenue to the north.[8] [9]
The Interstate 94 freeway runs east–west, centered between what had been Rondo Avenue and St. Anthony. Originally Rondo Avenue and St. Anthony Avenue were thoroughfares that ran parallel, both beginning at Rice Street. Rondo ended at Dunlop Street and St. Anthony went the full length to Cretin Avenue at the Town and Country Club Golf Course. The construction of I-94 took the north portion of Rondo and the south portion of St. Anthony. The remainder of both Rondo and St. Anthony became freeway service roads, and Rondo Avenue was renamed Concordia Avenue.[10]
Four bridges over I-94 connect the two halves of what had been Rondo neighborhood: Lexington Avenue, at the western boundary of Rondo; Victoria Avenue; Dale Avenue; and Western Avenue, close to its eastern boundary. East of Western Avenue in 1966 Saint Paul College) built a new single-building campus at 235 Marshall Avenue.
The area south of I-94 was absorbed into the Summit-University neighborhood. The neighborhood of Frogtown starts at University Avenue and extends northward, but does not include the section of what had been Rondo between University Avenue and I-94.
History
Early black community
Rondo was the backbone of the Black community in St. Paul.[11] [12] Black homeownership thrived in Minnesota from 1900 on.[13] Organizations in Rondo included the St. Paul chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in which Roy Wilkins was involved; Black newspapers included the St. Paul Echo between 1925 and 1927, the Appeal, the Northwest Bulletin, and the St. Paul Recorder (now the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder). The St. Paul Echo was published by Earl Wilkins, brother of Roy Wilkins.
The St. Paul chapter of the Urban League, the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center,[14] the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center and many other community resources took form in Rondo.[15]
Black baseball remains an enduring part of the Rondo legacy. Famous players include Toni Stone, one of three women who played in the Negro leagues in the early 1950s; and Roy Campanella - Hall of Fame catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers - who lived in Rondo during the late 1940s while with an earlier version of the Saints.[16] Dave Winfield, the Hall of Fame outfielder whose career spanned the 1970s to early 1990s, grew up in Rondo neighborhood until his family was displaced by the highway construction project.[17]
Routing of Interstate 94
The Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 provided funding to American cities to build a network of freeways, necessitated by greater automobile use nationwide. A choice of routes existed; one other option was farther north, along abandoned rail tracks. The more central route — through the majority-Black neighborhood of Rondo — was chosen.[18] [19] In hindsight, there is widespread agreement that the negative ramifications of this construction fell disproportionately on the residents of Rondo.[20]
The black community of Rondo was weakened, some black residents moved to other areas in the Twin Cities including Maplewood, Brooklyn Center, Robbinsdale and Crystal. Those who stayed suffered from fewer black establishments and the geographic interruption of neighborhood by the freeway.[13]
Other negative outcomes of the route chosen include the separation of the Minnesota State Capitol building from the commercial district of Downtown St. Paul, and some inconvenience for the Prospect Park neighborhood in Minneapolis.[21]
Light rail transit
During the years of planning and preparation for the Green Line (the second main route of the Twin Cities Light Rail Transit system, originally known as the Central Corridor project), attention was re-focused on the Rondo Neighborhood and its history. Since the Green Line was planned to go on University Avenue, just a few blocks away from I-94, the same groups were affected. Communities were concerned about the past repeating itself. A number of groups formed in order to ensure that this process was different.
Future St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter was among those who ran for and won the seats on the St. Paul City Council in 2007 for the main purpose of improving the Green Line project as it related to Rondo. A specific action taking by groups concerned about the Green Line was a lawsuit filed against local project planners and the Federal Transit Administration by the NAACP, Alliance for Metropolitan Stability, Rondo residents and businesses and other organizations including Pilgrim Baptist, the state's first Black church. They charged that the Metropolitan Council inadequately engaged in mitigating efforts on poor people and minorities, potentially repeating Rondo's results. From the actions including that lawsuit, three additional stops were added to better serve Rondo/Frogtown residents. Also, additional funds to address parking and business-loss concerns during the construction process were made available. On the national level, the Federal Transit Administration changed its so-called cost-effectiveness index, which had given preference to shorter travel times and longer distances between stops. Instead, under FTA administrator Peter Rogoff, transportation issues were being examined from a civil rights perspective. Social equity and livability factors, including economic development and congestion relief, were added to the decision-making process.[22] [23]
Reconnecting
In 2016, MNDOT Commissioner Charlie Zelle and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman together formally apologized for the way the interstate construction was handled.
A land bridge, which would cover I-94 and reconnect the northern and southern halves of Rondo, has been under discussion the 2000s. At the federal level, the 'Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act' passed in 2021 focused on infrastructure included the 'Reconnecting Communities' program, which seeks to address harms caused by transportation infrastructure.[24] Pedestrian walkways over or under existing freeways are explicitly included as goals of that legislation.[25] The Rondo Land Bridge freeway lid concept has been discussed in the Minnesota Legislature. It is envisioned as 15 to 21 acres of buildable land extending across I-94, possibly between Chatsworth Street and Grotto Street, or alternatively from Lexington Avenue to Rice Street.[26] [27] [28]
Legacy
Rondo Days is a weekend-long celebration of the spirit of the Rondo community, first held in 1983.[29] Two prominent members of the Black community who were Rondo residents, Marvin Roger Anderson and Floyd G. Smaller, founded an organization called Rondo Avenue Inc to turn Rondo history into a current, ongoing awareness; they launched the annual festival in 1982. Initial celebrations included a parade and senior supper, the event has continued to grow and develop each year through the efforts of the Rondo-diaspora community and now also includes the Northern Lights Drill and Drum International, a competition that draws drill and drum teams nationwide.[30]
In 2006, the St. Paul Public Library opened a new building at University and Dale Street to serve as both library and mixed-income housing. Called the Rondo Community Outreach Library, it holds special collections related to the Rondo neighborhood and its history.[31]
Macalester College in St. Paul initiated a collaboration with Rondo Avenue, Inc. (RAI) to team-teach a multi-faceted "History Harvest" course about Rondo, within Macalester's emphasis on community-engaged curriculum, culminating in "Remembering Rondo: A History Harvest", with the partnership of the Macalester Civic Engagement Center (CEC).[32] Students from the St. Paul High School for Recording Arts, in conjunction with the St. Paul Almanac and the St. Paul Neighborhood Network created the documentary Rondo: Beyond the Pavement. The work of Reconnect Rondo continues.[33] [34]
In 2017, three artists connected to Rondo: Hawona Sullivan Janzen, Clarance White, and Chris Scott, created the public art project Rondo Family Reunion. The three documented the histories of the Rondo Diaspora through lawn signs featuring historic photographs and poetry from community members. The project, which was sponsored by the McKnight Foundation, the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, the Center for Urban & Regional Affairs, and Springboard for the Arts, featured live poetry readings and culminated in a printed book.[35] [36] [37] The Rondo Commemorative Plaza was installed in July 2016 on Old Rondo Avenue (Concordia Avenue) just west of North Fisk Street. It includes a vertical exhibit displaying the Rondo story, benches, a performance area, and a tower with a lit beacon that is visible from I-94.[38] Funds were provided by a variety of sources, including a Community Development Block Grant from the City of St. Paul and donations from several local foundations and the 3M African-American Employee Network.[39] [40]
In 2017, the Minnesota History Theater presented a work called The Highwaymen to explore how freeway construction affected the neighborhood and people.[41]
The history of Black baseball and the cultural significance of Rondo are included in the St. Paul Saints City of Baseball Museum, unveiled in 2019. Saints Senior VP and General Counsel Michael Goldklang: "We have a photo frame of the Rondo highlights. It talks about how players would come in and stay in hotels and played baseball... "Black baseball is central to the history of St. Paul."[42]
In 2022, the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center released a board game to promote Rondo history. Called Rondo-opoly, the game design incorporates the traditions of Monopoly with the details replaced by historical facts about Rondo's history. The Hallie Q. Brown center, in operation since 1929, drew from its archives to prioritize historical locations and substantiate details about Rondo in creating the game.[43]
Notable residents
See also
Further reading
- Book: Fairbanks . Evelyn . 1990. "The Days of Rondo" . MN Historical Society Press. .
- Web site: Rondo Avenue Land Bridge Feasibility Study Final Report. Kaskaskia Engineering Group . Reconnect Rondo. July 2020. July 24, 2022.
- Web site: Restorative Rondo - Building Equity for All; Past Prosperity Study. Yorth Group. Reconnect Rondo. July 2020. July 24, 2022.
- Griffin, Jimmy with Kwame McDonald "Jimmy Griffin: A Son of Rondo, a memoir" (St. Paul: Ramsey County Historical Society, 2001)
- CultureBrokers Foundation, Inc. 2008. "Points of Entry: The African American Heritage Guide to Saint Paul.", "Education and Athletic Achievement," Saint Paul Historical, accessed January 13, 2018.
- News: Consildine . Basil . PREVIEW: High Stakes in The Highwaymen (History Theatre) . 13 December 2017.
- Web site: Nathanson . Iric . Linking the Twin Cities: In 1968 the attention was on I-94. MinnPost. June 13, 2014 . January 11, 2018.
- Book: Wedin . Carolyn . Glasrud. Bruce A.. 2012. The Harlem Renaissance in the American West: The New Negro's Western Experience . Routledge (Taylor and Francis Group). New York .
- Web site: Gihring . Tim . Nativity Story – For 30 years, Penumbra Theater Company has produced plays by, for, and about African Americans. But its own story is just beginning. . November 14, 2006 . January 13, 2018. July 25, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210725050955/https://www.minnesotamonthly.com/lifestyle/nativity-story/.
- Web site: Nelson. Emma. ‘St. Paul's Rondo community gets a glimpse of I-94 land bridge designs, the bridge would cover part of Interstate 94, creating space for housing, businesses and parkland' . StarTribune. January 19, 2018 . May 25, 2019.
- Web site: Minnesota History Theater production: The Highwaymen. Minnesota History Theater. February 10, 2018.
- Web site: Saint Paul African American Historic and Cultural Context. Saint Paul Heritage Preservation Commission. November 4, 2021. August 6, 2022.
- Web site: Rondo Neighborhood & I-94: Overview. Minnesota History Center - Gale Family Library. 13 July 2016. December 29, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171229050947/http://libguides.mnhs.org/rondo. live.
- Web site: Minnesota's Black History Comes Alive In Several Online Exhibits. CBS News Minnesota. February 1, 2021. August 6, 2022.
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Volante . Alisha . The Rondo Neighborhood & African American History in St. Paul, MN: 1900s to Current. 2015 . . retrieved from the University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy . 2015 . December 31, 2019 . July 21, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200721015050/https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/178547#? . live .
- Web site: Callaghan . Peter . "Reconciling with Rondo: could an I-94 ‘land bridge' help heal a 50-year-old civic scar?" . . October 14, 2016 . January 13, 2018 . February 10, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180210002456/https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2016/10/reconciling-rondo-could-i-94-land-bridge-help-heal-50-year-old-civic-scar . live .
- Web site: Rupar. Aaron. St. Paul map shows how I-94 cut through heart of city's African-American neighborhood. 13 July 2016. City Pages. 19 August 2014. December 8, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171208055219/http://www.citypages.com/news/st-paul-map-shows-how-i-94-cut-through-heart-of-citys-african-american-neighborhood-6541556. dead.
- News: Yuen. Laura. Central Corridor: In the shadow of Rondo. 13 July 2016. MPR News. Minnesota Public Radio. 29 April 2010. February 10, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180210003315/https://www.mprnews.org/story/2010/04/20/centcorridor3-rondo. live.
- Web site: Condon . Patrick . Patrick Condon . ‘Rail line stirs bad memories in black neighborhood' . boston.com . April 10, 2010 . January 12, 2018 . February 9, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180209182600/http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2010/04/10/rail_line_stirs_bad_memories_in_black_neighborhood/ . dead.
- Web site: Bridging the Divide: Connecting People to Opportunity. Remarks of US Dept of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx at the Center for American Progress, Washington, D.C.. March 30, 2016. February 3, 2021. November 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108131636/https://www.americanprogress.org/events/2016/03/22/133847/bridging-the-divide-a-transportation-plan-for-the-21st-century/. live.
- Web site: Melo . Frederick . ‘Son of St. Paul's Rondo wants to mark his long-gone neighborhood . . June 10, 2016 . January 13, 2018 . February 10, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180210002224/https://www.twincities.com/2016/06/10/st-paul-rondo-neighborhood-interstate-94-bridges-ttribute/ . live .
- Book: Cavett . Kate . 2017 . Voices of Rondo: Oral Histories of Saint Paul's Historic Black Community . . . December 16, 2017 . February 11, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180211131239/https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/voices-of-rondo . live .
- Web site: McClure. Jane. Faust Theater. 13 January 2018. February 11, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180211072417/http://saintpaulhistorical.com/items/show/188. live.
- News: Boxmeyer . Don . Remembering Rondo/Interstate 94 obliterated St. Paul's Rondo Neighborhood – the heart of the Cities' Black Community – But Memories of it Linger On . . May 12, 1990 .
- Book: Swensson . Andrea . 2017. "Got to Be Something Here: The Rise of the Minneapolis Sound" . . Minneapolis . 20–36. j.ctt1pwt6k2.
- News: Brown. Curt. 'Rondo Days will feature Hoopsters' . StarTribune. May 2, 2007 . B3.
- News: Peterson. David . African Americans in Minnesota - Issues of Race. There were African American millionaires in Minnesota in the nineteenth century. There was also a black literary society. For more than a century, Minnesota has had one of the nation's best-educated and most vigorous black communities. Star Tribune. June 11, 1990. 10e.
- Web site: ‘About page. Hallie Q. Brown Community Center. January 12, 2018. March 22, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180322202022/http://www.hallieqbrown.org/site/index.php/about/. live.
- Web site: Melo . Frederick . Funeral for Rondo landmark planned for Saturday . . October 31, 2016 . January 13, 2018 . November 5, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181105043955/https://www.twincities.com/2013/10/31/funeral-for-rondo-landmark-planned-for-saturday/ . live .
- Web site: Borzi . Pat . ‘With City of Baseball Museum, the Saints add a side of history to CHS Field' . . May 17, 2019 . May 25, 2019 . May 25, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190525194451/https://www.minnpost.com/sports/2019/05/with-city-of-baseball-museum-the-saints-add-a-side-of-history-to-chs-field/ . live .
- News: Melo . Frederick . 2015-11-07 . St. Paul: Signs to mark former Rondo Avenue proposed . . 2023-05-10.
- Web site: Wingo . Rebecca S. . Sullivan . Amy C. . ‘Features: Remembering Rondo: Inside View of a History Harvest . . March 2017 . January 13, 2018 . April 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180401144314/https://www.historians.org/publications-and-directories/perspectives-on-history/march-2017/remembering-rondo-an-inside-view-of-a-history-harvest . live .
- Web site: Marciniak . Aaron . "I feel like I'm driving over my bedroom" – St. Paul's Rondo history in spotlight at Minnesota History Center . . February 6, 2013 . January 13, 2018 . September 5, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200905002804/https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/rondo-history-takes-spotlight-minnesota-history-center-program-recreates-black-neigh/ . live .
- Web site: Hewitt . Chris . Chris Hewitt . Rondo neighborhood play dedicated to ‘memories we step on and the lives we drive over' . Twin Cities Pioneer Press . February 1, 2017 . 16 December 2017 . November 16, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171116172306/http://www.twincities.com/2017/02/01/rondo-neighborhood-st-paul-history-theater/ . live .
- Web site: Reicher. Matt. The Birth of a Metro Highway (interstate 94). September 10, 2013. 13 January 2018. August 11, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160811115030/https://streets.mn/2013/09/10/the-birth-of-a-metro-highway-interstate-94/. live.
- Web site: Walsh . James . "Melvin Carter's historic rise from Old Rondo to St. Paul's 'made-for-this' mayor: If you were surprised to see a child of old Rondo rise up and capture the mayor's office in St. Paul, then you've never met Melvin Carter" . . March 27, 2018 . March 27, 2018 . March 27, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180327224628/http://www.startribune.com/melvin-carter-s-historic-rise-from-old-rondo-to-st-paul-s-made-for-this-mayor/478076733/#1 . live .
- Web site: Yuen . Laura . "After rocky start, Green Line overcomes community objections" . . June 11, 2016 . March 27, 2018 . March 28, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180328104135/https://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/06/11/green-line-overcomes-community-objections . live .
- Web site: June 30, 2022 . Biden Administration Announces First-Ever Funding Program Dedicated to Reconnecting American Communities . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220630110154/https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/biden-administration-announces-first-ever-funding-program-dedicated-reconnecting . June 30, 2022 . July 23, 2022.
- Web site: Brasuell . James . July 4, 2022 . $1 Billion ‘Reconnecting Communities’ Program Accepting Applications to Repair Damage of Racist Transportation Planning-The Biden administration has talked about the need to repair the damages of a racist history of transportation planning in the United States. The time has finally come to put their money where their mouth is. . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220704121945/https://www.planetizen.com/news/2022/07/117675-1-billion-reconnecting-communities-program-accepting-applications-repair-damage . July 4, 2022 . July 23, 2022 . Planetizen.
- Web site: Hackett . Ashley . May 5, 2021 . In Biden infrastructure plan, advocates see opportunity to revive St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood with I-94 land bridge - The Reconnecting Communities Act would establish grants to address the "legacy of highway construction built through communities… that divided neighborhoods and erected barriers to mobility and opportunity." . July 23, 2022 . MinnPost.
- Web site: Prather . Shannon . March 25, 2021 . 'Rondo Land bridge advocates make a pitch for state help - Federal aid might also boost development that would cross over I-94' . July 24, 2022 . StarTribune.
- Web site: Galioto . Katie . April 13, 2022 . 'Rondo advocates push back against GOP efforts to halt state funding for I-94 land bridge - The Legislature allocated $6.2 million for predevelopment work on the project last year' . July 23, 2022 . StarTribune.
- Web site: "Flyer advertising the first Rondo Days celebration" . . August 6, 2022 . July 21, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200721011337/https://www.mnopedia.org/multimedia/flyer-advertising-first-rondo-days-celebration . live .
- Web site: Tormoen . Erik . 5 Things You Need to Know about Rondo Days . On the Weekend of July 15, the annual Rondo Days Celebration, Minnesota's largest African-American-sponsored event, returns to St. Paul at the Rondo Educational Center and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rec Center Park . . June 30, 2017 . January 13, 2018 . July 23, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170723210657/http://www.minnesotamonthly.com/Lists-Guides/5-Things-You-Need-to-Know-About-Rondo-Days/ . live .
- Web site: Gehner. John. "Rondo Library Celebrates Grand Opening" . Hunger, Homelessness & Poverty Task Force – SRRT/ALA. . September 7, 2006 . August 6, 2022 . July 20, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070720114235/https://hhptf.org/article/334/rondo-community-outreach-library-celebrates-grand-opening/ . live .
- Web site: ‘Students Explore Definitions Of "Home" In Mainstage Production'. ‘The Mac Weekly'. April 25, 2019. May 25, 2019. May 25, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190525203634/https://themacweekly.com/2019/04/students-explore-definitions-of-home-in-mainstage-production/. live.
- Web site: Murray . Isabella . ‘Student filmmakers' documentary tells of once-thriving Rondo neighborhood disruption . . November 2, 2018 . May 25, 2019 . May 25, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190525202902/https://www.twincities.com/2018/11/02/student-filmmakers-documentary-tells-of-once-thriving-rondo-neighborhood-disruption/ . live .
- Web site: Broaddus . Adrienne . ‘St. Paul students invited to festivals with Rondo film "Rondo: Beyond the Pavement" uses pictures to tell the story of a once-thriving St. Paul neighborhood torn apart to make room for I-94.' . . February 11, 2019 . May 25, 2019 . February 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210203073143/https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/breaking-the-news/st-paul-students-invited-to-festivals-with-rondo-film/89-b5e4f84b-bd28-4ada-bdf4-635bc64c3590 . live .
- Web site: 2018-11-15. ‘I'm a poet, not a politician': Hawona Sullivan Janzen on the inspiration for ‘Rondo Family Reunion'. 2020-08-09. MinnPost. en-US. August 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200808001009/https://www.minnpost.com/community-sketchbook/2018/11/im-a-poet-not-a-politician-hawona-sullivan-janzen-on-the-inspiration-for-rondo-family-reunion/. live.
- Web site: Rondo Family Reunion: Pictures and Poems for Our People. 2020-08-09. Northern Spark 2019. en-US. February 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210203073102/https://2019.northernspark.org/projects/rondo-family-reunion/. live.
- Web site: Dolen. Jen. 2019-09-26. Forecast consultant Hawona Sullivan Janzen skillfully engages diverse stakeholders. 2020-08-09. Forecast Public Art. en-US. July 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200711142338/https://forecastpublicart.org/forecast-consultant-hawona-sullivan-janzen-skillfully-engages-diverse-stakeholders/. live.
- Web site: Hoekstra . Joel . Rondo Commemorative Plaza - A new pocket park in St. Paul memorializes a neighborhood destroyed by interstate construction—and celebrates the community and creativity that remains and thrives a half-century later . Architecture Minnesota . July 23, 2022 . March 1, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220301142845/https://www.aia-mn.org/rondo-commemorative-plaza/. live .
- Web site: Melo . Frederick . Ground broken for plaza commemorating Rondo neighborhood, lost to I-94 . . October 14, 2016 . January 13, 2018 . December 21, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161221113722/http://www.twincities.com/2016/10/14/ground-broken-for-rondo-commemorative-plaza/ . live .
- Web site: Kwan . Gabriel . ‘Realtors' $50K boosts project in St. Paul's Rondo neighborhood' . . October 3, 2018 . May 25, 2019 . May 25, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190525204310/https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/10/03/reviving-rondo-remembering-and-rebuilding-the-st-paul-suburb-split . live .
- Web site: Combs . Marianne . Julie . Siple . February 2, 2017 . 'The Highwaymen' tells the story of St. Paul's Rondo neighborhood . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180210100627/https://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/02/02/the-highwayme . February 10, 2018 . 16 December 2017 . Minnesota Public Radio.
- Web site: Hallman . Charles . May 14, 2019 . ‘New St. Paul baseball museum chronicles local Black history' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190525201142/http://spokesman-recorder.com/2019/05/14/new-st-paul-baseball-museum-chronicles-local-black-history/ . May 25, 2019 . May 25, 2019 . ‘Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder'.
- Web site: Murphy . Anne . ‘Players can collect wealth of info on old neighborhood with Rondo-opoly' . MyVillager. August 3, 2022 . August 6, 2022 . subscription. August 3, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220803122102/https://myvillager.com/2022/08/03/players-can-collect-wealth-of-info-on-old-neighborhood-with-rondo-opoly/ . live .