Frogtown Community Center pays homage to Hmong and East African culture
By Mike Wekesser
Frogtown Community Center in St. Paul, Minn., located on the site of the former Scheffer Recreation Center, is a vibrant hub of cultural inclusivity and wellness-driven activity. While the 1970s center may have brought community together in the past, in the present it needed a ground-up overhaul to connect with the diversity of the current community. The Frogtown neighborhood is home to thousands of first- and second-generation Hmong and East African immigrants, a culture that was widely accepted, but not aptly reflected in the current facility. In search of solutions, JLG Architects (JLG) and St. Paul Parks & Recreation fully engaged the neighborhood and local artists to create an inclusive community center. So, how exactly was this Midwestern firm able to connect with the heart of the Hmong community? The journey began with seeking out the voices that were waiting to be heard.