From Brownfield to Ballpark: A Sustainability Tour of CHS Field

On August 18, Sustainable Stillwater MN and GreenBiz Recycling hosted a behind-the-scenes sustainability tour of CHS Field, home of the St. Paul Saints.

Located in the heart of Saint Paul’s historic Lowertown neighborhood, CHS Field is much more than a place to watch baseball. The LEED Silver-certified stadium demonstrates how thoughtful design, environmental restoration and collaboration can transform a contaminated industrial property into a vibrant community destination.

A brownfield becomes a ballpark

Before CHS Field opened, the property was occupied by Diamond Products/Gillette and classified as a brownfield because of soil contamination from its industrial past.

During redevelopment, the contaminated soil was cleaned and the vast majority of materials from the existing structures were diverted from landfills. The new ballpark was designed to complement the character of downtown Saint Paul while creating a visual and physical connection between the city and the green space of Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary to the east.

Today, the stadium welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year while incorporating sustainable practices into nearly every aspect of its operations.

Capturing rainwater for reuse

One of the tour’s highlights was an up-close look at CHS Field’s rainwater collection system.

Because the ballpark has relatively little roof area of its own, the system collects runoff from approximately three-quarters of an acre of roof on the neighboring Metropolitan Council Green Line Operations and Maintenance Facility. The water travels through a pipe to a 27,000-gallon steel cistern beneath the stadium concourse.

After treatment, the collected rainwater is used to irrigate the playing field and flush 13 public toilets.

• 

• 

• 

[The 27,000-gallon cistern collects rainwater for field irrigation and toilet flushing.]

The stadium also uses rain gardens, planted swales, tree trenches, underground sand filters and subfield filtration to capture and clean stormwater before it can carry pollutants into nearby waterways.

Together, these improvements reduce the ballpark’s water consumption by an estimated 450,000 gallons annually while removing approximately 90% of suspended solids from stormwater runoff.

Renewable energy and efficient lighting

CHS Field also generates renewable energy through a 100-kilowatt solar installation. Its two solar arrays—each approximately the size of a tennis court—produce about 12.5% of the ballpark’s annual electricity needs, roughly equivalent to the yearly electricity use of 12 typical American homes.

Lighting was another important part of the stadium’s sustainable design. CHS Field uses roughly 40% fewer lights directed toward the playing field than the Saints’ previous stadium. The fixtures are carefully focused to illuminate the field while reducing energy use and limiting light pollution for Lowertown neighbors.

The stadium also connects to District Energy St. Paul for heating and cooling and was designed to meet Minnesota’s B3 Sustainable Building 2030 standards.

Reducing waste at the ballpark

Tour participants saw how recycling and organics collection help the stadium reduce the amount of game-day waste sent to landfills.

Clearly marked collection stations make it easier for visitors and employees to properly dispose of recyclables, compostable materials and trash. These operational practices show that sustainability depends not only on a building’s original design but also on the choices made every day by staff, vendors and guests.

CHS Field’s downtown location further reduces its environmental impact by giving visitors access to light rail, buses, bicycle routes and other alternatives to driving.

Baseball history and community connections

The tour was not limited to environmental features. Our guide also shared stories from the history of the St. Paul Saints and the team’s role as the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. Participants visited the City of Baseball Museum and explored areas of the stadium that are normally off-limits to the public.

The experience demonstrated how sustainability, sports, history and community development can work together. CHS Field succeeds because public agencies, private businesses and community partners collaborated to address water conservation, energy efficiency, waste reduction and neighborhood needs.

Thank you to GreenBiz Recycling, our tour guide and everyone who joined Sustainable Stillwater MN for this special look inside one of the country’s most sustainable ballparks.

Learn more about sustainability at CHS Field 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•