The city of Saint Paul is spending money from lower-income neighborhoods on things like splash pads for recreation centers, while what matters most to many families is covering the basics — paying rent and buying groceries.

Families look at their budgets at the kitchen table asking: Where can we cut back to cover the basics? City Hall needs to take the same approach.

One area where St. Paul should cut spending is in our parks and recreation budget.

This isn’t about caring less. It’s about making sure we’re solving the problems people are actually facing — and being honest about whether our spending is helping the people who need it most.

Since 2018, the city’s budget has grown from $625 million to a proposed $887 million for 2026 — a 42% increase, while inflation rose about 29% — a ste

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