Wander & Listen: Maya Singh's Phalen Park Sound Walk

Becca Thao — Frogtown, St. Paul
Hmong-American artist, zine publisher, screen printer. Knows every weird creative thing happening in both cities before anyone else.

Alright, Frogtown folks and beyond, let me tell you about something that just dropped this month and is *so good*. We're talking about a whole new way to experience one of St. Paul's gems: Phalen Park. And it's all thanks to the brilliant mind of local sound artist, Maya Singh.

You know how sometimes you're walking through a park, soaking it all in, but still feel like there's a deeper layer you're missing? The whispers of history, the unseen critters, the rhythms of the city humming just below the surface? Maya Singh has bottled that feeling and turned it into an immersive, free, and utterly captivating sound walk called *Urban Echoes: Phalen Park*.

Maya Singh: Listening to the Unseen City

Maya Singh, who's 32 and grew up not far from Phalen in South Minneapolis, has always had a thing for sounds. Not just music, but the ambient hum, the forgotten crackle, the subtle shifts in the urban soundscape. She studied sound art at MCAD, which, let's be real, is pretty cool. Instead of painting or sculpting, she was *listening* and translating those auditory experiences into art.

For years, Maya felt like our cities, especially our green spaces, were rich with stories and natural rhythms that most of us just power-walked past. She wanted to create a way for people to slow down, tune in, and connect with their surroundings on a much deeper level. That's how *Urban Echoes* was born. Her earlier projects explored industrial sounds along the Mississippi and the quiet hum of community gardens in Frogtown (my neighborhood! Love her for that).

She's not about making noise for noise's sake. Maya's work is about discovery. It's about revealing. She spends *months* researching a location, recording, interviewing, digging through archives, and then carefully layering it all into a cohesive, narrative soundscape. Her dedication is just *wild*, and it shows in the final product.

The Project: Urban Echoes: Phalen Park

So, what exactly is *Urban Echoes: Phalen Park*? Imagine this: you grab your headphones, head to Phalen Park, hit play on your phone, and suddenly the park comes alive in a totally new dimension. It's not a podcast *about* the park; it's an *experience* that guides you through specific spots, blending field recordings, historical narration, poetic musings, and even abstract compositions.

Maya's latest sound walk, launched just last week, focuses on the diverse ecosystem and rich history of Phalen Park. You'll hear the actual calls of birds that nest near the lake, interwoven with snippets from interviews with local elders sharing memories of growing up by Lake Phalen. You'll encounter the subtle splash of a turtle, then find yourself listening to a historical account of the park's early days. It's truly a tapestry of sound.

And the best part? It's completely *free*. Maya believes this kind of deep engagement with public spaces should be accessible to everyone. You just need your phone and some decent headphones.

Why Phalen Park?

Maya told me she chose Phalen Park for this installment of *Urban Echoes* because of its incredible biodiversity and its significance to the East Side community. 'It's more than just a lake,' she explained. 'It's a migratory bird stop, a critical wetland, a gathering place for generations of families. There are so many layers of story here, both natural and human, that often go unheard.'

She spent countless hours recording everything from the rustle of cattails in the wetlands to the distant rumble of the Green Line. She collaborated with local historians from the East Side Freedom Library to unearth fascinating tidbits about the park's past. The result is something that feels deeply rooted, authentically St. Paul, and incredibly thoughtful.

How to Experience It

Ready to give it a listen? It's super easy:

1. Head over to Maya Singh's project page: mayasinghsound.com/urban-echoes
2. Download the *Urban Echoes: Phalen Park* audio file and the accompanying map. You can also stream it directly if you prefer, but downloading saves data!
3. Grab your favorite headphones. This is key for immersion.
4. Go to Phalen Park (1615 Phalen Dr, St Paul, MN 55106). The map will guide you to the starting point, generally near the Lake Phalen Beach House.
5. Hit play and let Maya's sonic journey transform your walk.

I recommend going on a slightly less busy weekday morning or early evening, when the ambient sounds of the park can really shine through. Give yourself at least an hour, probably more, to really soak it all in. Wear comfy shoes. And honestly, leave your distractions at home. This isn't just background noise; it's a mindful experience.

This isn't just quirky for quirky's sake. It's genuinely interesting. It makes you *rethink* what a park can be, what a city sounds like, and how much rich history is hidden in plain sight. Maya Singh is doing something truly special, and you absolutely need to check it out this June.

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Photo by David Kanigan on Pexels