St. Paul Park refinery connects with neighbors during Community Day

Community News

St. Paul Park, Minnesota, foundation
A group of adults and children standing together outdoors on a paved area.Guests of all ages came with their families to take part in the Community Day event.

Key Points

  • Neighbors and families came together at Marathon Petroleum’s St. Paul Park refinery in Minnesota for another Community Day event that celebrated connection and community pride.
  • Guests participated in hands-on activities, explored exhibits and joined guided tours offered an inside view of how the refinery operates, its safety measures, and introduced them to the dedicated team members who make it all happen.
  • The event highlighted the refinery’s commitment to being a good neighbor and building strong relationships with the surrounding community.

At Marathon Petroleum’s St. Paul Park refinery, being a good neighbor isn’t just something the team talks about. It is something they live. That spirit was on full display at this year’s Community Day. Hundreds of guests came to explore the refinery, meet the people behind the operations, and connect with employees who live and work right in the community.

A group of people standing together under a tent, smiling for a photo.
St. Paul Park refinery employee volunteers pause for a photo at one of the interactive booths set up for guests to enjoy.

“This event is all about connection,” said Eric Bohnert, Vice President of Refining at Marathon Petroleum’s St. Paul Park refinery. “It is about showing that we are part of this community too. Our employees live here, volunteer here, and raise their families here. We want our neighbors to feel just as proud of this refinery as we are.”

“What keeps it strong is the people, inside and outside, who continue to build that trust together.”

Not even the day’s stubborn rain could stop the fun. Families came armed with umbrellas and curiosity, ready to learn about everything from how fuels are made to how the refinery keeps things running safely and smoothly.

A young girl sits still while an adult paints her face during a community event.
Face painting was one of the many fun activities for guests to enjoy and a favorite stop for the youngest Community Day attendees.

“Community Day is our chance to show our neighbors who we really are,” said Bonnie DeKoster, Senior Administrative Assistant at the refinery and part of the team that helped plan the event. “We love what we do, and we want people to see that. It feels like a block party where you learn a lot along the way.”

Guests explored interactive booths, chatted with engineers, and joined refinery staff for hands-on demonstrations. Children climbed into fire trucks while parents asked questions about the refinery’s history and connection to the community. For most, it wasn’t about the technical details. It was about people.

People waiting in line at a food truck during an outdoor event.
Community Day guests enjoyed local flavors from an on-site food truck, along with other food options available throughout the event.

“Our refinery has been part of St. Paul Park for decades,” DeKoster said. “What keeps it strong is the people, inside and outside, who continue to build that trust together.”

Great local food vendors were also onsite, and guided refinery tours gave visitors a closer look at the operations.

A young boy sits in the driver’s seat of a fire truck while an adult takes his photo outside.
A St. Paul Park refinery employee gives his son a thrill in the driver’s seat of a Marathon Petroleum fire department truck on display for guests at the Community Day event.
Four people stand behind a table under a tent, smiling for a photo.
 Employees from the St. Paul Park refinery’s Technical Services department pose at their interactive booth, a favorite among Community Day guests.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect, but what I found completely exceeded my expectations,” said one local resident.

“My kids and I came last year, too, and they had so much fun that we had to come back this year,” shared another guest. “This time, they still had fun, but I think they also loved seeing how everything works and meeting the people behind it. Really cool experience once again.”

“It was such a welcoming, eye-opening experience,” said another guest who had never visited the refinery before. “You can really tell how much pride everyone here has in what they do.”