She Built Steps for
Her Mailman Neighbor.
Beverly noticed something.
Her mailman climbed a hill every day.
Beverly lives on a dead end street in Como Park. Her next-door neighbor happens to be the mailman for the surrounding blocks — and every day, she watched him climb the steep hill alongside her garage to cut through to the next street. It worked. But come winter in Saint Paul, a muddy hillside becomes an icy one, and Beverly decided to do something about it.
Phase 2 was built around that simple act of neighborly kindness: Chilton natural stone steps running the length of the hill, set alongside the Phase 1 Versa-Lok retaining wall, with decorative river rock filling the bed and a handrail for the months when Minnesota makes everything more dangerous than it should be.
The Chilton steps complement the Versa-Lok wall naturally — the warm stone tones against the clean gray block. The hill is still there. It's just a lot easier to climb now.
Get a free estimateThis is Phase 2.
See where it started.
Phase 1 — late summer 2023 — was the Versa-Lok Standard retaining wall along Beverly's driveway edge. The same wall you see framing the steps in these photos. See how Phase 1 came together first.
View Phase 1 →A hill anyone can climb.
In any season.
"Beverly didn't build these steps for herself. She built them for her neighbor. That's a pretty rare reason to call a hardscape contractor — and it made for one of the more memorable projects we've done in Como Park."
— Jacob Bluhm · Lead Installer · Heritage OutdoorsSteps that make the climb
worth taking.
Chilton stone steps running the full length of the hill, river rock filling the bed, handrail in place for winter. The Phase 1 Versa-Lok wall frames the left side, the steps work with it rather than against it, and the whole area feels finished in a way the bare hillside never did.
Stone steps. River rock.
A handrail for January.
Natural stone steps in Como Park —
what people ask us
How much do natural stone steps cost in Saint Paul MN?
Natural stone steps in Saint Paul and the Twin Cities typically run $250–$500 per step installed depending on stone type, size, and site access. Chilton stone is a popular choice for its durability and natural appearance. Heritage Outdoors has a $5,000 project minimum. Call 651-219-3668 for a free estimate.
What is Chilton stone?
Chilton is a natural stone quarried in Wisconsin, known for its warm buff and gray tones and its flat, cleft surface that makes it ideal for steps and walkways. It's a popular choice in the Twin Cities for natural stone steps because it handles Minnesota freeze-thaw cycles well, looks beautiful alongside manufactured block systems like Versa-Lok, and requires no maintenance.
Can natural stone steps be installed on a steep grade in Minnesota?
Yes — natural stone steps are one of the best solutions for steep grade changes in Minnesota. Each step is set individually into a prepared base, so the run can follow the natural contour of the slope. Combined with a handrail for winter safety, stone steps make a previously difficult grade change safe and accessible year-round. Heritage Outdoors handles full design and installation. Call 651-219-3668.
Do natural stone steps work alongside a Versa-Lok retaining wall?
Yes — natural stone steps and Versa-Lok retaining walls are a natural pairing. The clean structured edge of the block wall frames the more organic stone steps beautifully. This combination is one of Heritage Outdoors' most common project types in Saint Paul — the wall holds the grade and the steps handle the grade change in a way that looks intentional and lasts decades.
Does Heritage Outdoors serve Como Park and the Saint Paul area?
Yes — Como Park is right in Heritage Outdoors' core service area. We serve Como Park, all Saint Paul neighborhoods, Roseville, Falcon Heights, Little Canada, and the full Twin Cities metro. Call 651-219-3668 or visit heritageoutdoorsmn.com for a free estimate.
Got a hillside that needs
steps to make it safe?
Whether it's a steep grade, a winter safety concern, or just a slope that needs to be finished properly — Jacob will come out and tell you exactly what it would take to get it right.
Jacob & Haven. Family owned and operated out of Saint Paul. Hardscape and landscape design-build done right — from the first call to final walkthrough.
651-219-3668 haven@heritageoutdoorsmn.com