2019 ANNUAL REPORT

Mission

St. Louis County Parks and Recreation Department’s mission is to provide high quality parks, facilities, and recreation services that enhance residents’ lives through responsible and effective management of resources. Letter from the Director

We believe that St. Louis County Parks and the amenities we offer PDarks epartment Management contribute greatly to the overall quality of life in our community. This report highlights our accomplishments from 2019 including our Director, Tom Ott events, educational programs, facilities, completed projects and plans Operations Manager, Don Gerling for next year. Program Services Manager, Michael Biedenstein There is so much to explore and experience through St. Louis County , June Bernaugh Fiscal Services Manager Parks – greenspaces, aquatic centers, ice rinks, historic sites, and more. Lt. Commander Park Rangers, Jeff Hoots This past year, park attendance was over 10 million. Cultural and Design & Development Group Manager, Tobi Moriarty historic sites drew 1.4 million visits and the recently completed Creve Coeur Park Soccer Complex had more than 980,000 visitors.

PDarks epartment Advisory Board Each division of the Park Department works together to serve the residents. In 2019, the Operations Division completed over 1,000 Diane Christy work orders and maintained thousands of acres of park spaces for visitors. Rangers continue to keep our parks safe and offer Dennis deJong interpretive programing to citizens. The Design and Development Angela Hilzinger-Courtney Group completed numerous projects and facility updates throughout Erica Hoffman the parks system including installing a new restroom at Queeny Park. Michael Meredith Program Services hosted a number of fun events and programs for residents to enjoy. The Department’s largest and most popular event, Robert Muckler Winter Wonderland, added four additional Winter Wonderland Walk Gary Otten dates, increasing event capacity from 11,000 to 23,000. A total of Gerry Sander 151,252 people attended the event.

The St. Louis County Parks Foundation also continued developing the “family trail” concept, installing playground and exercise equipment TCable of ontents at four locations along the Dennis Schick Trail at Jefferson Barracks Park. Family Trails are designed to encourage multi-generational use Annual Highlights...... 4 and features four separate children’s play stations with nature-themed attractions and exercise equipment for adults. Financials...... 5 Staff...... 6 We have a number of exciting projects on the horizon as we look forward to 2020. We will continue to live out our mission to provide Park Rangers...... 7 our community with the best parks and recreation sites, facilities and Activities and Events...... 9 service.

Historic & Cultural Sites...... 10 Thank you again for your continued support of St. Louis County Parks. We are very proud of the advances we have made in 2019 and look Recreation Centers...... 12 forward to the years ahead. Volunteers...... 13 Completed Projects...... 15 Park Operations...... 16 Natural Resources...... 17 Thomas M. Ott Parks Foundation...... 18 Director, Saint Louis County Parks & Recreation Looking Ahead...... 19 (314) 615-7642 [email protected] Icons in this report are from Pause08, Freepik, Smallikeart, Skyclick, Monkik, Kiranshastry, Prosumbols, Eucalyp, Good Ware, Smashicons and Prettycons from www.flaticon.com. Annual Highlights

165 44 12,465 Miles of Trails playgrounds aTot l cres

67,428 64,700+ 1.4 Million Toa t l volunteer hours Followers on Vtisits o our 6 Historic social media & Cultural Sites

10.8 Million 42,311 115 Toa t l St. louis county Visitors at the Tails & Weddings were held in park attendance Trails dog park St. Louis County Parks

303,000+ 985,000 Visitors enjoyed our tVisits o the Creve coeur 77 Shelters for family park soccer complex events, birthday parties, fundraisers, etc.

4 2019 Annual Report Department Financials

1.7% 3.7% 1.7% 5.1%

41.6% 2019 Revenue Sources 10.6% Property Tax...... 41.6% Sales Tax (Prop P)...... 22.2% Metro Parks Sales Tax...... 13.4% Rents & Concessions...... 10.6% Park & Rec Charges...... 5.1% Other Revenue-Debt Service...... 3.7% 13.4% Other Revenue...... 1.7% Investment Earnings...... 1.7%

22.2% 0.1%

0.5% 6.8%

7.6% 40.2% 2019 Expenditures Salaries...... 40.2% Purchased Services...... 20.6% 7.7% Fringes...... 16.5% Commodities...... 7.7% Transfer Payments...... 7.6% Other Expenses...... 6.8% Capital Allowances...... 0.5% 16.5% Personal Allowances...... 0.1%

20.6%

2020 Budgeted Revenue Sources 2020 Budgeted Expenditures Sales Tax (Prop P) $6,715,800 Salaries $12,899,378 Property Tax $12,344,247 Fringes $5,790,539 Metro Parks Sales Tax $4,388,000 Purchased Services $6,647,315 Rents & Concessions $3,296,759 Commodities $2,578,031 Park & Rec Charges $1,476,000 Personal Allowances $85,436 Other Revenue $380,740 Other Expenses $2,004,904 Other Revenue-Debt Service $1,127,138 Transfer Payments $2,223,251 Investment Earnings $248,012 Capital Allowances $3,678,030 Fund Balance $5,930,188 Total $35,906,884 Total $35,906,884

www.stlouisco.com/parks 5 Through the hiring of new individuals, we were able to expand and improve upon our Park programs, facilities, trails, waterways and green space. We are sad to see employees go who dedicated a large part of their working years to the St. Louis County Parks staff Department, but we look forward to growing with our new employees. New Hires

Ashley Alder Maribeth Esteep Kevin Keith Fatina Peterson Marlon Shepperd Secretary Accountant I Building System Spec - Electric Accountant I Park Ranger Affton C.C. Fiscal Trades Fiscal - Revenue Tilles

Diane Balutis Rich Fauth Forps Kuawogai Scott Peterson Ryan Shoults Accountant I Structural Specialist Construction Project Manager BMW MWI Fiscal Carpentry DDG Lemay Laumeier

June Bernaugh Holly Fleig Russell Lawson Justin Rees John Spencer Accounting Manager Secretary MDII MD II-Grading Maintenance Worker I Fiscal Pavilion at Lemay Trades / Grading Transfer JB

Jeff Bonney Russell Green Janet Menderski Tom Robinson Lisa White Maintenance Manager MWI Maintenance Supervisor MWI Dispatcher Creve Coeur Queeny Bee Tree Asphalt crew - JB Tilles

Terry Cheek Jerril Hemphill Joe Murphy Dana Ross Ebrum Williams Maintenance Worker I MWI MWI Materials/Inventory Specialist MWI Tilles Suson Suson Fiscal Sioux Passage

Orel Dahan Guinn Hinman Tim Newport Charles Schaefer David Wright Ranger Historical Sites Manager Building System Mechanic MDII MWI Ranger Control Administration Plumber assistant - Trades Forestry Queeny

Eric Day Caitlyn Isriggs Kelly Ollegis Jacob Scruggs MD II MWI MDI Recreation Supervisor Forestry Laumeier Horticulture group St. Vincent C.C.

Promotions

Michael Beidenstein Krista Farrow Chad Hill Steve Lamping Catlin Reuter PPS Manager Volunteer Coordinator MLSC MWII Recreation Supervisor

Yvette Bly Don Gerling Charles Holmes Mugs Michaelree Jackie Robinson MLSC Operations Manager Park Ranger South Area District Manager St. Vincent Complex Manager

AJ Brown Diane Gove Tom Hughes Joe Montgomery Jerome Smith Maintenance Manager MWI West Area District Manager Park Ranger Lead Park Ranger

Zac Cooper Kristin Griffy James Hurley Tom Ott Dave Solomon MD Lead MWI Recreation Supervisor Director MWII

Tim Emmons Mark Harbor Jerry Kraus Andrea Peterson-Herron Paul Thomas Museum Educator Maintenance Supervisor MWII Accountant II MLSC

Dan Reiwer Kris Unger Park Ranger Maintenance Supervisor Retirements

Gary Bess Jim Emery Mike Hodges, Dennis Muck Bruce Thomas Director, 5 years Maintenance Supervisor, 40 District Manager, 43 years Maintenance Lead/Site Coord, MWII, 31 years years 42 years Gerry Biedenstein John Huelsing Carolyn Weingaertner Construction Project Manager, Jim Foley MWI, 8 years John Stanger Accounting Manager, 32 years 36 years PPS Manager, 38 years Maintenance Lead/Site Coord, Yvette Luedde 35 years Deborah Bohnert Jim Gerken Maintenance Supervisor, 35 Recreation Supervisor, 35 years Operations Manager, 20 years years Joe Strasser Maintenance Manager, 50 years Ray Cliffe Dave Herberg Matt Meiners MWI, 30 years Park Ranger, 38 years MWI, 28 years

6 2019 Annual Report Park RangeP r rograms In 2019, our Rangers provided 187 educational programs that were attended by over 7,889 people. In Rangers total, these programs brought in more than . $14,000 St. Louis County Park Rangers are responsible for public relations, protection and programming in the • Creve Coeur After Hours • Fishing Day Camps parks. With six recreational facilities, six historic and • Lone Elk Campout • Special Request cultural sites and over 70 parks, our Park Rangers have • Caving Youth Programs a big job. Along with keeping our visitors, waterways • Hayrides at Lone Elk • Canoeing and trails safe, the Park Rangers also create and • Cliff Cave Capers • Archery implement a wide variety of educational programs. These year-round classes are offered at little or no cost. Thank you! Safety Statistics Many of our programs are only made possible due to the generosity and dedication of valued partners. A Warnings Issued...... 1,251 big thank you to our following partners: Citations...... 22 Creve Coeur Lake Rentals Summons...... 7 Great Rivers Greenway Ranger Reports...... 14 Department of Conservation In October 2019, St. Louis County Park Rangers South County Archers provided nine free safety awareness training for St. Louis Geocachers Association Parks employees and the public. Topics included trail National Recreation & Park Association etiquette, Narcan, intruders and programs.

www.stlouisco.com/parks 7 8 2019 Annual Report We take great pride in being the regional park system for St. Louis County, and we are always striving to offer new Activities, and unique outings for individuals and families. The St. Louis County Parks programming staff work very hard to provide a variety of year-round activities and events for Attractions the surrounding communities. Our activities range from Parks Food Truck Fest and summer camps, to the annual and Events JB Blast!

86,781 167,109 Total program attendance 9,000 in 2019 Total event attendance JB Blast (not including Winter Wonderland) in 2019 1,980 11,450 Thornhill Open House and Historic Village Open House 151,252 Food Truck Fests Winter Wonderland 2019 was the shortest season as Thanksgiving was as late as 11,017 it can be. 7,889 Visits to the St. Louis Ranger Programs Carousel 1,100 Farm Fridays

Winter wonderland

The 34th Annual Winter Wonderland opened in November 2019 at . At this event visitors can walk through Winter Wonderland with children, dogs, strollers and wagons and take in the twinkling lights of over one million holiday lights. Winter Wonderland 2019 was the shortest season as Thanksgiving was as late as it can be. It was our first year using Metrotix for the Winter Wonderland Walk ticket sales. In the first 15 minutes tickets went on sale, 7,500 were sold! This year was also the first for Winter Wonderland to have a dedicated website – www.wwlstl.com. There, visitors could find details about the event and have many of their questions answered. The site generated over 300,000 total page views during the season.

people drove through separate light displays designed, 107,865 Winter Wonderland at Tilles built and maintained by Parks Park in 2019 845 staff

people were able to see the St. Louis County Parks employees 24,038 Winter Wonderland display 21 designed and setup Winter while on a horse-drawn carriage Wonderland

walked through Winter couples “popped the question” at Wonderland 2019 during Winter Wonderland 19,349 one of our popular Winter 6 Wonderland Walk sessions

www.stlouisco.com/parks 9 Faust Park

Cultural Faust Park delivered a variety of successful programs, events, and restoration projects to over 400,000 visitors – including students – in 2019. Visitors to the “Rendezvous and historic with the Past” had an opportunity to experience life as an early European settler by camping on original Louisiana sites Purchase property, and at picnics and dinners, guests could celebrate Missouri’s statehood, experience the kinds of dinners settlers ate from chuckwagons, and enjoy fine dining near the heat of the hearth.

Children had the opportunity to experience life in this part of Missouri nearly two centuries ago during Faust’s “Olden Days for Children” and combined their art and construction skills during “Pioneer Crafts for Kids.” In a slightly more structured environment, students and daytime campers worked, learned, and played alongside Faust’s educators in the “Farmsteading,” “Passage West,” varied “Frontier” programs, and a variety of scout programs.

Evening events, such as the “Candelight Stroll,” “Night at the Movies,” “Evening at the Cemetery,” and hayrides, including new options for accessible hayrides, allowed visitors to experience both the beauty of the architecture and grounds at Faust in the twilight as well as life before electricity and light bulbs.

Laumeier Sculpture Park In preparation for the state of Missouri’s bicentennial in 2021, the ongoing restoration of “Thornhill,” the estate of Named one of the top 10 sculpture parks in the world, Missouri’s second governor, Frederick Bates, continued serves 300,000 visitors annually with work performed on its icehouse, smokehouse, and is free and open to the public daily. The focus for main barn, and granary, including the installation of a 2019 was on expanding Community Outreach, new new exhibit in the granary. Preservation and restoration Education Programs and Public Events. work was performed on houses and barns in the historic village as well as the park’s operational 1921 Dentzel Laumeier’s Community Artist In-Residence program carousel. welcomed visiting artists, scholars and thinkers to spend time at the park and engage with Laumeier’s programs and audiences. Each ‘”residency” was designed to Bissell House facilitate exchanges with the community and forge connections between art and nature. In 2019, repair work to the plaster walls inside the closets of the Bissell House began. Items stored in the closets In 2019, Laumeier introduced two new additions to the were relocated to another area of the house for long Community and School Tours Program; STEAM Into term storage. The columns on the north porch of the Laumeier allows kids to explore the intersections of arts 1890s wing were replaced and painted. Maintenance on and science while EngAGING Arts provides off-site visits, a building 200 years old is constant. The Bissell Swap van tours and walking tours for older adults of varying Meet held in June was well attended and continues to capabilities. receive support from the local community eager to raise money selling their unique treasures. The Holiday season In February we brought the heat with Fire and Light, a was unique as the St. Louis Mourning Society welcomed large-scale evening event featuring artist demonstrations visitors to the Bissell House in December to view the that use fire as a tool for artistic production. A full year house decorated for the season and hear scary stories, a of Programs and Events served 40,000 people of all ages tradition from Victorian days. and included the Annual Art Fair, Conversation Series, Family Workshops, Night Out and Makers Night, Clay Military Miniatures: Toy Soldiers from the Collection: Classes, Art Camp and Free Family Days. Toy soldiers have been used for centuries as playthings

10 2019 Annual Report the liberation of Northwestern Europe from German domination, the events of 1944 was the focus of the Old Ordnance Room exhibit explored the events of the spring and summer of 1944, covering D-Day and the Battle of the Hedgerows. As the year progressed, the exhibit was modified to tell the story of the race across France, the liberation of the Netherlands, the push into the Rhineland the Battle of the Bulge. It opened on February 23 and closed at the end of December in 2019.

Jefferson Barracks experienced significant structural improvements at two of the oldest buildings remaining from its early military history. The slate roofs were replaced on the 1851 Laborers House and Ordnance Stable. These structures, along with the 1851 stone powder magazine, were originally built to address the need to separate the powder and ordnance used by the army from the barracks area where troops were quartered. The 1939 Nurses Quarters, now containing offices for the St. Louis County Parks staff also received a and as tools of military planning and strategy. Their new slate roof. popularity grew in the early 18th century due to the campaigns of Frederick the Great. These modeled figures The Friends of Jefferson Barracks supported the offered tremendous detail depicting actual soldiers preservation efforts in Jefferson Barracks by having the and specific units of various armies of the world. The Old Arsenal Gates sandblasted and repainted so that it exhibition featured toy soldiers from the Daniel Bissell will continue to showcase the significant history of the House Collection which were donated by Beverly (Bissell) United States military in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Kalish. Additional exhibit items were loaned by Karen Kalish. Visitors learned about these toys and the time Chapter 21 of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Association period they represent, including where the units they donated a bench with brigade crest, a commemorative portray served and what battles that they participated stone and a beautifully landscaped setting near the Old in the past, as the tour guides described their uniforms Ordnance Museum in Jefferson Barracks Historic Site and provided insight into their history. This exhibit was to honor its service to our Country. It was dedicated by held in the Bissell House in 2019 and over 923 people County Executive Sam Page and Council Ernie Trakas attended the exhibit. on October 5, 2019. This is the first Vietnam memorial in Jefferson Barracks. Known as the “Sky Soldiers”, the F ort Belle Fontaine 173rd played a major role in the Viet Nam War and have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. The 2019 Eagle Watch sponsored by the Friends of Fort Belle Fontaine had well over 400 visitors thanks to wonderful weather and featured Birds of Prey presented by the World Bird Sanctuary. A live eagle was also brought so visitors could relax in a heated tent and see the National Symbol up close. The event was held on January 26 and an annual event always held on the Saturday after Martin Luther King Jr Day.

Jefferson Barracks

World War II was a primary historical event for much of the world as 2019 marked the 75th Anniversary of “D-Day” and the beginning of the end of the Second World War. Jefferson Barracks Historic Site initiated a year of exhibit and programming dedicated to recognizing the valor and sacrifice of the United States military with the exhibit, “Looking Back from 75: The Liberation of Northwestern Europe”. As a reflection on

www.stlouisco.com/parks 11 Recreation Centers Our six recreation and community centers are a vital part of St. Louis County Parks. They provide our residents with programs, activities and amenities that promote an active lifestyle for both the mind and the body. Due to the positive impact these facilities have on the community, our staff works diligently to ensure that we are constantly providing new and great programming to help keep our residents active and healthy. Locations North County Recreation Complex Veterans Memorial Park 2577 Redman Road * St. Louis, MO 63136

St. Vincent Community Center St. Vincent Park 7335 St. Charles Rock Rd. * St. Louis, MO 63133

Affton White-Rodgers Community Center 9801 Mackenzie Road * St. Louis, MO 63123 Recreation Center Attendance The Pavilion at Lemay Jefferson Barracks Park Our six Community Centers engaged and served more 305 Gregg Road * St. Louis, MO 63125 than 690,000 St. Louisans in 2019. Gym/Arena...... 201,540 Kennedy Recreation Complex General Attendance...... 95,712 6050 Wells Road * St. Louis, MO 63128 Ice Rinks...... 93,912 Programs & Events...... 82,092 Greensfelder Recreation Complex Pools & Aquatic Centers...... 79,434 Queeny Park Meeting Room Rentals...... 74,158 550 Weidman Road * St. Louis, MO 63011 Fitness Room Attendance...... 64,163 Total...... 691,011 Amenities 9% - Pools / Aquatic Centers - Pickleball Courts 29% 11% - Fitness Classes - Dance Classes - Free Weights - Day Camps - Fitness Machines - Swimming Lessons - Indoor Tracks - Special Events - Basketball / Volleyball - Educational Classes 11% 691,011 ttetotal a ndance Courts - Ice Rinks - Multi-purpose Rooms - Party Room Rentals - Meeting Rooms - Tot Care 12% - Large Event Spaces 14%

14%

12 2019 Annual Report Park Volunteers St. Louis County is extremely grateful to the many group and individual volunteers who help us enhance and maintain our County parks for residents and visitors alike! In 2019, volunteers donated 67,428 volunteer hours with a total value wage of $1,714,694.04. Volunteers donated 67,428 total volunteer hours

With a total value wage of $1,714,694.04* *Based on an hourly rate of $25.43 per hour we obtain annually from The Independent Sector.

Special Thanks to Our Partners *St. Louis County Parks has a strong, ongoing partnership with Gateway Off-Road Cyclists (GORC) volunteers who take a leadership role in designing, building and maintaining our trails; GORC leads all our Trail Crew volunteer projects for us!

*We have long-standing group projects with Great Rivers Greenway, Missouri Stream Team, Open Space Council of St. Louis, and St. Louis Audubon Society that proactively coordinate park clean-up events, honeysuckle removal and other environmentally-focused volunteer efforts in our parks.

*Thanks to Bayer, Edward Jones, Graybar, and Painters & Allied Trades District Council 58 along with other corporations who volunteered to beautify our parks! For information on how to volunteer in your St. Louis County Parks, visit *We appreciate continued support from many educational groups our website or contact us at: including but not limited to Brentwood High School, Gateway Science Academy, Hancock High School, Lutheran North High School, St. [email protected] Louis Community College at Meramec, and St. Louis University. (314) 615-8865

*A special thank you to the United States Naval Construction Battalion, better known as the Seabees, for collaborating with park staff on repairing a horse structure and erecting an 800 foot fence pasture for the horses that are part of our Park Rangers Mounted Unit.

*Thank you to the Missouri Botanical Garden and the University of Missouri Extension St. Louis Master Gardeners Program that helps us recruit experienced gardening volunteers.

*We are appreciative of the efforts of our dedicatedParks Friends groups that continue to keep the legacy of the museums and cultural sites running smoothly by supplying volunteers and support to events and museum staffing.

www.stlouisco.com/parks 13 2019 Highlights Stanley at suson In case you missed it, 2019 was a huge year for St. Louis sports fans. The St. Louis Blues took home their first Stanley Cup in the franchise’s history. On July 9, just weeks after the win the miniature donkey at Suson Park, Penny, gave birth. The Blues win inspired staff at Suson to give the new foal a winning name – Stanley. Children’s Garden Club Celebrates its 20th Year 2019 was a special year for one of St. Louis County Parks’ & Garden Shop and many others have opened their longstanding programs. The Children’s Garden Club businesses and supplied materials for the group. celebrated its 20th year of bringing kids out of the house and into the garden. Each month the club focuses on a different theme. Past topics include health and nutrition, vegetable garden The idea for the club came when Doug Wolter, St. Louis planting, pollinators, sensory gardens and more. Children County Parks Horticulturalist, would spend time in the will start their projects and take them home to continue to garden with his children. “My children, seeing nature, being grow and enjoy. a part of nature, growing vegetables and having ladybugs crawl on their arms inspired me. I like gardening and it’s an “Children learn to love and respect nature. They can grow, experience that my children and I can do together.” produce and see the rewards. The kids just get a sense of accomplishment,” said Doug. “I think now it is more After presenting a garden program at a preschool, Doug important to get children outside to appreciate what we found that many parents wanted these same outdoor have.” experiences for their children and so began the Children’s Garden Club.

In 2000, Children’s Garden Club held its first meeting with about a dozen children in attendance. Since then the number has grown, the group can expect between 30-40 children to attend on average, but just last month more than a hundred kids and parents packed in to Sherwood’s Forest Nursery to learn about bonsais.

The club is free to attend and meets on the first Saturday of every month. Each month a different local nursery or garden center in St. Louis County or City hosts the club. Sherwood’s Forest Nursery, Planthaven Farms, Greenscape Garden, Sappington Garden Center, Maypop Coffee

MPRw A A ards Two Parks Department employees received awards at the Missouri Park & Recreation Association conference held in Branson in March, 2019. Paul Kettenbach, Recreation Supervisor at Kennedy Recreation Complex, received the Aquatic Section Outstanding New Professional Award. We are proud of the incredible work done by our staff.Michael Biedenstein, Recreation Events Coordinator, earned the Associate Fellow Award. This is the second highest award the MPRA gives out.

14 2019 Annual Report Completed Selected Projects Projects Completed in 2019 The Design and Development Group (DDG) is the Parks professional design and project management staff. DDG • Design Septic System Replacements at Greensfelder is assigned delivery of capital improvements, facility Park and Queeny Park and park site upgrades, renovations, and supporting the • Expand the Parking lot at the Pavillion at Lemay in Parks staff annual work program. DDG Projects include Jefferson Barracks Park those funded by appropriate funds as well as projects • Design new Entrance and Exit gates at Lone Elk Park financed by partners. This group performs land use • Design replacement restrooms at Mathilda Park and agreement support, permanent easement review and two at Spanish Lake Park administration for work in Parks. Other support services • Design improvements to Suson Lake to enhance were contracted out to make these achievements fishery possible in 2019. • Design a sanitary sewer connection at Ohlendorf Park • Install new restrooms at Tilles Park and Queeny Park • Design a new entrance marquee at Veteran’s Memorial Park • Install a new HVAC at the Seeds Visitor’s Center at Faust Park • Replace the Condensing Unit and controls for the HVAC at Affton Community Center • Design roof repairs at the Affton Community Center • Replace the bearings on the pedestrian bridge over MO-141 from Creve Coeur Park • Design drainage improvements at the Dog Park facility at Queeny Park • Install new Family Trail pods at Jefferson Barracks Park

Pa rks Partnerships

Trail development projects were achieved through co- ordination with our regional Trail Development Partner, Great Rivers Greenways (GRG), using funds from GRG revenue collected in St. Louis County for trail projects in St. Louis County. The following Trail development projects moved forward in 2019, with DDG staff performing as Owner’s Representa- tive with agreements, design, and construction funding by GRG: • St. Vincent Greenway, a trail connection between St. Charles Rock Road and the existing trail in St. Vincent Park was designed. • Gravois Greenway Phase II & III; the Grants Trail Extension • Enhanced Trail Signage in Creve Coeur Park for the Fee Fee Greenway to Katy Trail

www.stlouisco.com/parks 15 park Operations Park Operations Crews oversee the care and maintenance of all St. Louis County parks and facilities. Operations is made up of professionals in forestry, horticulture, grading, carpentry, plumbing, welding and more.

Forestry Carpentry • 572 trees planted • 100 work orders completed • 397 trees trimmed • 1,042 trees removed Plumbing • 471 stumps grinded • 130 work orders completed • 306 work orders completed Welder Horticulture • 70 work orders completed • 20,244 annuals planted • 1,156 perennials planted Sign Shop • 451 vegetables and herbs planted • 175 work orders completed • 824 spring flowering bulbs planted Completed Projects Asphalt • Creve Coeur – Branwood and fisherman parking lot • 143 work orders completed reconstructions • 5,885 tons of asphalt laid • Jefferson Barracks – Installation of pods along new • 848 gallons of primer used Family Trail • 53 tons of rock placed • Laumeier – Grading for steel building and concrete • Six game courts updated at Bohrer, Endicott, foundation, water main repair at maintenance park Queeny, St. Vincent, Castlepoint and Sylvan Springs entrance • Antire Valley – Road and parking lot construction Electrical • Queeny Dog Park – Drainage repair • 98 work orders completed • Bohrer – Spray pool repair • North County Recreation Complex – Sidewalk repairs Grading • Endicott – Grade water away from tennis court • 174 work orders completed • Queeny and Jefferson Barracks – Tub grinds • 46 bandwagon runs • Greensfelder Recreation Complex – New culvert • 587 loads of various items, dirt, debris, mulch, salt, constructed across main road asphalt and concrete debris totaling 10,566 tons • Bissell House – Drainage repair • 4,949 tons of rock hauled • Bee Tree – Detention ponds built • 15,515.71 total tons hauled

b y the numbers

restrooms miles of asphalt 17,443 cleaned 10,888 trails maintained

fifty-five gallon acres of grass drums of trash 45,284 mowed 44,000 removed

shelters total work orders 6,840 prepared for use 1,196 completed

16 2019 Annual Report Ridge Prairie at Queeny Park. Supplemental seeding was from a grant obtained from the Missouri Natural Department of Conservation. • Expanded the West Prairie by 3 acres to make a total of 7 acres of prairie. Tasks included: mowing, Resources spraying, burning and ordered prairie grass and The Natural Resources/Environmental Division within wildflower seed. the Department of Parks and Recreation is responsible • Collected and seeded 40 pounds of river oats for providing for the health, inspiration and education and Virginia wild rye in an area that was intensely of the people of St. Louis County by helping to managed for invasive species. The two native grasses preserve the County’s extraordinary biological diversity, will maintain a native ground cover and begin to protecting its most valued natural resources and creating restore the site. opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Park staff are continually working to manage and maintain St. Vincent our beautiful prairies, woodlands, savannas and wetlands • Partnering with the Great Rivers Greenway, Missouri while battling invasive species such as honeysuckle Department of Conservation and U.S. Fish & Wildlife throughout the parks system. Service to re-construct prairies, woodlands, savanna on 10 acres at St. Vincent Park. Park Staff • Some honeysuckle was eliminated and the prairie • Added one part-time position to the Environmental and savanna areas were chemically treated. Division. • Staff attended various training workshops Prescribed Burns and meetings. Topics included Meramec • Conducted prescribed burns at Queeny, Fort Bella River, conservation training, Maryland Height Fontaine, Greensfelder, & Creve Coeur Parks. developments, trails, and wetlands, to list a few. • Developed resource management plans for the Invasive Species larger parks with active on-going natural resource • Staff continued to cut, mow, pull and spray a number projects. These plans serve as guidelines and outline of invasive species primarily at Queeny, Creve Coeur, the necessary tasks for the projects to be a success. Little Creve Coeur and Cliff Cave Parks.

Winter Park • Planted 128 native bottomland trees at Winter Park. Trees were obtained from Forest Re-Leaf. • Prepped the planting site and removed callery pear.

Lower Meramec • Cut and Installed 350 willow stakes along the Meramec riverbank in Lower Meramec Park to reduce bank erosion. Stakes were cut from Winter Park. Partners included the Open Space Council of St. Louis and Great Rivers Greenway.

Creve Coeur • With Audubon Society of St. Louis volunteers removed honeysuckle and maintained the pollinator gardens at Mallard Lake. • Managed the new 8 acres of prairie along Mallard Lake by mowing and spraying.

Little Creve Coeur • Seeded 25 pounds of wetland seed at Little Creve Coeur in the north portion of the site. • High water levels throughout the year restricted access to some areas of the park reducing required management.

Queeny • Seeded 20 pounds of wildflower seed in the East

www.stlouisco.com/parks 17 St.C Louis ounty Parks Foundation

Since its establishment in 2015, the St. Louis County Louis County Parks Department. The final Family Trail is Parks Foundation has worked to support and promote planned at Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park. the facilities, programs, capital improvements and resources of St. Louis County Parks. The Foundation provided matching funds with the Parks Department to build new entrance and exit structures In March 2019, the Foundation received the Citation at Lone Elk Park. The majority of work was completed - Organization Award from the Missouri Park and in 2019 and finished in 2020. Visitors to Lone Elk Park Recreation Association. The award is given to an are now welcomed by a full scale two-dimensional steel organization that has made an outstanding contribution elk. The entrance also features rough-hewn oak timber to recreation and parks. columns with River Stone cladding, overhead wood beams, new signage and new security gates. All of the This year, the Foundation continued its goal to have wood being used for the new structures comes from additional Family Trails developed. The Family Trail white oak trees previously identified for removal from St. concept was designed to encourage multi-generational Louis County Parks. use and features “pods” along a trail, each containing children’s play structures and exercise equipment for Currently, the Foundation is working on a strategic adults. Kids, parents and grandparents can all share plan that will help provide direction in conjunction these spaces along trails that combine fun and exercise. with the recently completed Master Plan for the Parks Department. In 2018 the first Family Trail was built in Spanish Lake Park. In 2019, the second Family Trail at Jefferson Visit the Foundation website at www. Barracks Park was created along the 1.1 mile South stlcountyparksfoundation.org to see the project list, Dennis Schick Loop Trail. A dedication ceremony was suggest a new project and learn how you can get held in November. The Foundation raised over $100,000 involved in helping protect and preserve our St. Louis to complete this project with additional funding County Parks. provided by the Friends of Jefferson Barracks and St.

18 2019 Annual Report Looking Ahead In 2019, St. Louis County Parks focused on implementing improvements that were recommended from the St. Louis County Parks Master Plan. The Master Plan was developed between 2016 and 2018 and provides direction for the Department. In 2020, the following Master-plan recommendation will shape the projects that St. Louis County Parks will implement:

• Design renovations to the Greensfelder Recreation Complex at Queeny Park • Replace the restroom by Dripping Springs at Creve Coeur Park, two restrooms at Spanish Lake Park, and the restroom and splash-pad at Mathilda- Wehlmering Park. • Connect Ohlendorf restroom to the public sewer • Design restroom replacements at Bohrer Park • Design repairs or replacement of restroom a Lemay Park • Install Family Trail pods at Queeny Park • Replace the playground at Veterans Memorial Park, at the North County Recreation Complex. • Lead abatement, mill work, and paint at the Jarville House and carriage house at Queeny Park. • Install new entrance marquee at Veterans Memorial Park • Implement roof repairs at Affton Community Center • Replace the roof at the Bates Barn at Faust Park • Replace the HVAC at the Powder Magazine museum at Jefferson Barracks Park • Replace the play area surface at St. Vincent Park • Replace siding at Bissel Barn and walkways around the Bissel House • Design new ADA parking spaces at Lower Shelter at Bee Tree Park and at shelter at St. Vincent Park • Design new walking trail by Music School in Faust Park Saint Louis County Parks & Recreation Administrative Offices 41 S. Central Avenue, 7th Floor Clayton, Missouri 63105 (314) 615-4FUN | www.stlouisco.com/parks