IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

In November 2000, the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Charles County in Missouri and the Illinois counties of St. Clair and Madison approved Proposition C, the Clean Water, Safe Parks and Community Trails Initiative. Voters agreed to a one-tenth of one-cent sales tax to fund park and open space projects. The passage of Proposition C also established the Metropolitan Park and Recreation District in Missouri and the Metro East Park and Recreation District in Illinois to develop a regional system of parks and trails.

St. Louis County’s portion of these funds is from $3 to $4 million annually. The public has indicated, in the department’s Strategic Plan, that their primary desires are to see existing facility needs addressed and for new trails to be developed. The department has allocated the Proposition C annual funds predominantly to renovating infrastructure and existing structures, land acquisitions and trail development.

To maximize these funds, the department applies for grants from federal and state agencies. The department has also secured funding from the Metropolitan Park and Recreation District for the acquisition of critical lands and further development of the St. Louis County regional trail system.

For additional information on the park plans and construction projects currently underway, please click on one of the following: