January 9, 2013 (St. Louis) – On Tuesday, Jan. 8, the Great Rivers Greenway Board of Directors, as part of its mission to make the St. Louis region a better place to live, voted unanimously in favor of establishing the Safe & Accessible Arch Citizen’s Committee, an advisory group of citizens that will provide input on the CityArchRiver 2015 project.
Great Rivers Greenway will lead the engagement process in cooperation with CityArchRiver 2015 Foundation and other project partners, including MoDOT, the City of St. Louis, the National Park Service and others. The 30-person committee will contain members from the entire St. Louis metropolitan region. Participants will give input on programs, activities, visitor experience, and the long-term preservation of the CityArchRiver 2015 project. The district hopes to begin an open call for participants by Wednesday, March 13, 2013.
The Metropolitan Parks and Recreation District (also known as “Great Rivers Greenway”) was formed in 2000, when citizens voted in favor of clean water, safe parks and community trails. The organization has long sought public input in every initiative since its creation, including the citizen-driven regional plan, which serves as the framework for all projects the district undertakes, and strives to reflect citizen goals.
“Involving the public is integral to the success of every project, and CityArchRiver 2015 Project is no exception,” said Susan Trautman, executive director of Great Rivers Greenway. “There has been significant public input throughout this effort, and adding the citizen advisory committee will ensure the long-term preservation of the CityArchRiver 2015 project.”
“In order to carry out our mission of making the region a better place to live, we have to consider the implications of our projects and the desires of the people. The CityArchRiver 2015 project is incredibly transformative, seeking to reconnect St. Louis to its river. We are issuing a broad call for input because this project has the potential to transform the entire region,” Trautman said.
City of St. Louis Alderman Scott Ogilvie attended the meeting and weighed in on the measure. He offered thanks to district director Susan Trautman for reaching out to collaborate on the resolution, noting that the effort was a meaningful gesture to involve the public in the project.
Following the board’s approval, Great Rivers Greenway will work with its partners in the next few months to lay the groundwork for the committee, and hopes to open the call for applications as soon as March 13, 2013.
About Great Rivers Greenway:
Great Rivers Greenway was created by a vote of the people in 2000 with the goal of making the St. Louis region a better place to live. The public organization is carrying out the desires of the public by connecting an interconnected system of trails and greenways, designed to connect communities, provide transportation alternatives, preserve nature, improve health and increase the economic vitality of the region. Great Rivers Greenway includes St. Louis City and County and St. Charles County. For more information, visit www.grgstl.org.
For more information, contact:
Pamela Powell, The Hauser Group. (314) 436-9090
Danni Eickenhorst, Great Rivers Greenway (314) 932-4910 office; (314) 580-8874 mobile