As the St. Louis community gears up for another Give STL Day — taking place on May 5, 2015 — we wanted to provide an update to the community that generously rallied around our 2014 initiative.

As many will remember, we made a call to support and expand Monarch Butterfly Habitats located within Forest Park. We were grateful to receive nearly $12,000 from more than 120 gifts. This placed FPF in the top 10 of money raised during Give STL Day 2014 — out of more than 500 participating nonprofits.

Since receiving this support in 2014, our team has identified and prepared site installation of a butterfly "garden," located on the strip of turf between the recreational path and the waterway just west of Franklin bridge (southeast of Round Lake). The area is about 1/4 acre in size and will receive 2,300 plants this spring and summer.

We are in the process of prepping and spraying as well as removing the turf grass and other undesirable vegetation. This summer, plants will be installed after arriving from a nursery that is growing them out for us. Give STL Day funds will also used to purchase seeds that will help to complement the wildflowers that will be planted this year, as well as to plant plugs in the fall and add additional seeds in the winter.  

Thanks again to all those who supported Give STL Day 2014. Keep an eye out for details coming very soon about what special initiative we are raising funds for this year. 

As always, thank you for your support of Forest Park.