A Look Back at a Fantastic 2018 in Forest Park

 
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As we begin another year with Forest Park serving as one of the region’s greatest civic treasures, the Forest Park Forever (FPF) team is proud to look back on 2018 and share some of the highlights from an exciting 12 months.

We worked hard to advance strategic and ambitious goals throughout 2018, helping Forest Park continue to be a vibrant, thriving destination for a diverse community of visitors from our region and around the world. We are grateful for our continued partnership with the City of St. Louis’ Department of Parks, Recreation & Forestry to restore, maintain and sustain Forest Park.

None of our work would be possible without YOU — the wonderful community of generous members, donors, volunteers, partners and visitors who sustain and bring Forest Park to life day after day. As you read some of our 2018 highlights below, please know we look forward to your continued involvement in Forest Park in the years ahead!

 

Volunteer & Visitor Services ℹ️

  • 1,357 — Total number of volunteers supporting our work!

  • 12,890 — Hours of service these volunteers invested in bettering Forest Park

  • 40,000 — Free Visitor Guides we distributed

  • 59,000 — Seasonal riders of the Forest Park Trolley

  • 132,000 — Uses of our free ForestParkMap.org web app (a 40% increase from 2017!)

Learning in Forest Park 💡

  • 4,579 — Total participants across our classes, tours and programs

  • 1,364 — Participants reached from high-needs communities

  • 10 — Number of local students taking part in our Nature Works workforce development program

  • 1,200 — Additional students reached through Nature Works school and site visits

Restoring, Maintaining & Sustaining Forest Park

Forest Park Forever is proud to partner with the City of St. Louis’ Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry as a steward of this treasure. Here are select 2018 highlights across our work on the greenscapes and hardscapes. Each project number with the images correspond to the map location below.

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Maintenance Projects 🔨

In 2018, Forest Park Forever funded $1.9M in critical Park maintenance projects, thanks to donors who have supported our efforts to expand our endowment for Park care. Each year, FPF and the City prioritize and select a year’s worth of projects. 2018 highlights include:

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1. THE CASCADES Repaired main water source pipe and reconstructed crumbling rock falls , enabling this icon to flow again.

1. THE CASCADES

Repaired main water source pipe and reconstructed crumbling rock falls, enabling this icon to flow again.

2. ART HILL BEDS Installed 400+ cubic yards of new subsurface soil and drains , added new drip irrigation system to reduce water usage and minimize overspray, added new single line of pop-up heads for seasonal colors plantings.

2. ART HILL BEDS

Installed 400+ cubic yards of new subsurface soil and drains, added new drip irrigation system to reduce water usage and minimize overspray, added new single line of pop-up heads for seasonal colors plantings.

3. GRAND BASIN FOUNTAINS Renovated fountain and lighting vaults at this iconic site.

3. GRAND BASIN FOUNTAINS

Renovated fountain and lighting vaults at this iconic site.

4. WORLD’S FAIR PAVILION Completed six-figure maintenance repairs to this historic structure, including the iconic roof and doors.

4. WORLD’S FAIR PAVILION

Completed six-figure maintenance repairs to this historic structure, including the iconic roof and doors.

5. SIDEWALK REPAIRS Reconstructed sinking sidewalk ramps at key locations, including around Pagoda Circle and on Fine Arts Drive, to retain ADA compliance.

5. SIDEWALK REPAIRS

Reconstructed sinking sidewalk ramps at key locations, including around Pagoda Circle and on Fine Arts Drive, to retain ADA compliance.

6. STREET IMPROVEMENTS With STL’s Streets Dept., milled, repaved and installed new street curbs along three major roads bordering Central Fields.

6. STREET IMPROVEMENTS

With STL’s Streets Dept., milled, repaved and installed new street curbs along three major roads bordering Central Fields.

7. ROUND LAKE DRINKING FOUNTAIN Added a new year-round water fountain with bottle filler and dog bowl at this key location.

7. ROUND LAKE DRINKING FOUNTAIN

Added a new year-round water fountain with bottle filler and dog bowl at this key location.

8. VICTORIAN FOOTBRIDGE Restored 1880s-era bridge , installing new deck and beams underneath.

8. VICTORIAN FOOTBRIDGE

Restored 1880s-era bridge, installing new deck and beams underneath.

Capital Projects ✅

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9. ENTRY MARKER Construction was substantially completed in 2018 on the new limestone entry marker — with new gathering plaza and lighting — at the Wells/Skinker entry to the Park. Landscaping will be completed in 2019.

9. ENTRY MARKER

Construction was substantially completed in 2018 on the new limestone entry marker — with new gathering plaza and lighting — at the Wells/Skinker entry to the Park. Landscaping will be completed in 2019.

10. LIBERAL ARTS BRIDGE & MUNY TRIBUTARY For this $3.1 M project, the new bridge opened in January 2018 , with the new path extension, meadow and waterway improvements taking shape in spring and summer. Project included 35,000 native planti

10. LIBERAL ARTS BRIDGE & MUNY TRIBUTARY

For this $3.1 M project, the new bridge opened in January 2018, with the new path extension, meadow and waterway improvements taking shape in spring and summer. Project included 35,000 native plantings, 69 new trees and 4,000 tons of rocks and boulders.

11. CENTRAL FIELDS This $5.8M project — improved fields for soccer, rugby and large comunity events, new facilities, new irrigation and drainage systems, and more — was substantially completed in 2018. Turf has been growing in. Stay tuned for

11. CENTRAL FIELDS

This $5.8M project — improved fields for soccer, rugby and large comunity events, new facilities, new irrigation and drainage systems, and more — was substantially completed in 2018. Turf has been growing in. Stay tuned for an exciting announcement about the reopening of the fields in 2019.

12. BOEING AVIATION FIELDS Broke ground on this $3.3 million project — lighting and irrigating all remaining fields, improving paths and visitor access — in fall 2018. Look for the fields to reopen this fall.

12. BOEING AVIATION FIELDS

Broke ground on this $3.3 million project — lighting and irrigating all remaining fields, improving paths and visitor access — in fall 2018. Look for the fields to reopen this fall.

Horticulture & Nature Reserve Highlights 🌱

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TREE PLANTING Our team planted 3,718 trees in 2018 . This number includes 3,300 trees planted in the Park’s Nature Reserve and 290 trees planted as part of capital improvements.

TREE PLANTING

Our team planted 3,718 trees in 2018. This number includes 3,300 trees planted in the Park’s Nature Reserve and 290 trees planted as part of capital improvements.

FOREST RESTORATION Strategically thinned and planted 24 acres of Park forest , including 3 acres during our Invasive Plant Removal Day in Successional Forest.

FOREST RESTORATION

Strategically thinned and planted 24 acres of Park forest, including 3 acres during our Invasive Plant Removal Day in Successional Forest.

CONTROLLED BURNS Completed prescribed burns of 13 acres — including, as pictured, in February — to help control the negative impacts of invasive and exotic species, enabling an influx of nutrients to reach the soils now that previous dead veget

CONTROLLED BURNS

Completed prescribed burns of 13 acres — including, as pictured, in February — to help control the negative impacts of invasive and exotic species, enabling an influx of nutrients to reach the soils now that previous dead vegetation debris has been burned away and sunlight can reach the soil more readily.

SEED PLANTING Throughout the Nature Reserve, our team applied more than 120 pounds of seed, helping ensure the future of these precious natural areas.

SEED PLANTING

Throughout the Nature Reserve, our team applied more than 120 pounds of seed, helping ensure the future of these precious natural areas.

BULB PLANTING Our staff and volunteers planted 53,300 bulbs throughout the Park, as well as 4,700 shrubs , grasses and perennials . Placed end to end, that number of bulbs would extend from Skinker to Kingshighway and back to Union. This

BULB PLANTING

Our staff and volunteers planted 53,300 bulbs throughout the Park, as well as 4,700 shrubs, grasses and perennials. Placed end to end, that number of bulbs would extend from Skinker to Kingshighway and back to Union. This aerial photo shows fall planting in one of the iconic Art Hill beds.

Special Milestones & Events 🏅

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CAMPAIGN CELEBRATION ‘Party at Pagoda’ welcomed the community for a free celebration to mark the successful close of Forever: The Campaign for Forest Park’s Future . This major fundraising effort is helping us tackle more annual Park mainten

CAMPAIGN CELEBRATION

‘Party at Pagoda’ welcomed the community for a free celebration to mark the successful close of Forever: The Campaign for Forest Park’s Future. This major fundraising effort is helping us tackle more annual Park maintenance projects and funding major capital projects across the Park.

RECORD WOMEN’S COMMITTEE YEAR Our Women’s Committee raised a record $450,000+ for Forest Park restoration and maintenance in 2018, including through the ever-popular Hat Luncheon.

RECORD WOMEN’S COMMITTEE YEAR

Our Women’s Committee raised a record $450,000+ for Forest Park restoration and maintenance in 2018, including through the ever-popular Hat Luncheon.

GOLF TOURNAMENT GROWS With more teams and sponsors, our golf tourney grew 30% in funds raised. Save the date for the 2019 Forest Park Forever Golf Tournament coming up on May 3.

GOLF TOURNAMENT GROWS

With more teams and sponsors, our golf tourney grew 30% in funds raised. Save the date for the 2019 Forest Park Forever Golf Tournament coming up on May 3.

OUR LARGEST 5K A record 1,000+ participants registered for our 5K Walk & Run, raising $34K .

OUR LARGEST 5K

A record 1,000+ participants registered for our 5K Walk & Run, raising $34K.

BRAND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN Park signage and digital campaign introduced Forest Park Forever to new audiences.

BRAND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

Park signage and digital campaign introduced Forest Park Forever to new audiences.

FRESH APPROACH TO YEAR-END GIVING New “For the Love of the Park” brand tied together all our year-end fundraising efforts.

FRESH APPROACH TO YEAR-END GIVING

New “For the Love of the Park” brand tied together all our year-end fundraising efforts.

TELETHON GROWTH Our second “Day 4 Forest Park” telethon on KMOV Channel 4 raised $24,500 , with an increase in unique donors and dollars.

TELETHON GROWTH

Our second “Day 4 Forest Park” telethon on KMOV Channel 4 raised $24,500, with an increase in unique donors and dollars.

NATIONAL PRESENCE Forest Park Forever’s leadership staff presented at and attended national conferences in their fields. In addition, Forest Park attracted increased their national presence in the press and national conferences. National press t

NATIONAL PRESENCE

Forest Park Forever’s leadership staff presented at and attended national conferences in their fields. In addition, Forest Park attracted increased their national presence in the press and national conferences. National press that covered Forest Park included Forbes, The New York Times and The Washington Post.

2018 Visitor Views 📷

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All the Feels ❤️

“Donating because this Park is so special to me! I became engaged on the foot bridge years ago, and this place is one of the gems of our city!
”
— Lauren E.
 
Capital Projects, Education, Events, Land Management, Maintenance, Nature, People, Photos, Visitors, VolunteersStephen Schenkenberg