Forest Park: The Strength of Partnerships in 314

Like many in St. Louis on this 314Day, our nonprofit is grounded in pride and celebrating our city.

Aerial from above the Probstein Golf Course in Forest Park. The Emerson Grand Basin is to the right of center, and the St. Louis Arch is tucked into a cluster of buildings further into the distance along the horizon. | Photo by Steve Jett

We’re thinking of how many St. Louis partners collaborate with us to make our beloved Forest Park the Best City Park in the U.S. two years in a row!

Throughout the year, when locals and tourists alike visit the Park to check out the Missouri History Museum, The Muny, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Saint Louis Science Center and the Saint Louis Zoo or to attend festivals and other events, they’re coming to a place that is passionately maintained and continuously improved for all.

Our unique public-private partnership with the City of St. Louis is one of the roots of the Park. The base of operations for the City’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry is in Forest Park. Managing over 110 parks across the city, their insights and expertise in park experiences are vital. Our teams collaborate daily to maintain the urban green space for 15 million annual visits and sustain its future.

Above: It takes a productive partnership to plant new and manage growing trees, respond to emergency needs like the July 2022 floods, maintain infrastructure and restore waterways.

Forest Park Forever’s staff has horticulturalists and gardeners, fundraisers, engineers and designers — among other roles — who work with other field experts to make Forest Park a regional treasure. In the past year, teams have partnered on job-sharing and safety training. We’ve collaborated on a nationwide cooling study and workshops that raise awareness of trees’ benefits for urban habitats.

Outside of March 14, our conservancy is celebrating the strengths of cooperation with the allée tree replacement on the Visitor Center parking lots — Department of Forestry crews used heavy machinery to remove invasive pear trees while Forest Park Forever prepares the site for new trees that we’ll begin planting this week.

Whether planting new trees, managing the Park’s 47,000 trees, maintaining infrastructure, planning beautiful landscapes or responding to emergencies like last July’s floods, St. Louisans working together keeps the Park a point of pride for our region day after day, season after season.