EQUITY HOW THE GREENWAY CAN BE INCLUSIVE & JUST Equity for the Chouteau Greenway can be achieved through four practice areas, with progress noted through a series of metrics,
Improve the health and vibrancy of residents, neighborhoods, and environmental ecologies along the greenway where access, mobility, health and recreation exist.
Incorporate and connect local known and lesser known multicultural destinations, histories, narratives and traditions into the identity of the greenway’s design and function.
mmunity Par tic Co d ip an
Civ ic
Qu al i
y and Cult ur ntit e e Id
ion at
Create opportunities to increase businesses and job growth in a manner that increases household income and minimizes disparities for those most excluded (racial, gender and other minorities).
and Neig Life hb f o or ty
s od ho
s, and Wealt ob hC J , r ss
n tio ea
Bu sin e
some of which would be implemented and tracked by Great Rivers Greenway and some by other organizations in the region.
Create positive interactions, relationships and partnerships with civic and community organizations and residents that help increase users and stewards of the greenway.
CHOUTEAU GREENWAY FRAMEWORK PLAN | FALL 2019 | 29
EQUITY: HOW THE GREENWAY CAN BE INCLUSIVE & JUST EQUITABLE PRACTICE STRATEGIES These four equitable practice areas include the following 26 strategies and an even larger number of potential actions that can be deployed as a part of building, operating and activating the greenway (on-greenway), as well as through the
ON- AND OFF-GREENWAY
and Neig Life hb of or ty
DBP
WKF
RE
BRA
BI
BSM
BFI
FE
M/WBE PARTICIPATION & MONITORING
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT/ PARTICIPATION
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT
BUSINESS RETENTION & ATTRACTION
BUSINESS INCUBATION
BUSINESS SUPPORT & MENTORING
BUSINESS FINANCING & INCENTIVES
FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
ON- AND OFF-GREENWAY
and Cul tity tur en e Id
OFF-GREENWAY
EL
HW
ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP
HEALTH & WELLNESS
MOB
PS
AH
AD
CD CB
CP
RECREATION
MOBILITY
PUBLIC SAFETY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
ANTIDISPLACEMENT
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & CAPACITY BUILDING
COMMUNITY PLANNING
REC
ON- AND OFF-GREENWAY
mmunity Par tic Co ip
AIP
DP
SI
PE
ART INSTALLATIONS & PROGRAMS
CULTURAL REPRESENTATION: DESIGN & PLACEMAKING
CULTURAL PRESERVATION: STORYTELLING & INTERPRETATION
CULTURAL REPRESENTATION: PROGRAMS & EVENTS
ON-GREENWAY OFF-GREENWAY
ON- AND OFF-GREENWAY
ion at
d an Civ ic
OFF-GREENWAY
s od ho
Qu al i
s, and Wealt ob hC ,J s r s
n tio ea
Bu sin e
development of adjacent neighborhoods (off-greenway).
EN
EAP
ST
LCB
COM
ENGAGEMENT
EDUCATIONAL AWARENESS PROGRAMMING
STEWARDSHIP
LEADERSHIP & CAPACITY BUILDING
COMMUNICATIONS
30 | CHOUTEAU GREENWAY FRAMEWORK PLAN | FALL 2019
On-greenway refers to the greenway itself and property directly abutting the greenway. Off-greenway refers to the area within 1/4-mile (4 blocks or a 5-minute walk) of the greenway.
EQUITY: HOW THE GREENWAY CAN BE INCLUSIVE & JUST EQUITABLE PRACTICE ORGANIZATIONS Over 200 local organizations that participate in equitable practices have been identified through research and information provided by the project’s Working Group and Steering Committee members. This list is not exhaustive and shows a snapshot in time. These organizations, and others yet to be identified, represent opportunities to collaborate with
ORGANIZATIONS IDENTIFIED BY PRACTICE AREA Business, Jobs and Wealth Creation Quality of Life and Neighborhoods Identity and Culture Civic and Community Participation
Great Rivers Greenway on and alongside the greenway to maximize equitable processes and outcomes. All sectors of the community, and residents in particular, expressed a strong desire to see people who “looked like them” in leadership positions and doing the work of making the greenway a reality. The process of building, maintaining, sustaining and activating the greenway should be implemented by people and organizations that are representative of the city’s diverse populations. The following pages provide a list of St. Louis organizations identified to date that have the potential to participate in equitable development and programming.
300 Organizations
reporting to practice equitable strategies in St. Louis.
166 Organizations
practicing equity within the study area.
136 Organizations
practicing equity elsewhere in the region
42 33
Businesses, Jobs & Creating Wealth
71 42
Quality of Life & Neighborhoods
41 44
Identity & Culture
12 17
Civic Participation
CHOUTEAU GREENWAY FRAMEWORK PLAN | FALL 2019 | 31
EQUITY: HOW THE GREENWAY CAN BE INCLUSIVE & JUST EQUITABLE PRACTICE ORGANIZATIONS BUSINESS, JOBS AND WEALTH CREATION SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS • Metro/Bi-State Development • Employment Connection • Urban League • Mission STL • NAACP • Small Business Majority • St. Louis Mosaic Project • Unions • The MET Center • St. Patrick Center • St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) TRAINING • Launch Code • LUZCO Technologies • HOSCO Farms • Ranken Community Development Corporation • STL Community College • Youth Build • Goodwill • St. Patrick Center • Square One (SQ1) BUSINESS SUPPORT • Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce • Asian American Chamber of Commerce • St. Louis Regional Chamber • Hispanic Chamber of Commerce • Bosnian Chamber of Commerce • St. Louis Regional Business Council (RBC) • Small Business Administration • St. Louis Minority Business Council
MEASUREMENT & ACCOUNTABILITY • Forward Through Ferguson • Efficacy • MOKAN CCAC St. Louis Construction Contractors Assistance Center • ULI-STL • Association of General Contractors • U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation BANKS, LENDERS & DEVELOPERS • Enterprise Bank & Trust • U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation • St. Louis Community Credit Union • Rise Community Development • Neighborhood Community Development Corporations • IFF COORDINATING ORGANIZATIONS • St. Louis CDFI Coalition • City of St. Louis Planning Department • St. Louis Association of Community Organizations (SLACO) • St. Louis Development Corporation
32 | CHOUTEAU GREENWAY FRAMEWORK PLAN | FALL 2019
NETWORKING & SUPPORT • Center for Emerging Technology • Venture Café • T-Rex • Nebula • Delmar Devine • MultiPass • CIC - Coworking • Bob Virgil Center for Entrepreneurship at Harris Stowe State University • Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship at Saint Louis University • Social Entrepreneurship Certificate Program at Webster • Social Entrepreneurship Specialization at Brown School FUNDERS & ACCELERATORS • Accelerate St. Louis (RBC) • Ameren Accelerator • BioGenerator • Capital Innovators • Cultivation Capital • Diverse Business Accelerator (RBC) • St. Louis Community Credit Union • Prosper Women Entrepreneurs • SixThirty
QUALITY OF LIFE AND NEIGHBORHOODS LAND & SITES • Brightside St. Louis • Metropolitan Sewer District • REAP Farm • St. Louis City Parks Department • Good Life Growing ADVOCACY, EDUCATION & CAPACITY BUILDING • Gateway Greening • The Nature Conservancy • Missouri Coalition for the Environment • International Institute of St. Louis • Open Space Council • St. Louis Solidarity Economy • Trailnet • St. Louis Metro Market • Emerging Wisdom • Girls on the Run • Go! St. Louis Marathon • Places for People • St. Louis Food Policy Coalition (run by MCE) • YMCA of Greater St. Louis • Equitable STL • Homes for All • Urban Strategies • St. Louis Association of Community Organizations (SLACO) • University of Missouri Extension NLA & NLF • Trailnet • Paraquad • Citizens for Modern Transit • National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) • Starkloff Disability Institute • Organization for Black Struggle • Block Captains Units
• Pride Center • Growing American Youth • Hispanic Festival Inc • YWCA Metro St. Louis • Missouri Botanical Garden • U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) – Gateway Chapter
• Hospitals • North Central Community Health Center • U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs St. Louis Health Care System FUNDERS • Deaconess Foundation • Missouri Foundation for Health • Sisters of Mercy • MO Foundation of Health • St. Louis Community Credit Union
COORDINATION & CONVENING • OneSTL • Green City Coalition • Mayor’s Office of Sustainability • Saint Louis University Center for Sustainability • Vacancy Collaborative • Washington University Office of Sustainability • Rise Community Development • Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) Coalition • Affordable Housing Commission City of St. Louis (AHC) • Missouri Housing Development Corporation (MHDC) • St. Louis Equal Housing and Community Reinvestment Alliance (SLEHCRA) • Community Builders Network • Invest STL • St. Louis Office of the Disabled
RECREATION • Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis • Girls on the Run • STL Pick-Up Soccer • Arch Rival Roller Derby • Life for Life Academy • YMCA of Greater St. Louis • BWorks • Big Brothers Big Sisters
HEALTHCARE • BJC Health Care • St. Louis College of Pharmacy • Casa de Salud • CHIPS (Community Health in Partnership Services) • St. Louis Regional Health Commission • Health Protection & Education Services (HPES)
LAW ENFORCEMENT & GOVERNMENT • St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department • City of St. Louis Neighborhood Stabilization Team
TRANSPORTATION • Metro / Bi-State Development • Lime • Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) • East West Gateway Council of Governments
EQUITY: HOW THE GREENWAY CAN BE INCLUSIVE & JUST EQUITABLE PRACTICE ORGANIZATIONS CIVIC AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
IDENTITY AND CULTURE DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICE PROVIDERS • Vatterott Development • UIC • Dutchtown South Community Corporation • Cornerstone Corporation • STL Housing Authority • Casa De Salud • Kingdom House • Thomas Dunn • Park Central Development • Prospect Yards • South Grand CID • Better Family Life • DeSales Community Housing Corporation • Better Family Life • UJAMAA Community Development Corporation (UCDC) CITY GOVERNMENT • Office of the Mayor, City of St. Louis • St. Louis Planning Dept PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS • APA-STL • APA-MO • ULI-STL
PROGRAMS • St. Louis ArtWorks • Freedom Arts Center • Your Words STL • Art Scope St. Louis • Artists First • Shakespeare Festival St. Louis • Brick City Makes • MADE STL • Samba Bom • St. Louis Osuwa Taiko • Viva Brasil STL • Metroscapes • COCA Biz • That Uppity Theatre • The Black Rep • Theatro Nuevo • Upstream Theatre • Arch to Park • Indigenous Interpretation Council • 4 the Ville • Anti-Defamation League • Pride St. Louis • St. Louis Storytelling Festival • Urban League • Hispanic Festival, Inc. • Hispanic Leaders Group of Greater St. Louis • Puerto Rican Society INSTITUTIONS & SPACES • Pulitzer Arts Foundation • Intersect Arts Center • Yeyo Arts Collective • 14TH STREET ARTIST COMMUNITY/ZukaArtsGuild • Center of Creative Arts (COCA) • Contemporary Art Museum • Craft Allliance • Exodus Gallery • Krazenberg Arts Foundation
• Laumeier Sculpture Park • Mad Art • Metro Theatre • Perennial • South Broadway Arts • Third Degree Glass Factory • UrbArts • MO History Museum / Historical Society • St. Louis Public Library • City of St. Louis Office of Cultural Resources • Griot Museum of Black History • Gateway Arch National Park and The Gateway Arch • St. Louis Public Library • Better Family Life • International Institute • Campbell House Museum • Fairground Park • Holocaust Museum & Learning Center • Magic House • Scott Joplin House • The Field House Museum (Eugene Field House) • The Sheldon • Tower Grove Farmers Market • George B Vashon Museum Home • Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing • St. Louis Symphony Orchestra GROUPS & COLLECTIVES • Artivists STL • Hispanic Arts Council of St. Louis • Carol Lara Photography • Latinx Arts Network • Forai
FUNDERS & SUPPORT • Regional Arts Commission (RAC) • Diversity Awareness Partnership RELIGIOUS & ETHNIC GROUPS • International Institute • African Diaspora Council • Gateway Korea Association • Hindu Temple of STL • Japan America Society • Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) • OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates • St. Louis Jewish Community Center • St. Louis Modern Chinese School • Stuggart Sister City • Vitendo4Africa MEDIA • Humans of STL • Nine Network • St. Louis Post Dispatch • St. Louis American • Out in St. Louis
SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS • Alive & Well STL • Better Family life • Beyond Housing • Big Brothers Big Sisters • Boys & Girls Club STL • Community Builders Network • Community Engagement Action Group (CBN) • Diversity Awareness Partnership • Doorways • East West Gateway • Empower Missouri • Focus STL • Good Life Growing • Green City Coalition • Hispanic Leaders Group of Greater St. Louis • International Institute • LinkSTL, Inc. • Metro / Bi-State Development • NAACP • Office for Socially Engaged Practice (Sam Fox School) • Pride St. Louis • PROMO • Re-Entry Community Linkages (RE-LINK) • Regional Arts Commission (RAC) • SAGE of PROMO • St. Louis Association of Community Organizations (SLACO) • St. Louis Mosaic Project • Urban League • Venture Café St. Louis • Welcome Home • Boys & Girls Club of Greater St. Louis • MO History Museum / Historical Society
• St. Louis Public Library • Harris Stowe State University • Saint Louis University • St. Louis Public Schools • YMCA of Greater St. Louis PROGRAMMING • Metro / Bi-State Development • Missouri Botanical Garden • OneSTL • WePower • Good Life Growing • EDHUBSTL • St. Louis Food Policy Coalition (run by MCE) • The Nature Conservancy • Focus STL • Trailnet • Saint Louis University (SLU) • Urban League • GORC (Gateway Off Road Cyclists) • KPMG International • Neighborhood Associations • North Corridor Collaborative • REI • SLU High School • Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) • St. Louis Community College • Creative Reaction Lab • Diversity Awareness Partnership • Hispanic Chamber of Commerce • NCCJ • St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative • MU Extension - Neighborhood Leadership Academy + Leadership Fellows • St. Louis Mosaic Project
CHOUTEAU GREENWAY FRAMEWORK PLAN | FALL 2019 | 33
EQUITY: HOW THE GREENWAY CAN BE INCLUSIVE & JUST EQUITABLE PRACTICE STRATEGIES AND METRICS BUSINESS, JOBS AND WEALTH CREATION ON- AND OFF-GREENWAY
Create, build, promote and sustain opportunities to increase businesses and job growth in a manner that increases household income and minimizes disparities for those most excluded
DBP
WKF
RE
M/WBE PARTICIPATION & MONITORING
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT/ PARTICIPATION
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT
Establish, monitor and
Programs that provide
Acquire or access
publish DBE goals and
job and soft skill
appropriate permissions
continue to proactively
training for unemployed
for greenway routes
greenway and investments along the greenway
build and maintain
and underemployed
in disinvested
could produce economic opportunities in
relationships with
populations, including
neighborhoods.
partners already working
employable youth.
(racial, gender and other minorities). Great Rivers Greenway has long been a leader in ensuring its contracting and procurement seeks the highest levels of participation by
STRATEGY:
minority and women-owned businesses, but recognizes that this alone is not enough to make more meaningful advances in equitable
DEFINITION:
economic development. The work of building the
development, construction and other services.
effectively with WBE/
Off-greenway, strategies should seek to
MBE/DBE.
grow businesses and jobs through attraction, retention, mentoring and incubation, as well as strategies that support financial empowerment for St. Louisans who may not have access to capital and wealth generation.
EXAMPLE METRIC:
• Increase in workforce • Meet or exceed 25% MBE contracting and 5% women contracting
participation disaggregated by race, age, gender • New jobs added
34 | CHOUTEAU GREENWAY FRAMEWORK PLAN | FALL 2019
• Reduced land vacancy disaggregated by study area • Increase in capital investments by study area
EQUITY: HOW THE GREENWAY CAN BE INCLUSIVE & JUST EQUITABLE PRACTICE STRATEGIES AND METRICS
OFF-GREENWAY
BRA
BI
BSM
BFI
FE
BUSINESS RETENTION & ATTRACTION
BUSINESS INCUBATION
BUSINESS SUPPORT & MENTORING
BUSINESS FINANCING & INCENTIVES
FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
Activities that promote the
Opportunities to advance
Programs that provide
Programs that provide
Opportunities to build
attraction and retention
and support M/WBE and
capacity building support,
capital and financing and
personal and generational
of businesses, including
local resident business
including mentorship,
development incentives
wealth to maintain quality
M/WBE, start-ups and
start-ups and small business
training and network to
to small, local and M/BWE
of life.
entrepreneurs, that offer a
expansion.
small, local businesses and
business and projects.
range of high and low skilled
M/WBE businesses.
jobs at living wage and above.
• Number of M/WBE • New businesses added disaggregated by race
by business support
and gender of owner,
organizations and
geography
resources
• Increase in local spending
• Number of businesses
businesses served
• Increase in M/WBE business growth or expansion (scale up)
• Number of new M/WBE start-ups
• Decrease in
financed, disaggregated
unemployment by race,
by race, gender of
geography, gender, age
owner • Increase in financial
• Increase in high wage occupations by race,
capital to M/WBE start-
geography, gender, age,
ups
commute pattern CHOUTEAU GREENWAY FRAMEWORK PLAN | FALL 2019 | 35
EQUITY: HOW THE GREENWAY CAN BE INCLUSIVE & JUST EQUITABLE PRACTICE STRATEGIES AND METRICS BUSINESS, JOBS AND WEALTH CREATION The Equitable Practice Evaluation Tool (map and chart) is intended to be used by Great Rivers Greenway, its partners, and the community to evaluate existing conditions and prioritize the FA I
RG R PA OUN RK D
strategies most critical to achieving greater equitable outcomes in each greenway geography. 70
The map to the left shows that based on challenges and needs identified, the highest opportunities for implementing business, jobs, and wealth creation equitable practice strategies
Fairground
St. Louis Place
will occur in the Fairground, St. Louis Place, Downtown, and Grand Center geographies. See the appendix for an illustration of opportunities to align equitable practice strategies across geographies based on coming developments, investments and trends.
Forest Park 70
Grand Center
EXAMPLE PRIORITIZATION OF BUSINESS, JOBS AND WEALTH CREATION STRATEGIES BY STUDY AREA
FOREST P ARK Downtown 64
44 44
Tower Grove
Higher Priority
Lower Priority
36 | CHOUTEAU GREENWAY FRAMEWORK PLAN | FALL 2019
RIVE
H ARC
MISS ISSI
Downtown West
TOWER GROVE P ARK
PPI
Midtown
Priority Priority Lower Lower Priority Priority Priority
R
Higher Higher Priority Priority
Fairground Fairground Fairground Connector Connector St. Place St. Louis Place St. Louis Louis Place Jeff Center Grand Center Jeff Vander-Lou/Grand Vander-Lou/Grand Center Downtown Downtown West Downtown West/Midtown West/Midtown Downtown Downtown Downtown Central End Midtown Central Corridor/Central Corridor/Central West West End Tower Grove Connector Tower Grove Tower Grove Connector Forest Forest Park Forest Park Park Connector Connector
DBP DBP
WKF WKF
RE RE
BRA
BI
BSM
BFI
FE
EQUITY: HOW THE GREENWAY CAN BE INCLUSIVE & JUST EXAMPLES OF EQUITABLE PRACTICE STRATEGIES
DBP
RE
BSM ST. LOUIS BUSINESS DIVERSITY INITIATIVE Launched in 2001, the St. Louis Business Diversity
GREENLINING FUND
Initiative assists area companies in building successful
Great Rivers Greenway has a successful track record of
The Metropolitan St. Louis CRA (MSLCRA) Association,
diversity and inclusion programs through training,
contracting with minority and women-owned firms to
the St. Louis Equal Housing and Community Reinvestment
convening and consulting. The Initiative is made up of
construct their greenway projects. GRG is committed to
Alliance (SLEHCRA) and others are working to establish
companies, organizations and agencies committed to
achieving similar City of St. Louis contracting goals of 25%
a Greenlining Fund supported by the banking and
attracting, retaining and advancing talented, diverse
minority and 5% women-owned firms.
philanthropic community.
employees.
MINORITY & WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES
SUCCESSFUL DBE CONTRACTING TRADES
The fund would foster homeownership for lower-income
St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative works with
residents in redlined areas by issuing mortgages in excess
companies and organizations throughout the region to
of the appraised value of the home. Greenlining would
assist them in developing strategies and solutions in the
enable renters to break free of high rents on depressed
areas of workforce diversity, inclusion and leadership
homes and build equity in home ownership. Home
Asphalt
Guardrail
Prime Contractor
Clearing
Masonry
Steel Erection
Concrete
Painting
Metal Fabrication
Electrical
Paving
Survey/Staking
Erosion Control
Plumbing
Traffic Control
development for their unique situation. Their consulting
ownership stabilizes neighborhoods and is attractive to
Trucking
work includes the development of customized strategies,
outside investment.
Fencing
Signage
Geotechnical
Striping
solutions and programs in the areas of recruitment, retention, advancement of talent and identification of
OTHER CONTRACTING TRADES
opportunity for civic engagement and service within the
Antigraffiti Coating
Grading
Retaining Walls
Artists
Irrigation
Saw Cutting
Carpentry
Joint Sealing
Reinforcing Steel
Craning
Landscaping
Tree Removal/Trimming
Demolition
Seeding
region.
CHOUTEAU GREENWAY FRAMEWORK PLAN | FALL 2019 | 37
EQUITY: HOW THE GREENWAY CAN BE INCLUSIVE & JUST EQUITABLE PRACTICE STRATEGIES AND METRICS QUALITY OF LIFE AND NEIGHBORHOODS ON- AND OFF-GREENWAY
Improve the health and vibrancy of residents, neighborhoods and environmental ecologies along the greenway where access, mobility, health and recreation exist.
EL
HW
REC
ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP
HEALTH & WELLNESS
RECREATION
Practices that incorporate
Programming that
Design and programming
environmentally
promotes both physical
that creates new active
As the greenway passes through 17 St. Louis neighborhoods, it can catalyze many quality of life improvements including access to commercial amenities, transportation and housing affordability.
STRATEGY:
On-greenway equity strategies should build on existing GRG success in impacting environmental conditions, increasing mobility and access
DEFINITION:
and creating safe and accessible spaces and
sustainable design and
and mental health
open space recreation
programming. Off-greenway, efforts must ensure
construction methods and
activities that can be
in areas with insufficient
today’s residents are able to remain in place and
ongoing maintenance and
attributed to physical
open space.
benefit from future improvements.
stewardship in partnership
activity and access to
with local communities
open space.
Planning and development in the neighborhoods
and institutions.
along the greenway should aspire to increase the access to affordable housing and commercial space and promote small and large business development while minimizing involuntary displacement. Opportunities for the involvement of community-based organizations, residents and businesses will be essential and, where necessary, capacity-building strategies should be deployed to ensure increased ownership of the greenway and other neighborhood investments.
38 | CHOUTEAU GREENWAY FRAMEWORK PLAN | FALL 2019
EXAMPLE METRIC:
• Number of sponsored • Acreage of pervious surface treatments added • Number of trees planted
• Number of people who
walks and bike rides
participate in outdoor
in the community
activities, disaggregated
distributed by study
by race, age, gender,
area
geography, ability
• Number of bicycle trips per month
• Number of new outdoor recreation offerings
EQUITY: HOW THE GREENWAY CAN BE INCLUSIVE & JUST EQUITABLE PRACTICE STRATEGIES AND METRICS
OFF-GREENWAY
AD
CD CB
CP
PUBLIC SAFETY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & CAPACITY BUILDING
COMMUNITY PLANNING
Practices that provide
Practices that incorporate
Activities that promote the
Practices that help to
Opportunities to provide
Design and implementation
new modes of transit,
design features that
attraction and retention
maintain neighborhood
support to organizations in
of the greenway should be
connect to existing modes
support safe environments,
of businesses, including
affordability and ownership
underinvested communities
done in the context of a
of transit and maximize
a sense of belonging
M/WBE, start-ups and
of local housing and
so they can more fully
participatory neighborhood
this access.
for marginalized groups
entrepreneurs, that offer a
commercial property by
participate in neighborhood
planning framework.
and cultural competency
range of high and low skilled
existing residents and
revitalization activities.
training to help promote
jobs at living wage and
businesses.
positive social interactions.
above.
MOB
PS
AH
MOBILITY
• Crime reduction, • New miles of greenway and bikeway • New bicycle racks added, disaggregated by study area
verified by police statistics, disaggregated by study area • Reduced bicycle and pedestrian crashes and accidents
• Diversity housing rents by study area • Number of affordable
• Increase in home ownership by study area and race
housing and physically
• Reduction in home loan
accessible units added,
denial rate, by study
by study area
area
• Increase in number • Increase in funding
of community plans
to community-based
adopted by study area
organizations within
• Number of participatory
greenway study area
neighborhood planning events by study area
CHOUTEAU GREENWAY FRAMEWORK PLAN | FALL 2019 | 39
EQUITY: HOW THE GREENWAY CAN BE INCLUSIVE & JUST EQUITABLE PRACTICE STRATEGIES AND METRICS QUALITY OF LIFE AND NEIGHBORHOODS The Equitable Practice Evaluation Tool (map and chart) is intended to be used by Great Rivers Greenway, its partners, and the community to evaluate existing conditions and prioritize the FA I
RG R PA OUN RK D
strategies most critical to achieving greater equitable outcomes in each greenway geography. 70
Based on current trends, in areas where neighborhood quality of life issues are most pressing, equity strategies that help advance mobility (MB), environmental leadership (EL), anti-
Fairground
St. Louis Place
displacement (AD), and affordable housing (AH) have a higher priority in the St. Louis Place, Grand Center, and Fairground geographies.
Forest Park 70
Grand Center
FOREST P ARK
EXAMPLE PRIORITIZATION OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND NEIGHBORHOODS STRATEGIES BY STUDY AREA Higher Priority
Downtown 64
44 44
Tower Grove
Higher Priority
Lower Priority
40 | CHOUTEAU GREENWAY FRAMEWORK PLAN | FALL 2019
RIVE
H ARC
MISS ISSI
Downtown West
TOWER GROVE P ARK
PPI
Midtown
Priority
Lower Priority
Lower Priority
R
Higher Priority
Priority
Fairground Fairground Connector St. Louis Place St. Louis Place Grand Center Jeff Vander-Lou/Grand Center Downtown West/Midtown Downtown West Downtown Downtown Central Corridor/Central West End Midtown Tower Grove Connector Tower Grove Forest Park Connector Forest Park
EL
HW
REC
MOB
PS
AH
AD
CDCB
CP
EQUITY: HOW THE GREENWAY CAN BE INCLUSIVE & JUST EXAMPLES OF EQUITABLE PRACTICE STRATEGIES
AD
REC
LIFE OUTSIDE FESTIVAL The Life Outside festival, hosted by Great Rivers Greenway, brings together area businesses, nonprofits and clubs to offer activities for people of all ages. Attendees can see, try and learn ways to spend more of their lives outside. Free activities include tree climbing, kayaking lessons, birdwatching, rock climbing,
CDCB
NEIGHBORHOOD VACANCY INITIATIVE
NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, working in
The Neighborhood Leadership Academy (NLA), created
collaboration with the Vacancy Collaborative, helps local
in 2002, connects resources at the University—Creating
residents and community-based organizations reduce the
Whole Communities and University of Missouri Extension
problem of vacant, abandoned and blighted housing in the
—with residents and neighborhoods throughout the
city of St. Louis. Services provided include: • Vacancy prevention: Helps low-income residents with
nature crafts and activities for kids, walks and bike rides,
title issues and older homeowners to transfer their
gardening and yoga.
homes through beneficiary deeds to avoid vacancy. • Title clearance: Assists City agencies and nonprofits to clear land titles for development, which creates
metropolitan area who are interested in improving their communities. NLA provides hands-on leadership training that emphasizes community building principles and strategies, project planning, organizational leadership, management practices and personal leadership skills.
affordable housing. • Problem property issues: Represents community
Participants are actively involved in their neighborhoods and represent communities from throughout the St. Louis
groups and neighborhood associations to file lawsuits
region. Participants may be neighborhood association
against the owners of vacant, run-down properties to
members, community leaders, resident volunteers,
force them to sell or repair their property.
community-based organization staff, business owners,
• Community assistance: Educates community groups about the legal tools available to prevent and reduce vacancy, and to assist them with legal organization and nonprofit incorporation through the Microenterprise Program.
local government staff or municipal elected officials. Participants who successfully complete the program receive a Certificate in Neighborhood Leadership from the Chancellor of the University of Missouri–St. Louis. More than 300 neighborhood and organization leaders from throughout the St. Louis region have participated in the NLA, learning the skills and building the networks necessary to create whole communities. CHOUTEAU GREENWAY FRAMEWORK PLAN | FALL 2019 | 41
EQUITY: HOW THE GREENWAY CAN BE INCLUSIVE & JUST EQUITABLE PRACTICE STRATEGIES AND METRICS IDENTITY AND CULTURE Incorporate and connect local known and lesser known multicultural destinations, histories, narratives and traditions into the identity of the greenway’s design and
ON- AND OFF-GREENWAY
function.
AIP
DP
SI
PE
ART INSTALLATIONS & PROGRAMS
CULTURAL REPRESENTATION: DESIGN & PLACEMAKING
CULTURAL PRESERVATION: STORYTELLING & INTERPRETATION
CULTURAL REPRESENTATION: PROGRAM & EVENTS
Opportunities to engage
Opportunities to reference
Opportunities to
Opportunities for local
artists of color, women and
cultural narratives
include different
organizations to create
foreign born populations
(ecological, populations)
cultural narratives
programs and events
in the production of art
and universal ability
(ecological, populations)
related to specific cultural
inform both essential greenway
throughout the greenway
considerations in design,
and languages into
narratives about St. Louis.
elements such as paving and furnishing,
and programs that engage
and including community
communications, signage,
local residents in art-
members in the creation of
wayfinding and events.
making.
designing spaces.
There will be numerous opportunities to unearth and reveal the distinct personalities, cultures and traditions of neighborhoods, histories and communities. Local artists, cultural organizations and residents should
STRATEGY:
participate in the design, installation, and programming along the greenway that celebrate St. Louis. In collaboration
DEFINITION:
with artists and local arts and culture organizations, design and art can
as well as public art installations. Art can serve as both a temporary and permanent strategy to embody authentic neighborhood identity and character, and engage residents in the development of the greenway.
EXAMPLE METRIC:
• Number of artists and initiatives, by race, age, gender, geography • Distribution of installations and programs across study area
42 | CHOUTEAU GREENWAY FRAMEWORK PLAN | FALL 2019
• Number of new cultural
involved in installations • Number of sites that are explicitly welcoming to people with disabilities
• Languages represented • Track number of interpretative sites acknowledged
events initiated, by race, geography, ethnicity • Number of partnerships with existing cultural organizations by race, geography, ethnicity
EQUITY: HOW THE GREENWAY CAN BE INCLUSIVE & JUST EQUITABLE PRACTICE STRATEGIES AND METRICS The Equitable Practice Evaluation Tool (map and chart) is intended to be used by GRG, its partners, and the community to evaluate existing conditions and prioritize the strategies most
EXAMPLE OF EQUITABLE PRACTICES STRATEGY AND METRICS
critical to achieving greater equitable outcomes in each greenway geography. The map below shows that based on need and existing assets within these geographies, the highest priority to elevate local cultural heritage through art and programming would be in Grand Center,
PE
Downtown, and Tower Grove.
FA I
RG R PA OUN RK D
THE HISPANIC FESTIVAL The Hispanic Festival, Inc. seeks to unite all Hispanics regardless
70
of their social, economical and political background, and share the rich and colorful Hispanic culture with the Greater St. Louis
Fairground
area. The Hispanic Festival mission is to increase regional
St. Louis Place
awareness of the spectrum of cultural contributions made by Hispanic musicians, dancers, artisans and chefs. This also serves to preserve these vibrant traditions and to educate the next Forest Park 70
generation.
Grand Center
FOREST P ARK
EXAMPLE PRIORITIZATION OF IDENTITY AND CULTURE STRATEGIES BY STUDY AREA
Downtown
RIVE
H ARC
MISS ISSI
Downtown West
44 44
Tower Grove
TOWER GROVE P ARK
PPI
Midtown
R
64
Higher Priority
Lower Priority
Priority Higher Higher Priority
Priority Priority
Lower Lower Priority
AIP
DP
SI
PE
Fairground Fairground Connector St. Louis Place St. Louis Place Grand Center Jeff Vander-Lou/Grand Center Downtown West Downtown West/Midtown Downtown Downtown Midtown Central Corridor/Central West End Tower Grove Tower Grove Connector Forest Park Forest Park Connector CHOUTEAU GREENWAY FRAMEWORK PLAN | FALL 2019 | 43
CATALYST STRATEGY: HOW THE GREENWAY COULD WORK: EQUITY EQUITABLE PRACTICE STRATEGIES AND METRICS CIVIC AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION Create positive interactions, relationships and partnerships
ON- AND OFF-GREENWAY
with civic and community organizations and residents that help increase users and stewards of the greenway. These strategies are designed to ensure
EN
EAP
ST
LCB
ENGAGEMENT
EDUCATIONAL AWARENESS PROGRAMMING
STEWARDSHIP
LEADERSHIP & CAPACITY BUILDING
Practices that build
Opportunities to use
Opportunities to involve
Opportunities to create
relationships with
educational programs
a diverse demographic
a broader base of
immigrant, refugee,
and institutions to
of volunteers and
community leaders and
religious, LGBTQIA+, mental
raise awareness about
organizations to
organizational partners
health, justice-impacted,
greenways among
participate in the
and volunteers that
marginalized populations.
programming and upkeep
reflect the demographic
of greenways.
population of St. Louis.
broad and deep engagement is a part of every aspect of the greenway design, development, maintenance, and activation processes. This will require a
STRATEGY:
multi-pronged approach to increasing awareness and knowledge about the greenway—where is it, how to use it,
DEFINITION:
how to care for it, what to do around it—using multiple languages, formats, and communication outlets. A robust
indigenous communities,
stewardship program will be needed to
people with disabilities,
invite diverse local groups to become
older adults, younger
partners in the care and programming.
children, etc.
Partner organizations should be supported in their leadership and capacity growth to ensure an equitable level of care and activation across all 17 neighborhoods.
EXAMPLE METRIC:
• Demographics
• Increased participation
of participants in
users disaggregated
engagement activities
by race, ethnicity, age,
increase in volunteers,
disaggregated by
geography
disaggregated by age,
race, ethnicity, age, geography, ability • Demographics of volunteers 44 | CHOUTEAU GREENWAY FRAMEWORK PLAN | FALL 2019
• Number of greenway
• Representation of partner organizations from all greenway study areas
• Number of and
race, gender, geography • Number of clean-ups by study area
in neighborhood assoc. near/on greenway • Funding provided to partner organization to support greenway events, programming, stewardship
CATALYST STRATEGY: HOW THE GREENWAY COULD WORK: EQUITY EQUITABLE PRACTICE STRATEGIES The Equitable Practice Evaluation Tool (map and chart) is intended to be used by Great Rivers Greenway, its partners, and the community to evaluate existing conditions and prioritize the strategies most critical to achieving greater equitable outcomes in
EXAMPLE OF EQUITABLE PRACTICES STRATEGY AND METRICS
each greenway geography. The map below shows that based on the current lack of community participation activity, the highest priority area to increase civic and community participation is in the Fairground and St. Louis Place geographies.
LCB WEPOWER POWER BUILDING ACADEMY
COM
Over seven months, residents—AKA Power-Builders—work in a place-based class to learn, collaborate, and take action FA I
RG R PA OUN RK D
COMMUNICATIONS
to achieve policy change that strengthens outcomes for kids 70
in their community. Power-Builders learn how to lead policy change through training on racial and social justice, growing an understanding of how the current system works, completing
Fairground
St. Louis Place
data analysis of community engagement, researching and creating or improving existing policies, and launching a policy
Incorporate practices that
campaign.
use a “humble voice,” “show rather that tell” and
Forest Park 70
use diverse representation
Grand Center
in all forms of accessible
FOREST P ARK
communication that promote the principles
Higher Higher Priority Priority
Downtown
of diversity, equity and
of local residents in
H
44
• Distribution of geotag posts on social media by study area
EAP ST Lower Priority
EN LCB
EAP COM
ST
LCB
COM
PPI
44
content creation and storytelling
Priority EN
Fairground Connector Fairground Fairground Connector St. LouisPlace Place St. Louis PlaceSt. Louis Jeff Vander-Lou/ Jeff Vander-Lou/ Grand Grand Center Center Grand Center Downtown West Downtown West/Midtown Downtown West/Midtown Downtown Downtown Downtown Higher Priority Central Corridor/ Midtown Central Corridor/ Central West End Central West End Tower Grove Tower Grove Connector Lower Priority Tower Grove Connector Forest Park Forest Park Connector Forest Park Connector ARC
• Inclusion and diversity
Priority Priority LowerPriority Priority Lower
Higher Priority
MISS ISSI
Downtown West
RIVE
inclusion.
R
64
Midtown
EXAMPLE PRIORITIZATION OF CIVIC AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION STRATEGIES BY STUDY AREA
Tower Grove
TOWER GROVE P ARK
CHOUTEAU GREENWAY FRAMEWORK PLAN | FALL 2019 | 45