St. Louis County Parks Annual Report 2016

Art

Recreation

Fitness

Aquatics

Trails

Volunteers

Aquatics Community History Events

Events Volunteers Community Recreation History

Wildlife

Wildlife

Trails Fishing Parks Aquatics Trails Wildlife Volunteers Art Events Community Recreation History

ANNUAL

2016 REPORT Art

Trails Wildlife Aquatics Community Volunteers Great Outdoors Events Recreation History Art

Fitness Recreation

Wildlife

Trails Community Volunteers

Fitness Recreation

Aquatics

History Events

Where Fun Comes Naturally!

Our Mission...

St. Louis County Parks and Recreation Department’s mission is to provide high quality parks, facilities, and recreation services that enhance residents’ lives through responsible and effective management of resources.

www.stlouisco.com

Parks Department Management Gary Bess, Director Tom Ott , Deputy Director Bob Mainieri, Manager of Special Projects Jim Foley, Program Services Manager Jim Gerken, Operations Manager Carolyn Weingaertner, Fiscal Services Manager John Nesbit , Chief Ranger Paul Andrew, Design & Development Group Manager

Parks Department

Advisory Board Ernestine Shivers-Jones, Chair Diane Christy

Robert Muckler

Angie Hilzinger

Don Zykan

Gary Otten

Gerry Sander

Letter from the DIRECTOR During this last year, with help from Proposition P, St. Louis County Parks was able to complete many maintenance projects that have been on the “to do” list for several years. These projects ranged in size from large projects like the complete renovation of the ice rink at Kennedy Recreation Complex in South County to smaller projects like playground resurfacing and sewer system upgrades at several parks.

The long-awaited Tails and Trails off-leash dog park was opened in Queeny Park last spring and has been a very popular destination for St. Louis County’s four-legged friends.

Work is underway on the new state-of-the art destination soccer park in Creve Coeur Park and is scheduled to be completed by the start of soccer season in 2018. This project is being funded by the St. Louis Convention and Visitor’s Commission and will give St. Louis the opportunity to host large regional and national soccer tournaments.

Another major project, and arguably the most important project of this past year, is the initiation of a Parks Master Plan and Benchmarking Study. This year-long project will provide a view of the current County Parks system and a vision of the Parks with needs for the near and longterm future. Our partner in regional parks and recreation development, Great Rivers Greenway is contributing toward the cost of this project. We have been busy holding public input meetings and have contracted with a company to assist with data collection and assessment. Results of the study and a final Master Plan are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2017.

Thank you again for your continued support of St. Louis County Parks. We are very proud of the advances we have made in 2016 and are looking forward to creating a vision and a plan for the future of your St. Louis County Parks!

Gary Bess Director, Saint Louis County Parks & Recreation (314) 615-7017 GBess@stlouisco.com

2016

Annual

Highlights

More than

145+

Miles of Trails

373,000

Visitors enjoyed our 77 Shelters for family events, birthday parties, fundraisers, etc.

1,481,958 Total Web Views

1.3

million

41

Playgrounds

Visits to our 7 Historic & Cultural Sites

61,730+ Followers on social media

150

Weddings were held in St. Louis County Parks

163,900+ Kids and adults utilized our Athletic Fields

2016 Annual Report â—? www.stlouisco.com

21,837

Visitors at the Tails & Trails dog park inside Queeny Park

12,456 Total Acres

Parks Staff

Parks staff work tirelessly year-round to keep our parks, recreation centers and historic and cultural sites in tip-top condition; this year was no exception.

Through the hiring of new individuals, we were able to expand and improve upon our programs, facilities, trails, waterways and green space. We are sad to see employees go who dedicated a large part of their working years to the St. Louis County Parks Department, but we look forward to growing with our new employees.

New Hires

Retirements • Kyra Kaltenbronn, PPS Manager 25 Years • Ron Chumbley, Operations 28 Years • Mary Cranor, Rangers 20 Years • Ken Dunn, Trades 35 Years • Mike McKeon, Ranger 22 Years • Jean Feutenbeiner, Fiscal 10 Years • Gerry Wilson, Rangers 36 Years

Tim Reed Park Ranger Rangers

Mary Dudley Executive Secretary Director’s Office

Thomas Hoff Museum Educator Faust Park

Mark Chesney Plumber Trades

Jeff Pudlowski Maintenance Supervisor Trades

Wiley Harris Maintenance Worker I Queeny

Herb Schnell Bldg. Maint. Worker Kennedy Rec. Complex

Kena King Accountant I Fiscal

Mark Crader Maintenance Worker I Faust Park

Joshua Adkins Structural Specialist Trades/Carpentry

Dakota Hornbeck Maintenance Driver Forestry

David Solomon Maintenance Worker I Greensfelder Park

Michael Rennard Park Ranger Rangers

Michael Hayes Operation Manager CC Soccer Park

Jeremy Butler Bldg. Maint. Worker Pavilion at Lemay

Michael Keithly Park Ranger Rangers

Kyle Klotz Maintenance Driver II Grading

Promotions • Marty Pehle, Maintenance Worker II Faust Park • Jim Foley, PPS Manager Clayton Administration • Jesse Francis, Cultural Site Manager Faust Park • Ken Watson, Maintenance Worker II Tilles Park • Sherron Randle, Building System Foreman Pavilion at Lemay • Lori Ritchey, Museum Curator Faust Park • Robert Nowak, Building Maintenance Specialist Kennedy Recreation Complex

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Activities, Attractions & Events We take great pride in being the regional park system for St. Louis County, and we are always striving to offer new and unique outings for individuals and families.

The St. Louis County Parks programming staff work very hard to provide a variety of year-round activities and events for the surrounding communities. Our activities range from Parks Food Truck Fest and summer camps, to the annual JB Blast!

Attendance at events inside St. Louis County Parks increased 12% from 2015!

ATTENDANCE NUMBERS Faust Summer Concert Series

40,138

Parks Food Truck Fest

16,625

Art Fair at Laumeier

13,000

JB Blast

9,500

WWII Weekend (Jefferson Barracks)

8,000

Hayrides (various)

3,764

Harvest Festival (Laumeier)

3,500

Suson Farm Fridays

2,500

Adult Egg Hunt (Jefferson Barracks)

2,000

Heritage Festival (Faust)

1,252

21,818

30 It takes 30 full-time and seasonal staff to set up for Winter Wonderland each year.

26

26 couples “popped the question” at Winter Wonderland.

8 2 5

The carriage rides are always a popular holiday tradition with 21,818 people seeing the lights in this unique way.

123,005

A record number of people drove through Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park in 2016!

2016 Annual Report ● www.stlouisco.com

The lights and displays at Winter Wonderland require 5.7 miles of extenstion cords

Winter Wonderland Walk tickets sold out in 24 hours!

Parks staff have designed, built and upkeep 825 separate light displays.

Parks Volunteers St. Louis County Parks is extremely grateful to the corporations, youth groups and individuals that help maintain our beautiful County parks for residents and visitors alike! Over the past three years our volunteers have donated an average of 115,000 hours with a total value exceeding $2.6 million.

Total Yearly Volunteer Hours 116,000

114,000

Special Thanks to Our Partners •

•

St. Louis County Parks has an ongoing partnership with Gateway Off-Road Cyclists (GORC) volunteers who help us design, build and maintain our trails.

GORC leads every Trail Crew event that we have.

Thank you to AmeriCorps-NCCC, Brentwood High School, Chaminade College Prep, Confluence Trash Bash, Gateway SERVE & Gateway Region YMCA, Hancock High School, Head Injury Center, Holman Middle School, Lafayette High School, Lemay Neighborhood Assoc., Lutheran High School North, MO River Relief, Notre Dame High School, Oakville High School, Open Space Council, Parkway Central High School, Parkway West High School, Rockwood ILC, St. Louis Audubon Society, St. Louis Community College at Meramec, St. Louis University, Washington University, Webster High School, Webster University, Whitfield High School and Wyman Center Teen Outreach Program for their continued support.

112,000

110,000

108,000

106,000

104,000

102,000

100,000

98,000

96,000

2011

2012

2103

2014

2015

2016

Yearly Hours & Wage Values 2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

103,681

103,714

115,447

115,901

114,441

110,773

$2,214,626

$2,259,928

$2,555,997

$2,612,181

$2,628,719

$2,600,767

Total Annual Wage Value

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

•

•

Thank you to the Missouri Botanical Garden and the University of Missouri Extension St. Louis Master Gardeners Program which help us recruit experienced gardening volunteers.

Thank you to our corporate sponsors which include Build-A-Bear Workshop, Cushman & Wakefield, Kforce Finance & Accounting Specialists, Genband, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Softchoice and Thomson Reuters.

2011

$2,000,000

$2,100,000

$2,200,000

$2,300,000

$2,400,000

$2,500,000

$2,600,000

$2,700,000

For information on how to volunteer in your St. Louis County Parks, visit our website or contact us at:

Volunteers@stlouisco.com

*

(314) 615-8865

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Park Rangers

St. Louis County Park Rangers are responsible for public relations, protection and programming in the parks. With 71 parks, six recreational facilities and six historic and cultural sites, our Park Rangers have a big job.

Last year our department employed 20 full-time rangers, 3 part-time rangers, 2 ranger aids and 3 dispatchers. Along with keeping our visitors, waterways and trails safe, the Park Rangers also create and implement a wide variety of educational programs. These year-round classes are offered at little or no cost.

In 2016, our Rangers provided 181 educational programs that were attended

Popular Ranger by more than 5,000 people. In total, these Programs » Creve Coeur After Hours » Night in the Wild Campout » Full Moon Bike/Walk/Paddle » Team Challenge / Alpine Tower » Archery Lessons » Caving » Hikes & Dog Walks » Outdoor Skills » Fish Camps » Scout Badge Programs » Hayrides

Safety Statistics 409 written reports 131 traffic citations 139 summons

programs brought in nearly $28,000.

Thank You!

Many of our programs are only made possible due to the generosity and dedication of valued partners. A big thank you to our following partners:

» » » » » »

Alpine Shop Creve Coeur Lake Rentals Great Rivers Greenway Missouri Department of Conservation South County Archers National Recreation & Park Association

2016 Annual Report ● www.stlouisco.com

Cultural & Historic Sites Laumeier Sculpture Park’s 29th Annual Art Fair on Mother’s Day weekend, presented by Emerson and produced in partnership with St. Louis County Parks, was the most successful to date!

The organization’s single annual largest fundraiser welcomed more than 12,000 attendees and raised more than $175,000 over the three-day event.

Art Fair revenue ($300,000+) accounted for 30% of the organization’s total revenue in 2016.

The General Daniel Bissell House in North St. Louis County installed an exhibit on sculptures by American sculptor John Rogers from the Bissell House core collection. Rogers (1829–1904) produced popular, inexpensive figurines in the late 19th century, known as “Rogers Groups”, these sculptures were mass-produced in cast plaster.

Approximately 80,000 copies of almost 80 Rogers Groups were sold.

Rather than producing expensive bronze or marble pieces Rogers sculpted in plaster, painted the color of putty to hide dust. He was inspired by popular novels, poems and prints as well as the scenes he saw around him. The exhibit will continue through 2017.

A popular program at Bissell House is the annual June Swap Meet. Held the first weekend of June, the Bissell House Swap Meet offers local residents an opportunity to clean out their homes of things they do not need and make a little money selling them to those who would like to pick up an inexpensive new treasure.

Fort Belle Fontaine offers several unique programs throughout the year.

The ever popular Eagle Watch is held the third weekend of January. Visitors enjoy viewing live eagles as they fly above the bluffs, and learn about all raptors from the World Bird Sanctuary. The Friends of Fort Belle Fontaine Park provide s’mores and hot chocolate.

In spring, a Geocache related program is often held, rain or shine. When Fall ushers in cooler air and the leaves change color, Fort Belle Fontaine Day celebrates the history of the site and Living History Hayrides give a tour of the park and visits with historians in period dress.

In 2016, Faust Park hosted hundreds of school children for its hands on history educational programs. The park also hosted a variety of special events including the annual Heritage Festival and History Hayrides which were both a success and brought history to families not just from around the region but also to visitors from around the world. The Candlelight Tours at Thornhill held in December had a large turnout considering the below freezing temperatures.

Faust Park was honored to receive a grant from the Missouri Humanities Council, which was used to update the appearance of the visitor center and its exhibits on the park buildings.

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Recreation Centers

Our six recreation and community centers are a vital part of St. Louis County Parks. They provide our residents with programs, activities and amenities that promote an active lifestyle both for the mind and the body. Due to the positive impact these facilities have on the community, our staff works diligently to ensure that we are constantly providing new and great programming to help keep our residents active and healthy.

✳ North County Recreation Complex Veterans Memorial Park 2577 Redman Road * St. Louis, MO 63136

✳ St. Vincent Community Center

St. Vincent Park 7335 St. Charles Rock Rd. * St. Louis, MO 63133

✳ ✳ The Pavilion at Lemay

Affton White-Rodgers Community Center 9801 Mackenzie Road * St. Louis, MO 63123

Jefferson Barracks Park 305 Gregg Road * St. Louis, MO 63125

✳ Kennedy Recreation Complex Greensfelder Recreation Complex ✳ 6050 Wells Road * St. Louis, MO 63128

Queeny Park 550 Weidman Road * St. Louis, MO 63011

Recreation Center

Amenities

- Pools / Aquatic Centers - Fitness Classes - Free Weights - Fitness Machines - Indoor Tracks - Basketball / Volleyball Courts - Multi-purpose Rooms - Meeting Rooms - Large Event Spaces

attendance

Our 6 Community Centers Engaged and Served More Than 580,000 St. Louisians in 2016: & Aquatic Centers:  Pools 97,889 Room Rentals:  Meeting 59,611 Attendance:  General 120,118 Rinks:  Ice 81,765 Rentals:  Gym/Arena 178,495 & Events:  Programs 42,411

2016 Annual Report ● www.stlouisco.com

- Pickleball Courts - Dance Classes - Day Camps - Swimming Lessons - Special Events - Educational Classes - Ice Rinks - Party Room Rentals - Tot Care

New Community Garden at St. Vincent Park The idea for the St. Vincent Community Garden was introduced to St. Louis County Parks by the St. Louis County Partnership for a Healthy Community. This coalition consisted of members from St. Louis County Parks, St. Louis County Public Health, Beyond Housing, St. Louis County Human Services, St. Louis Area Foodbank, Gateway Greening and The Magic House.

The goal of the garden. located near the water park, is to increase access to fruits and vegetables for people who live near the St. Vincent Community Center.

After months of planning and deliberation St. Louis County Parks, along with volunteers from the Boy Scouts of America and community members constructed the St. Vincent Community Garden on April 16 followed by the planting of the community garden on May 21.

members, with help from the Garden Manager(s), the Garden Club community volunteers, the St. Louis County Parks Department and St. Vincent Community Center Staff.

“The St. Vincent Community Garden has been a wonderful addition to St. Vincent Park,” said Marvin Anderson, Recreation Complex Manager.

“We are really excited to be a part of this great partnership that is providing a wonderful service to our community.”

For more information on St. Vincent’s Community Garden, contact the recreation center at (314) 615-8STV.

The garden currently has 15 spaces, called "raised garden plots" or "plots," that are four feet wide by twelve feet long. One plot is used for teaching and learning about gardening, two are shared by the community and Garden Club members and the others are owned by individuals. Additional plots may be added in subsequent growing seasons based on interest and feasibility. The garden is run by a group of

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St. Louis County Keeping Our Seniors Active & Healthy

S

t. Louis County applied and was accepted into the World Health Organization's (WHO) and AARP's Network of Age-Friendly Communities in June 2013. After two years of assessment and planning, St. Louis County adopted its Age Friendly Action plan on June 9, 2015. The action plan has 70+ action items in 4 focus areas: Health & Wellbeing, Social & Civic Engagement, Mobility & Connectivity, and Safe & Attractive Neighborhoods. Addressing these focus areas will improve the quality of life in St. Louis County for residents of all ages making St. Louis County a great place to grow up and grow old.

The St. Louis County Parks Department is a big part of this initiative and are aware of how important it is for all of our residents to stay active, healthy and engaged in our community. The Parks Department has always offered a variety of events, programs and classes for people of all ages, interests and background, but we are taking this opportunity to focus in on the seniors in our community.

Studies show that not only is it important for seniors to stay active for their physical well-being, but also for their mental well-being. The social connections that come with joining classes and participating in programs can be just as effective as exercise at improving mood and quality of life. This is just one reason the Parks Department is introduced our "Young at Heart" programming for seniors.

Programming includes classes such as chair exercise, Pickleball and free indoor walking to help with physical activity. We are also offering educational classes such as learning to use an IPhone or IPad and social activities like playing Bridge and Mah Jongg.

We are aware of the importance of being an age-friendly community and are excited to offer these new programs for the Young at Heart! For more information on the classes and programs offered, visit our website at www.stlouisco.com/parks or pick up a copy of our Activity Guide.

2016 Annual Report â—? www.stlouisco.com

Cavalry Exhibit Wins Award of Merit St. Louis County Parks is excited to announce that we are the recipient of an Award of Merit for the “Courageous and Faithful; The Cavalry at Jefferson Barracks” exhibit featured in the Old Ordnance Room at Jefferson Barracks Park in South St. Louis County!

The exhibit, which ran from March 7, 2015 through May 30, 2016, educated visitors on the birth of the United States Cavalry at Jefferson Barracks, and its purpose, which was to conquer the American Frontier.

The men who joined became the vanguard of westward expansion. The exhibit explored the contributions of the mounted troops at Jefferson Barracks, and the role they played in bringing about the settlement of the western half of the nation.

The 1500 square foot gallery space was filled with powerful artifacts including: a Grimsley saddle used by the earliest cavalry soldiers, an army issue Buffalo Coat used by cavalry troops in cold climates, and a Sioux war club given by Chief Red Cloud himself to an Indian Agent. In addition, visitors were able to engage with hands on activities, videos, and touch screen interactives while discovering anew why St. Louis is truly the Gateway to the West.

In early 2017, Jefferson Barracks Historic Site will open a new exhibition in the Old Ordnance Room commemorating the contributions of America, Missouri and St. Louis soldiers during World War I. The exhibit will coincide with the centennial of the United States preparations and entry into the “Great War”.

Native Tree Trail at Queeny Park As part of our larger network of trails totaling about 144 miles, St. Louis County Parks created our first tree trail inside beautiful Queeny Park. This unique “Native Tree” trail offers visitors an opportunity to identify and study trees native to the Midwest.

The trail has three different length options; short (1 mile), intermediate (1.5 miles) and long (2.3 miles). There is a detailed guide available at the trail head or on our website and each tree listed in the guide is identified by a sign specifying the common and the botanical (italicized) names.

Also included on each sign is a QR code that can be scanned with a smart phone that leads to more information about the tree.

To visit the Native Tree Trail, enter on the Mason Road side of Queeny Park. The trail head can be found near the white barn.

For more information visit www.stlouisco.com/parks

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Completed Projects

T

he Design and Development Group (DDG) is the Parks professional design and project management staff of four, and our GPS Surveyor /Mapper assigned delivery of capital improvements and facility and park site upgrades, renovations, and supporting the Parks Staff annual work program. DDG Projects include those funded by appropriated funds as well through funded projects with partners. This group also performs land use agreement support and permanent easement review and administration for work in Parks. Other support services were gained and committed to make these achievements in 2016.

Selected Projects Completed in 2016:

 Tails & Trails Dog Park in Queeny Park

 Replacement of the ice rink and HVAC system at Kennedy Recreation Complex

 Improvement of the main entry and roadway at Kennedy Recreation Complex

 Renovations to the pool at Kennedy Recreation Complex

 Replaced the cedar shake roof on the Seeds Carriage House/Visitor Center at Faust Park

 Replaced roof on the Bissell House barn

 Upgraded the sanitary sewer system at Queeny Park

 Installed two new benches at the bocce court at Endicott Park

 Replaced the existing Bison Fence at Lone Elk Park

 Repaired a swallow hole that appeared at the bottom of Lone Elk Park lake to restore the lake water level

 Began LED lighting retro-fit at St. Vincent Community Ceter and the Jefferson Barracks Veterans Memorial

 Drainage improvements to increase storm water flow from Bohrer Park athletic fields to the pond

 Began playground resurfacing projects at Tilles Park, Affton Community Center and Greensfelder Park

 Installed a new private sanitary treament system for the Lone Elk Park Visitor Center

Ampitheater parking lot and walkway

Parks Partnerships In 2016, through coordination with our regional Trail Development Partner, Great Rivers Greenways (GRG), a greater equity was achieved in trail development projects using equity from GRG revenue collected in St. Louis County for trail projects in St. Louis County. The following Trail development projects moved forward from 2016, with DDG staff performing as Owner’s Representative with agreements, and, design and construction funding by GRG:

 McKelvey Woods PH II Trail connecting Creve Coeur Park with Maryland Heights

 Mississippi Rivers Trail within Cliff Cave Park

 River Des Peres Phase IV connection through Lemay Park

 Maline Creek Greenway development in Bella Fontaine Park to include replacement

 Gravois Creek Greenway for Grants Trail

of three pedestrian bridges

Projects Scheduled for Completion in 2017 •

Initiation of the 2016 Parks Master Planning and Benchmarking Study was achieved with the selection process and contract with a consultant for a year-long project to provide a view of the current County Parks system, and, a vision of the Parks with needs for the near and the longer terms. This project includes data collections/assessments,

2016 Annual Report ● www.stlouisco.com

public and elected officials engagement and input, and benchmarking to provide that vision. Our partner in regional parks and recreation development, the Rivers Greenways is contributing 50% of the $500k project cost, with Parks funding from Parks tax funds. The Plan and Study are to be completed by end of 2017, and causes Parks to affirm land and assets as a part of this study.

•

Renovation of the Overlook Plaza at the Jefferson Barracks Powder Magazine in partnership with the Mungenast Family. The project to be authorized by Ordinance for construction in 2017. The value of the project is estimated at $500,000.

•

Demolition of the swimming pool and pool deck at the Queeny Park Recreation Complex. This facility will be demolished by contract using the Request for Proposal procurement method, with an anticipated start in fall 2017. This project removes a pool that has been closed since 2008, and is expected to enable redevelopment of this large area of the park. This cost is estimated at $350,000 would be funded by Parks tax funds.

•

A replacement of the existing dock at Veterans Memorial Park – North County Rec. Complex to construct an accessible walkway and floating dock for Blackjack Lake as a partnership with the Missouri Dept. of Conservation.

This $35,000 project would commence in 2017 using Parks tax funds, and, MDC funds and constructed by Park crews.

Natural Resources/Environmental he division of Natural Resources within the Department of Parks and Recreation is responsible for providing for the health, inspiration and education of the people of St. Louis County by helping to preserve the County’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Park staff are continually working to manage and maintain our beautiful prairies, woodlands, savannas and wetlands while also battling invasive species such as honeysuckle throughout the parks system.

T

Some of the accomplishments by our Natural Resources/Environmental team for 2016 include the following: • Project Pollinator

With partners created the Project Pollinator to encourage native plantings to support pollinators in a County-wide initiative.

•

Creve Coeur Park-Mallard Lake Habitat Restoration (Grant from Missouri Department of Conservation): Partners include the St. Louis Audubon Society, Forest Re-Leaf, Wild Ones and Missouri Master Naturalists Volunteers and park staff created two pollinator gardens planting nearly 400 native plants and shrubs; planted 320 native trees and shrubs and removed honeysuckle from the shoreline of Mallard Lake.

•

Queeny Park-Habitat Restoration: (Grant from the Missouri Department of Conservation and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) This project included seeding newly created wetlands with native grasses, planting 300 trees in partnership with the Open Space Council and contracting the planting of 1,500 native tree seedlings.

•

Missouri Department of Conservation Grant: Received a grant for $35,000.00 to create a prairie at Faust Park, hire a contractor to conduct prescribed burns and the purchase of land management equipment.

•

Tree Assessment for the Potential of Roosting Bats: Conducted tree assessments at Cliff Cave and Creve Coeur Parks to determine roosting potential of trees along two trail projects.

•

Control of Invasive Species: Monitored and treated invasive species in parks throughout the County Parks System.

St. Louis County Parks Foundation Making a BIG Impact in Your St. Louis County Parks!

On July 15, 2015, St. Louis County Parks celebrated the launch of the The St. Louis County Parks Foundation with the unveiling of our their first project: a new fountain in Tilles Park Lake!

Shortly after, the Foundation was able to bring intergenerational play to four parks by installing Expression Swings that allow parents or grandparents and children to swing facing each other.

Thanks to the generosity and commitment of community friends and donors, in just two short years the Foundation has truly made a big impact in the improvement of our St. Louis County Parks and Recreation Facilities. Some of these projects have included refurbishing existing splash pads, the donation of a large gymnasium curtain at the North County Recreational Complex and the installation of new shade structures inside the Aquatic Center at The Pavilion at Lemay. They have also started the process and planning of an innovative new project called a “Family Trail.”

Together, we have great plans for our Parks and encourage your input! Visit the Foundation website to see the project list, take the opportunity to suggest a project and learn how you can get involved in helping protect and preserve our St. Louis County Parks!

www.stlcountyparksfoundation.org

2016 Annual Report ● www.stlouisco.com

Looking Ahead Soccer Complex in Creve Coeur Park St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger, along with County Council Members and the Convention and Visitors Commission, announced the first phase of development of a state-of- the-art, destination soccer complex in Creve Coeur Park.

The complex, which is currently under construction, is targeted to open in February 2018, will feature 13 lighted artificial turf fields, a championship field with permanent seating for up to 500, a main building with locker rooms, and a satellite facility with restrooms and concessions. The complex will also feature 2 smaller, youth-sized fields.

This $14.8 million project will be funded by the Convention and Visitor’s Commission and partnership with Great Rivers Greenway. Projections indicate that when fully operational the complex will generate an estimated $7.7 million yearly in economic impact to the St. Louis County region.

Powder Magazine Patio at Jefferson Barracks The Parks Department has partnered with the Mungenast Family to renovate the Powder Magazine Patio at Jefferson Barracks Park. The patio had to be closed in 2015 due to disrepair. As part of the renovation, a military sculpture will be placed on the patio recognizing our veterans. The department is in the process of completing demolition work of the old patio, preparing it for a new concrete pad, electrical, plumbing and the sculpture installation. The patio overlooks the river and will be a beautiful spot for events and special occasions.

Completion date is estimated for Fall 2017.

St. Louis County Parks Master Plan St. Louis County Parks began the process of creating a Master Plan with an RFQ for a professional consultant company to aid the department through the process. A local firm, Planning Design Studio, was hired and have completed site assessments of all County parks and facilities. A working committee was established and 34 stake holder meetings and five open house meetings were held to gather input.

Additional open house meetings are scheduled for 2017 as well as a public survey. Results will be provided to the Parks Department and will be reviewed by the Planning Committee.

This will result in a County-wide Implementation Plan and Strategy and Action Plan prioritizing the improvements suggested by the Master Plan. The anticipated completion date for the Master Plan is fall 2017.

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Tails & Trails St. Louis County Opens Its First Dog Park In May 2016 St. Louis County Parks opened its first Dog Park. This off-leash park for our four-legged friends was long-awaited and was at the top of the list of requests by the community for many years.

This 5-acre park features a fenced area of about 4 acres for large and a separate fenced area of about 1 acre for small dogs. Other amenities include four permanent agility and skill stations, biodegradable waste bags, disposal containers and watering stations. Tails and Trails also features secure, double-gated entry, a rentable pavilion with electric and on-site paved parking. This newest experience for our four-legged friends is nestled in a serene valley on the Mason Road side of beautiful Queeny Park near the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog. “Our new Tails and Trails park is the ideal setting for pet owners and families to spend time with their dogs,” County Executive Steve Stenger said. “This is a state-of- the-art complex that we will enjoy for many years to come.”

Dogs must be up-to-date on shots including Rabies, Distemper and Bordetella. Records are required for membership.

“A dog park is something the community has been requesting for quite a while,” said Gary Bess, Parks and Recreation Director. “Tails and Trails is so much more than just a place for dogs to run. It’s truly a destination with many unique features and amenities. The Parks Department is proud to be able to provide this newest attraction to our four-legged friends.”

Visit www.stlouisco.com/parks for pricing, regulations, how to become a member and other frequently asked questions.

2016 Annual Report ● www.stlouisco.com

Department Financials 2016 Revenue Sources GAAP Basis (unaudited)

● Sales Tax - Prop P (24.2%) ● Property Tax (40.6%) ● Metro Parks Sales Tax (15.8%) ● Rents & Concessions (7.3%) ● Parks & Recreation Charges (5.0%) ● Other Revenue (2.8%) ● Other Revenue Debt Service (4.0%) ● Investment Earnings (0.3%)

2016 Expenditures Budget Basis (unaudited)

● Salaries (40.6%) ● Fringes (16.7%) ● Purchased Services (12.8%) ● Commodities (5.8%) ● Personal Allowances (0.2%) ● Other Expenses (5.0%) ● Transfer Payments (14.6%) ● Capital Allowances (4.3%)

2017 Budgeted Revenue Sources Sales Tax (Prop P) Property Tax

2016 Budgeted Expenditures

$6,977,900 (22.0%)

Salaries

$12,750,623 (40.3%)

$11,570,816 (36.5%)

Fringes

$5,444,956 (17.2%) $5,049,447 (15.9%)

Metro Parks Sales Tax

$4,540,800 (14.3%)

Purchased Services

Rents & Concessions

$3,942,865 (12.4%)

Commodities

Parks & Recreation Charges Other Revenue Other Revenue - Debt Service Investment Earnings From Fund Balance TOTAL

$1,171,750 (3.7%) $452,650 (1.4%)

Personal Allowances

$2,784,129 (8.8%) $98,536 (0.3%)

Other Expenses

$1,958,004 (6.2%)

$1,127,138 (3.6%)

Transfer Payments

$1,443,823 (4.6%)

$69,798 (0.2%)

Capital Allowances

$2,144,322 (6.7%)

$1,820,123 (5.9%)

TOTAL

$31,673,840

$31,673,840

(19

Saint Louis County Parks & Recreation Administrative Offices 41 S. Central Avenue, 7th Floor Clayton, Missouri 63105

(314) 615-4FUN | www.stlouisco.com/parks