Revitalization, one Invested Neighborhood at a time

Trailnet partnered with InveSTL to produce the I <3 STL: Invested Neighborhoods Community Ride on Saturday, June 28. Riders gathered in Greg Freeman Park at Four Corners in the Skinker Debaliviere neighborhood and hit the road for an 8-mile ride showcasing the phenomenal community work taking place north of Delmar. The Skinker Debaliviere Community Council sent us off.

Our journey took us down the Ruth Porter Mall trail, part of the beautiful St. Vincent Greenway network. Our first stop was the St. Louis Association of Community Organizations (SLACO), located in the West End neighborhood. SLACO serves as an umbrella coalition for the St. Louis Metropolitan area neighborhood associations. Joining us at the SLACO offices was Elizabeth Simons of Great Rivers Greenway District, who discussed how trails and greenways can transform our sense of place. She also shared exciting developments from St. Vincent Greenway, Inc., and how they strive to advance the health and safety of the neighborhoods surrounding the greenway.

Next up, we ventured to Pagedale to visit Beyond Housing’s Family Support Center. This community anchor organization has worked directly with residents to gather input on Pagedale’s potential. They host children’s summer camps, family-friendly evenings in the nearby park, and have even worked to bring a supermarket to Page Avenue. All of these activities have helped empower residents to access greenspaces, affordable childcare, and healthy food.

Our 26 riders all expressed that they enjoyed the ride immensely – especially for the opportunity to learn more about communities north of Delmar Boulevard that are too often overlooked.