Trailnet Champion: Emma Klues

In each of our monthly newsletters, Trailnet features a member of our community who is working toward Trailnet’s vision of Streets for All. In May 2024, we featured Emma Klues.

In advance of this Saturday’s Bridge Birthday Bash, we reached out to Emma Klues—the VP of Communications & Outreach for our partners Great Rivers Greenway, and a wonderful person. Here’s what she had to say about our partnership with GRG, and more importantly, THE BRIDGE!

“I have volunteered or partnered with Trailnet off and on for years, but as silly as it sounds, my favorite thing I’ve done with y’all is our venn diagram to really help people understand how Great Rivers Greenway and Trailnet have similar visions and values but different missions,” said Emma. “There is a need for both (and others!) because no one organization can do everything it takes to give people the safe, active choices they deserve. We’re a government agency that builds greenways, we don’t do traditional advocacy for crash hotspots and street projects, so I am continually glad Trailnet exists to do that work.”

And when asked about the bridge, Emma said: “…Okay I have always loved visiting the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge but this.new.PARK! It delivers exactly what community members asked for—new safety features, restoring a prairie, wetland and woodland, a glorious pavilion, public art from Simiya Sudduth, permeable paver parking lot (say that five times fast) and more. The Bridge Birthday Bash is a great way to check out and celebrate this historic iconic bridge and this brand new park. See you there!”