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peace park events in 2024:
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Peace Park Town Hall: Thursday, July 11  - 6:30 pm to 8:00 @ Urban League 2125 Bissell St (old Grace Hill). Come get the scoop on what's happening at Peace Park! Bring your questions, ideas, concerns, and desire to get involved. Please RSVP.
Peace Park Clean Up, Build Up: Saturday, July 27 ​8:00 am - 2:00 pm @ Peace Park: Lend a hand alongside construction companies and community partners as we work to build up and beautify Peace Park! Please RSVP
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PEACE PARK



​College Hill neighbors and friends have been exploring ways to improve the health and overall landscape of their community. As the only St. Louis neighborhood to not have a park, residents identified a need to revitalize a block of vacant and abandoned properties known widely as Peace Park.

Scroll down or click on a section to learn more about this project.​​
​

OVERVIEW


Peace Park - located next to the Grand Ave Water Tower - was founded and named by the late Otis Woodard and has been used as a safe community gathering space for more than 20 years. The Woodard family also used to maintain a "Share Shed" on the property, providing food, clothes, and more to anyone in need.

Today, Peace Park partners are working to develop and implement an updated Vision for Peace Park - one that will reflect the peaceful intent of the park's creation. With places for gardening, chess competitions, exercise, and grilling, the many areas of Peace Park can also overlap to become sites for concerts, flea markets, family reunions, and protests. Peace Park provides space for the young and the elderly, the able-bodied and the impaired, the extroverts and the introverts: a place for everyone.
Picture
Photo by U Mission, 2008

PEACE PARK PROJECT VIDEO

August 2019 // 4 min 28 sec

PROJECT PARTNERS

Including, but not limited to,
​additional support from:
Harvard University School of Design
Health Equity Works
Fred Weber, Inc.
Keeley Companies
​Meghan Kirkwood
Alderman Brandon Bosley

​** College Hill Neighborhood Solutions describes the team of College Hill residents that have invested in developing the plans for Peace Park. **
PROPERTY OWNERSHIP & MAINTENANCE
​
Land Reutilization Authority
GCC Community Land Trust
Jubilee Services
​

DESIGN inspiration

The new Peace Park design pulls together ideas from 
  • more than a dozen community meetings and events;
  • a design charrette with students of Harvard University School of Design;
  • a tour of City parks by College Hill neighbors and friends;
  • and the park's history, location, and current conditions.
​
Picture
Rankings of park elements. Community Survey, July 2018 (13 Participants)

Harvard Students'
​EARLY DESIGN CONCEPTS

In July of 2018, students from Harvard University School of Design worked with College Hill neighbors and friends to develop a series of draft design renderings for Peace Park. ​The renderings were combined with input collected from neighborhood meetings and events to develop the current design. You can view all of the Harvard renderings in the booklet Peace Park: A Place for Everyone, 2018.

Why Do we need MORE Designs?

This next level of designs will provide the detail required to guide fundraising and construction efforts! 

DESIGNING FOR FUTURE GROWTH

Peace Park's (re)design starts with only those properties that are already publicly owned, while thoughtfully planning ​for potential expansion.

PROGRESS
​

INFORM
Beginning May 2014
​
For the Sake of All Report Released
about the social determinants of health disparities in the St. Louis region and the consequences of intervening (or failing to intervene).
ENGAGE
May 2017 - March 2018
​
Resident Research Phase 
College Hill neighbors partner with Washington University & Health Equity Works (previously For The Sake of All), and Grace Hill Settlement House, to research causes of racial health disparities, and to develop solutions.
ENGAGE
March 2018
​
Findings: Health & Vacancy
Community Solution - Revitalize Peace Park
College Hill neighbors and friends launch College Hill Neighborhood Solutions, and the plan to revitalize Peace Park to improve public and environmental health in College Hill. The Nature Conservancy and McCarthy Building Group join as partners.
ENGAGE
July - September 2018
​
Parks Tour & Design Brainstorming
College Hill Neighborhood Solutions hosts a tour of City parks. Participants identify preferred park elements.
​
Community Design Charrette
St. Louis hosts Harvard University design students who develop preliminary designs.
PLAN & DESIGN
February - October 2020
​
Fundraising & Planning
Residents produce the Peace Park short video and fundraising campaign launches. Partners work toward acquiring privately-owned vacant lots inside the park.

New Partners Join the Effort
Partners of Green City Coalition (St. Louis Development Corporation, Missouri Department of Conservation, and the City of St. Louis) join the project team, and Grace Hill Settlement House merges with Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. 
ENACT
​September 2020
​
Operation Clean Sweep
Construction companies donate their time and equipment to remove debris, junk and dying trees, remnant concrete padding, and more, from the park - paving the way for construction to begin in 2021. 
The Grand Water Tower, built in 1871, receives its first
paint job in more than 60 years. 
​ENGAGE
Oct - Dec 2020
​
Design Review Process
​WE ARE HERE
ENACT
Spring 2021
​
Construction Phase

STAY INVOLVED
​

DROP BY A POP-UP TABLING EVENT
to view designs and share your thoughts

SIGN UP FOR THE GCC NEWSLETTER
to stay informed on project progress
​
DOWNLOAD A PARK DESIGN FEEDBACK PACKET
for yourself or to share

​VIEW PROJECT DEVELOPMENT MATERIALS
to review past meetings and events

GREEN CITY COALITION

LOCATION
St. Louis, MO

PHONE NUMBER
(314) 657-3790
EMAIL ADDRESS
[email protected]

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