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Table of Contents McKinley Bridge Development Receives “What’s Right With The Region” Award – May 2008 Public Involvement Encouraged in Planning Process for Gateway Arch – May, 2008 The “Telling River Stories” Web site is Live – May 2008 Centennial Projects Coming to the Gateway Arch - April, 2008 Call to Artists! - April, 2008 Volunteers Clean-up The Confluence - April, 2008 Community Leaders Restore Mississippi River - April, 2008 Grace Hill AmeriCorps Trail Rangers Receive Awards for Community Service - April, 2008 KATY Trail State Park Inducted into Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Hall of Fame - March, 2008
McKinley Bridge Development Receives “What’s Right With The Region” Award – May 2008 The 2,600-ft. long by 14-ft. wide cantilevered lane, which will officially open to the public on June 7, features connections to the Riverfront Trail in St. Louis City and the Confluence Bikeway in Madison County. Offering dramatic views of the Mississippi River and downtown St. Louis, the bikeway, is the most unique and distinctive feature of the reconstructed bridge that was reopened for vehicular traffic last November.
Public Involvement Encouraged in Planning Process for Gateway Arch The existing management plan has been in place since 1960 and is in need of updating. The NPS has developed some preliminary concepts including reinvigorating the Arch grounds as encouraged by the Danforth Foundation. However, to facilitate sound planning, public participation is crucial. The public will be invited to develop new concepts as well as to comment on those presented by the NPS and other private and public organizations. Participation will be encouraged and facilitated by newsletters and public meetings. The types of changes could include:
Requests to be added to the project mailing list should be sent by mail to Superintendent, Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, 11 North 4th Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63102; by telephone to 314-655-1600; or by e-mail to JEFF_Superintendent@nps.gov.
The “Telling River Stories” Web site is Live
Centennial Projects Coming to the Gateway Arch “As the Arch is the Gateway to the West, ParkPalooza will be a gateway to national park experiences,” said Frank Mares, Acting Superintendent of Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. Following the “No Child Left Inside” initiative, activities are being planned that will tap into outdoor recreational opportunities, archeology, art, and preservation; all encouraging people to become stewards of public lands. Jefferson National Parks Association, which supports educational programming at the Gateway Arch and Historic Old Courthouse, will contribute the matching funds for the project. Executive Director David Grove is thrilled to be participating. “I learned the value of national parks as a young person and instill this in my own children. With ParkPalooza, we will be able to provide rich educational experiences for area families who may not realize the great opportunities that await them in their national parks.”
Call to Artists! Visitors will be able to kick up their heels and literally get their kicks on Route 66 during the Festival, as a Sock Hop is one of the many activities planned. Additional events planned for the day include an exhibition of classic cars and motorcycles, music, speakers, and a walk-in movie. Road food reminiscent of Route 66 will be served at this FREE event open to the public. Ten selected artists will display their work in a 48 square foot space (6’ x 8’) within a 20’ x 40’ Art tent on the Missouri side of the bridge. All work exhibited must be limited to this space. Artists will be responsible for providing all display booths, racks, tables, and associated display equipment and supplies. A 6’ table and 2 chairs will be provided to each artist selected to display their artwork. There will be security at the event, but Trailnet is not responsible for any damage which may occur to work, equipment or other material due to rain, wind, fire, theft, etc. All types of artwork is welcome as long as it is at a price point that will entice our attendees. Artists proposing to teach hands-on activities should include a description of the activity and limited materials budget in their application. There will be a supplement provided to teaching artists for cost of instructional materials only. Please include your resume, description of work you’d like to sell and/or create at the festival, 5 images on a CD [no files larger than 5K], and list of images. Files should be named as the following: Title, medium, year finished, and price. One image should include a booth display shot. Applications will be juried by festival presenters based upon the following criteria:
Artwork must be original in design and executed by the applicant. All work displayed MUST be produced by the exhibiting artist(s) and MUST be consistent with the images submitted. There is no application fee, but upon approval and acceptance to the festival, there will be a $35 booth fee. Artists will be notified by July 12. Be one of the 10 artists to pave the way for St. Louis’ most energetic and enthusiastic festival. Submit application materials by June 15 to:
More information about The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge: In 2006 the Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of a Route 66 application designating significant structures along the historic route from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA. The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is one of thirty-five other properties added to the national register through the efforts of the National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation program.
Volunteers Clean-up The Confluence
Community Leaders Restore Mississippi River Community leaders of all ages joined forces on April 11 to create a more environmentally responsible St. Louis region. More than 225 leaders (ages 16 through 60-something) got their hands dirty hauling, planting, and weeding to restore a delicate river’s edge habitat. “The goal of the project is not only to restore a parcel of Mississippi Riverfront habitat, but also to inspire our bi-state region’s leaders to share their learning and enthusiasm with other community leaders,” said Chris Chadwick, executive director of FOCUS St. Louis, the nonprofit providing the volunteer workforce for the day’s project. The restoration was accomplished by members of the two FOCUS year-long leadership programs, Leadership St. Louis (LSL) and Youth Leadership St. Louis (YLSL). This year’s LSL and YLSL class members worked under the guidance of Laura Cohen, Project Manager of Confluence Greenway, and Doug Eller, Program Director of Grace Hill Settlement House. This project marks the first time in a decade that members of the LSL and YLSL programs are combining forces in community service. While LSL serves as a national model and the region’s premiere leadership training program for established and emerging community leaders, YLSL trains outstanding high school juniors from public, private, and parochial schools throughout the bi-state region.
Grace Hill AmeriCorps Trail Rangers Receive Awards for Community Service “Whether it is the AmeriCorps Members serving their communities, or the volunteers who donate their time throughout the year and on ‘Make a Difference Day,’ the commission has had much success empowering individuals to ‘make a difference’ in Missouri communities,” said Linda Thompson, Executive Director of the Missouri Community Service Commission.
KATY Trail State Park Inducted into Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Hall of Fame Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is nationally recognizing exemplary rail-trails around the country for induction into the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame. Rails-to-Trails selects inductees on merits such as scenic value, high use, trail and trailside amenities, historical significance, excellence in management and maintenance of facility, community connections and geographic distribution. The five-year program will run through December 2011 when the 25th—and final—Rail-Trail Hall of Fame inductee will be selected to coincide with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's 25th Anniversary. (Photo courtesy Rails-to-Trails Conservancy). Read about the KATY Trail on Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's website
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New City School’s River Kids with AmeriCorps Trail ranger and their haul of trash
Jermel Higgins practicing for his role as Dred Scott in the Trail Rangers Dred Scott Trial Reenactment. 
The Katy Trail was inducted into the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Hall of Fame in a March 5th ceremony in Washington, D.C. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy President Keith Laughlin presented the official Hall of Fame award certificate to Gov. Matt Blunt. Also attending were officials from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and key dignitaries associated with the Katy Trail.