The Park Committee met weekly to discuss the design and installation considerations to meet the deadline for the grant, make strong visible progress for the residents and to install the park between July 1 and September 29, 2021. Six design concepts were identified for resident input. In July, two pop up events were created to identify resident choice of design for the park which was incorporated into the final design and renderings. 

Once the design was determined, the survey and soil test were completed. The survey identified the property lines and several discussions were held with the neighbor directly to the west of the park. The soil test demonstrated signficant levels of lead contamination which required amelioration. To address the issue, soil for the sidewalk was removed, the land was not graded and additional soil was added to bury the contaminated soil. The existing tree was limbed up, sidewalk installed and turf seeded. 

During September, two additional grants were written and awarded to the STLACC providing native perennials and trees and allowing for water runoff management to decrease mosquitos breeding areas. All of this material was installed on October 2, 2021 during a pop-up planting event where residents of all ages, races and genders came together to install their park. The sidewalk was painted with shapes and bright colors per resident input. Spring bulbs were installed on October in time for the Ribbon Cutting. 

While the approximately $32,000 in grants was the basis of the project, the Park could not have been completed without the additional support of $48,000 in in-kind donations from vendors and residents. The project brought not only the residents together but also neighboring communities to connect with the park. 

How the STLACC is utilizing
place-based arts and culture strategies to amplify the drivers of social cohesion 

The STLACC is utilizing place-based arts and cultural strategies to amplify the drivers of social cohesion to increase equitable community well-being in four ways: 

By focusing on redesign of 32 additional vacant lots that back the 3.5 mile Hodiamont Greenway linear park, we leverage the renovation of the central area by expanding the reactivation into the neighborhoods themselves. Each resident provides input into the greenspaces in their neighborhoods (self-determination of shared values- neighbors of different backgrounds can recognize that they may share similar goals). As in the pilot project noted above, residents come together when they see real change. As a benet, the Project addresses issues of storm water runoff, mosquito breeding, crime on the lots and increased property values for homeowners. 

As a corollary, the Greenway through the underserved area literally links the Grand Center Arts District on the east end of the Greenway to the Delmar Loop District on the west end of the Greenway creating a safe area for everyone from symphony goers in Grand Center, aficionados of jazz and blues which sprang from the African American area we are working in to the rock and roll centers of the Delmar Loop. Expanding upon the regional redesign of the larger greenway, the Project expands the footprint of the Greenway strengthening the communities adjacent to the greenway through community collaboration on a resident identified priority (place attachment- mutually reinforcing social capital (bridging)). Economic change created by artistic professional development through interaction with community resources is critical for the area. Resident driven art parks and events in them bring audiences from around the area to support local businesses and change the negative image of the area. The Project achieves physical change in the neglected areas by establishing local venues where artists can perform/exhibit while creating safe gathering places for residents (place attachment- creating rewarding experiences within community places). These events will provide an important source of social change by increasing meaning and revenue for the region. By including the residents at each stage from the input to the enjoyment of the art, new connections and trust are formed between them (city organizations and others from outside the neighborhood) and us (resident artists and leaders). 

As with the pilot, a key aspect of the Project is reaching out to the community to actually design and install the park and artwork. Call for artists living in the area, contractors and others needed to create, install the project come as much as possible from the neighborhoods themselves creating economic opportunity and capacity building for those businesses. 

Expanding from the pilot lot, the STLACC has partnered with the public-school system to create a mentorship/internship program for high school seniors to participate in any of the skills needed to actually create the park and social change (civic engagement- initiating a desire for more hyper-local civic engagement, especially impacted youth). They can explore interview and storytelling skills to obtain resident input; participate in the design, address the legal, financial and policy implications of the project; work with the contractor or any of the subs, learn landscape design and maintenance and so much more that strengthen skills needed in the job market while actually positively affecting their community.