Great Rivers Greenway Board Votes in Favor of the Creation of CityArchRiver 2015 Project Citizen Committee

On Tuesday, Jan. 8, the Great Rivers Greenway Board of Directors, as part of its mission to make the St. Louis region a better place to live, voted unanimously in favor of establishing the Safe & Accessible Arch Citizen's Committee, an advisory group of citizens that will provide input on the CityArchRiver 2015 project.

Great Rivers Greenway will lead the engagement process in cooperation with CityArchRiver 2015 Foundation and other project partners, including MoDOT, the City of St. Louis, the National Park Service and others. The 30-person committee will contain members from the entire St. Louis metropolitan region. Participants will give input on programs, activities, visitor experience, and the long-term preservation of the CityArchRiver 2015 project. The district hopes to begin an open call for participants by Wednesday, March 13, 2013.

The Metropolitan Parks and Recreation District (also known as "Great Rivers Greenway") was formed in 2000, when citizens voted in favor of clean water, safe parks and community trails. The organization has long sought public input in every initiative since its creation, including the citizen-driven regional plan, which serves as the framework for all projects the district undertakes, and strives to reflect citizen goals.

"Involving the public is integral to the success of every project, and CityArchRiver 2015 Project is no exception," said Susan Trautman, executive director of Great Rivers Greenway. "There has been significant public input throughout this effort, and adding the citizen advisory committee will ensure the long-term preservation of the CityArchRiver 2015 project."

"In order to carry out our mission of making the region a better place to live, we have to consider the implications of our projects and the desires of the people. The CityArchRiver 2015 project is incredibly transformative, seeking to reconnect St. Louis to its river. We are issuing a broad call for input because this project has the potential to transform the entire region," Trautman said.

City of St. Louis Alderman Scott Ogilvie attended the meeting and weighed in on the measure. He offered thanks to district director Susan Trautman for reaching out to collaborate on the resolution, noting that the effort was a meaningful gesture to involve the public in the project.

Following the board's approval, Great Rivers Greenway will work with its partners in the next few months to lay the groundwork for the committee, and hopes to open the call for applications as soon as March 13, 2013.

For more information, visit www.grgstl.org.