GREAT RIVERS GREENWAY ADDS BEN GROSSMAN AS GREENWAY OPERATIONS MANAGER

Great Rivers Greenway is pleased to announce the addition of Ben Grossman, of O’Fallon, Mo., to the park and trail district’s growing team. Hired in October, Grossman is working together with other staff to make the St. Louis region an even better place to live by connecting St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County with a network of greenways.

As greenway operations manager, Grossman is responsible for collaborating with various partners, including municipalities, nonprofits and volunteers, to ensure a high quality user experience for those out on the trails. He also works with Great Rivers Greenway project managers to plan and design greenways that are easier and less costly to maintain and care for.

Grossman is a Certified Arborist and Missouri Master Naturalist. Prior to joining the Great Rivers Greenway team, he worked for more than 12 years as a Natural Resource Supervisor at St. Charles County Parks and Recreation. His experience includes the management of a wide variety of natural areas, including prairies, wetlands, forests, woodlands and ponds. He has also recruited and coordinated volunteer staff for land management activities, such as tree planting, prescribed burning, exotic species control and educational programs.

Grossman earned his Bachelor of Science in Forestry at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and his Master of Science in Forestry at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He has been recognized for his excellence in the field of Arboriculture and serves on the Missouri Community Forestry Council.

The addition of Grossman as greenway operations manager is a result of the successful passage of Proposition P in April 2013 that authorized a 3/16th of a cent retail sales tax to invest in regional parks and greenways in St. Louis City and St. Louis County, as well as transformational improvements to the Gateway Arch Grounds. The additional funds have allowed the district to grow its staff, expand the River Ring, elevate efforts to conserve natural resources, and connect people to the outdoors by providing healthy and active options for area residents.

“We are excited to have Ben Grossman join our team,” said Susan Trautman, executive director of Great Rivers Greenway. “His expertise in land management, park programming and volunteer coordination will ensure that the people’s investment in greenways is protected so everyone can enjoy them for years to come. We are also thankful to the voters, whose support of Proposition P is allowing us to expand our staff as we work to improve your quality of life.”