Fall Planting Days at Peace Park

The College Hill neighborhood's name comes from its history as a 300 acre farm operated by St. Louis University. The large farm estates that made up the once rural area were primarily owned by St. Louis enslavers and particularly WashU founding trustee John O'Fallon, as well as John Gano Bryan, and the Hempstead and Bissell families. These estates were parceled off and sold in 1836 to individuals and institutions including St. Louis University, which parceled and sold the land again in the 1870s. 

Today the neighborhood faces tremendous challenges stemming from abandonment and disinvestment, including widespread vacancy, and College Hill has been described as the only St. Louis neighborhood without a park. In 2016, College Hill neighbors and friends began exploring ways to improve the health, well-being, and beauty of their community, and as resident researchers learned that vacant properties were key to these concerns, they determined that the revitalization of an entire block of vacant lots - known as Peace Park - would be a priority. The Green City Coalition has been working with these community leaders and many other partners, including WashU, to realize this plan for the revitalization of Peace Park. This fall the coalition is helping organize a series of volunteer fall plantings on the following dates:

• Fri, Sept 20: 9:00 to 2:00 - Join St Louis Development Corporation in planting native perennials and edible shrubs.
• Mon, Oct 7: 9:00 to 12:00 - Join Forest ReLeaf, Employment Connection in planting fruit trees at Peace Park.
• Sat, Oct 26: 9:00 to 12:00 - Open volunteer day to plant Daffodils

Where: Peace Park (E Grand and Strodtman Place)
What to bring: No tools or experience needed! Please bring a water bottle. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

RSVP: Register to volunteer using the button below