The citizens of several counties in the St. Louis metropolitan region in both Illinois and Missouri, as well as the City of St. Louis, will have the opportunity to implement an exciting initiative to improve their parks and trails systems. The Clean Water, Safe Parks, and Community Trails Initiative will improve water quality, increase park safety, provide a community trail network, improve local parks, increase disabled public access to recreation, and protect wildlife habitat. It is on the ballot in several St. Louis Region counties and cities as Proposition C.
In 1999 legislation was enacted by both the Missouri and Illinois State Legislatures that authorizes creation of separate regional park and recreation districts. These districts would not replace local park agencies, but would work together with them to expand recreational opportunities and improve and protect the environment. Inclusion in the regional districts is voluntary. Each county can decide to join the district by approving a one tenth cent sales tax that would be used by the district, and also by local park agencies, for park and recreation purposes.
In Illinois, the district is called the Metro-East Park and Recreation District and in Missouri, the district is called the Metropolitan Park and Recreation District. The two districts would be linked by inter-governmental agreements to insure coordination of planning and development of the overall parks and trails system. Counties that did not join immediately could do so later as they realized the benefits of being part of the districts. Eleven counties, five in Illinois and six in Missouri, and the City of St. Louis are eligible to join one of the two districts.
The environmental community has been very supportive of the regional park and recreation concept. Working with a large and diverse alliance of groups including Gateway Parks & Trails 2004, we worked to pass the authorizing state legislation and are now working to get the implementing measure on the ballot and then approved by the voters. Four of the Illinois counties eligible to join the Illinois district have put the measure on the November ballot. St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County in Missouri have put the measure on the November ballot. The other eligible counties have decided to see how the concept works and then will consider putting it to a vote in the future.
If approved by voters, funds generated by the one tenth cent sales tax would be split 50/50 between the newly established regional district in each state, and county and municipal park agencies in each participating county and the City of St. Louis. Each participating entity would have representation on the district Board in their state, which would have specific powers to plan and operate the regional parks and trails system. The Board would not have the power of eminent domain, but could issue bonds, contract with existing park agencies, and accept property and financial contributions.
The Clean Water, Safe Parks, and Community Trails Initiative is an exciting opportunity for the greater St. Louis region to work cooperatively for a cleaner, healthier, more livable environment. Expanded recreational facilities, protected open space and greenways, and a higher quality of life are among the many benefits. You are urged to support Proposition C by voting for the November ballot measure and working for its passage where it is on the ballot.
For more information contact: Roy Hengerson, Missouri Coalition for the Environment, 6267 Delmar - #2E, 314-727-0600 e-mail: royh@moenviron.org website: www.moenviron.org