The Old North St. Louis neighborhood has a number of gardens that neighbors have planted and cared for, in some cases for many years. These gardens are leased from LRA, which means they are at risk of being lost in the future. Gateway Greening has a new initiative to purchase and place gardens into a trust, ensuring that they remain green spaces as the neighborhoods around them continue to thrive.
We are asking for donations to help us cover costs involved in securing the future of the following three beloved Old North green spaces.
Wingmann Park, 1400-06 Dodier Street. Wingmann Park is a tree-covered triangle just a block north of Crown Candy and is the first green space developed in Old North. It is named for Jeanne Wingmann who lived in the neighborhood and was a long time teacher and volunteer after she retired at Ames School. She would have been pleased to see the little free library and reading circle now located in the space memorializing her. We can protect this space by raising $658.91.
Ames Butterfly Garden, 1100-04 St. Louis Avenue. Various perennial plantings draw butterflies to this garden, which was begun in 1996 in cooperation with Ames elementary school across the street. The Monarch Sculpture showing the life stages of a butterfly was designed and installed in the garden by Uriel Starbuck, and is a landmark for everyone entering the neighborhood on St. Louis Ave from I-70. Each fall neighbors bring Monarch caterpillars to the school, so that students can see them change into butterflies, tag and release them. We can protect this space by raising $676.90.
Hebert Garden, 1501-1507 Hebert Street. Hebert Garden located at the corner of Blair Avenue and Hebert has various shrubs and flowering plants, an arbor, and a sign honoring Johnnie Owens. Johnnie lived across the street, loved the garden, and volunteered in Old North in many ways. A brick path installed by neighbors winds through the garden. We can protect this garden by raising $1,651.19.
These gardens have been maintained by neighbors for years. By putting them in the Gateway Greening Land Trust, the hope is that future residents will be able to continue to enjoy these green spaces, and to benefit from the improved health and well-being that green spaces help to provide.
