Great Rivers Greenway has announced a lineup of events throughout September and October 2009 in celebration of the new Ken Burns series "The National Parks:
To highlight the impressive array of parks, trails and greenways throughout the Greater St. Louis metropolitan region, local communities and organizations are planning a wide variety of special outdoor events throughout the month of September and early October. The events are being promoted in cooperation with GRG-Great Rivers Greenway, as part of GRG’s co-sponsorship of the sweeping new documentary series, The National Parks: America's Best Idea by Ken Burns. The documentary will be broadcast on KETC/Channel 9 from September 27 through October 4 and is the centerpiece of KETC’s local initiative Our Great Outdoors. More information about local events, dates and times is available at www.ketc.org/ourgreatoutdoors and www.greatrivers.info.
“Events are designed to promote our region’s “green” community resources, as well as healthy lifestyles and environmental sustainability,” said David Fisher, Executive Director of GRG, the public organization leading the development of a region-wide system of 640-miles of interconnected greenways, parks and trails known as the River Ring.
All events are free except as noted. Highlights include the following:
Sun., Sept. 6 St. Louis City, Giro & Tour of Missouri Bicycle Ride, 22, 30 or 43-mile routes, start from Shaw Visual and Performing Arts Community Education Center on “The Hill”, 5329 Columbia Ave., 63139, registration from 7:30 a.m. until 9 a.m., fees: $8 member, $12 non-member, $3 child (limited number of $3 discount coupons from Big Shark Bicycle)
Sat. Sept. 12 City of St. Peters, Family Fitness Walk, 1-mile walk/run from St. Peters Rec-Plex, 5200 Mexico Road through St. Peters City Centre Park, 9:30 a.m., includes free admission to fitness and recreation center activities, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
City of Wildwood, Marvels of the Meramec, 4-mile Family Hands-on Hike featuring a passport for prizes and entertainment by Radio Disney, start at LaSalle Springs Middle School, 3300 Highway 109, 8 a.m., hike through Hamilton-Carr Greenway and Al Foster Memorial Trail to the Meramec River and back again
St. Louis City, Better Family Life “September on the Green: A Family Affair,” at Ruth Porter Park, intersection of Delmar and DeBaliviere, featuring jazz festival, local community organizations and artists, play areas, storytelling and face painting, youth activities, disc jockey, step show, and more, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
St. Charles County, Family Camp Expo at Klondike Park, 4600 Highway 94 South, Overnight campout, Sat. 10 a.m. until Sunday a.m. St. Louis County, Fort Belle Fontaine Park, 13002 Bellefontaine Rd., 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., 3-mile escorted hike
St. Louis City, ParkPalooza at the Gateway Arch/Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, featuring rock climbing, music, dancing, nature activities, photo contest and many more interactive activities.
Sun., Sept. 13 Florissant Parks Foundation, St. Ferdinand Park Family Fun and Hike, 1 St. Ferdinand Park Dr., hike on trail leading to Cold Water Commons Park, 1 p.m. until 3 p.m., featuring inflatables, rock climbing walls, food, face painting and caricatures, prizes and entertainment. St. Louis City, ParkPalooza at the Gateway Arch/Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, featuring rock climbing, music, dancing, nature activities, photo contest and many more interactive activities.
Wed., Sept. 16 Cliff Cave Park, Hike It, Bike It or Cave It, 806 Cliff Cave Park Rd., 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. , 5-mile paved Mississippi River Trail or 1.4 mile spur trail (cave tour has $5 fee and requires advance registration at 314-615-8481)
Sat. Sept. 19 St. Louis City, River des Peres, Trash Bash clean-up, rivers and creeks within the River des Peres Watershed, River des Peres Greenway trail between Gravois and Morganford, registration: 8 a.m. until 8:30 a.m., clean-up 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., lunch, entertainment and prizes 12 p.m. until 1 p.m.
Sun. Sept. 20 Clayton/Maplewood/Richmond Heights, Family Fun at Oak Knoll Park, at intersection of Big Bend and Clayton Rd., 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., featuring music, food and backyard games Highland, IL, Foot High Pie Ride, 35, 43 or 52-mile routes, start from Highland High School, 12760 Troxler Ave., registration from 7:30 a.m. until 9 a.m., fees: $8 member, $12 non-member, $3 child (limited number of $3 discount coupons from Mesa Cycles)
Sat., Sept. 26 St. Charles City, Fox Hill Park, 3309 Kister Dr., Boschert Greenway 3-mile hike, 8 a.m.
Sun., Sept. 27 City of Wildwood, Tour de Wildwood Bicycle Ride, 9, 24, 36 or 45-mile routes, start from Lafayette High School, 17050 Clayton Rd., registration from 7:30 a.m. until 9 a.m.
Sat., Oct. 3 Cottleville, Legacy Park in Dardenne Greenway, located on N. side of City Hall off Hwy N, Grand Opening events featuring hayrides, petting zoo, new children’s playground, log cabin tours, games, face painting, food and beverages from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., and a 5K run starting at 8 a.m.
Sun., Oct. 11 St. Charles City, Ride the Rivers Century Bicycle Ride, 100 miles, start from Ameristar Casino in St. Charles, registration from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 a.m., fees: $35 in advance; $50 same day. (limited number of $5 discount coupons from Big Shark Bicycle)
The National Parks: America's Best Idea, a six-part series from Ken Burns and Florentine Films, is the dramatic story of an idea that reflects the full meaning of democracy – that the most special places in the nation should be preserved for everyone. Filmed over the course of six years at some of the nation’s most spectacular locals, the narrative traces the birth of the national park idea in the mid-1800s and follows its evolution for nearly 150 years through the stories of the people who helped create them and save them from destruction. It is simultaneously a biography of compelling characters and a biography of the American landscape, which ultimately led to the belief that these special places should be kept free from development and commerce so that everyone could have access to them.
ABOUT GRG-Great Rivers Greenway Great Rivers Greenway is the public organization leading the development of a region-wide system of interconnected greenways, parks and trails, known as the River Ring. The River Ring will join two states and cover an area of 1,216 square miles. Great Rivers Greenway (GRG), formerly known as the Metropolitan Parks and Recreation District, was established in November 2000 by the successful passage of the Clean Water, Safe Parks and Community Trails Initiative (Proposition C) in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County, Missouri. For more information about GRG, visit www.greatrivers.info.
