St. Louis named "All American City"--for regional trails system

St. Louis was recently named an "All American City"--the the "river ring" trails system being planned and built by the Great Rivers Greenway District was one of three projects cited as the reason for the honor:

St. Louis (the region) was cited for three projects: Downtown Now, the public-private partnership created in 1997 to revitalize downtown St. Louis; the Great Rivers Greenway District's "River Ring," a 600-mile web of 45 hiking and bike trails now in the works, and "The Boomerang Press," a project for young artists established by the St. Louis Art Works, a community arts collaborative. . . .

The judges, a panel of experts in civic affairs, had particular praise for the River Ring, noting that "because it touches the jurisdictions of over 100 regional municipalities, plus state and national jurisdictions, it is a case study in successful collaboration."

The project is funded by a one-tenth-cent sales tax in St. Louis, St. Louis County and county and St. Charles County. The Greenway District collaborates with the Metro East Parks and Recreation District, which levies a similar tax in Madison and St. Clair counties.

Thus, it's fitting that the region's All America City designation will be celebrated Saturday at the opening of a new bike trail linking the two states. The celebration will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Branch Street entrance to the McKinley Bridge Bikeway and Trestle.