In preparation for the upcoming Spring kickoff walk as the region slowly re-opens from COVID-19, Citizens for Modern Transit will be taking extra precautions this year for its walks. As of May 11, Metro Transit began requiring masks for all riders and operators. All walkers for CMT Special walks will receive kits that include a mask, gloves, and an alcohol wipe.
Additionally, special walks for the spring and upcoming fall 2020 session will primarily take place at outside destinations. Social distancing protocols will be observed throughout the walk process as well. Walk participants are encouraged to wash their hands frequently, avoid touching their face, and use hand sanitizer when possible.
The kickoff tour will include a guided tour of the St. Louis Armory. Built in 1938 by the federal Public Works Administration, the 200,000 square foot St. Louis Armory was for many years home to the 138th Infantry Missouri National Guard. Later it hosted amateur sports, including tennis, where future greats Arthur Ashe and Jimmy Connors trained, as well as rock concerts, including the Grateful Dead and Tina Turner. Now Green Street, a St. Louis- based commercial real estate company that specializes in green infill development and adaptive re-use, is excited to breathe new life into the building. Plans call for a complete renovation to house commercial office space that will become an anchor for the redevelopment of this area of Midtown St. Louis. Walkers will explore the site for 45 minutes and are required to wear closed-toed shoes.
Special thanks to AARP St. Louis for their partnership on the Ten Toe Express Program.