More than 20 volunteers from Missouri and Illinois rolled up their sleeves planting nearly 450 flowers and bushes to create an urban oasis at the 5th and Missouri Transit Center in East St. Louis. This community plant day effort is part of the final design concept of the “Transit Stop Transformation Project” at the transit center, the fifth of its kind in the St. Louis region through a partnership with Citizens for Modern Transit, AARP in St. Louis, St. Clair County Transit District and Metro St. Louis. The project is expected t to be completed in mid-July and will also feature a large central shade structure, seating, a gathering space and windscreens with images of influential East St. Louisans throughout history.
The goal of this and all other “Transit Stop Transformation” projects is to transform places that people typically pass through on their way to their next destination into community amenities that improve safety and security, build ridership and increase engagement around transit. Each project showcases a deep understanding of and commitment to equitable development around transit, the impact and possibility of play, the ability for creative interventions to produce long-term impact in neighborhoods that are accessible for residents of all ages, and the need for collaboration to succeed.