Historical September–October 1999 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Nothing is as enjoyable than driving through Forest Park on a beautiful day and noting the great treasure at our finger tips.
Some might complain that I would enter the park without intending to engage in a park activity. Sometimes life becomes too hectic, however, and a few minutes of visual pleasure is a restorative. Besides, Grand Drive will be taken out eventually and our vehicular access as well as our access on foot will be curtailed. Hence, I try to get as much park as I can before it’s too late.
My gripe here is not with the master plan that is changing the park landscape considerably.
It is with those who use the paths for biking, jogging, and roller blading.
I certainly don’t begrudge anyone these types of recreation. What worries me is how many of the path users do not pay attention to the stop light at the Des Peres entrance to the park and Lindell.
It makes negotiation of that territory treacherous at the least. Recently, I was exiting the park.
The light turned green for me. Because and only because I was then driving a car with very little pick up, I missed hitting a biker speeding through the intersection on a red and not looking to see if a car were coming.
This person was young-no more than 17 or 18-and it would have been horrible to cause her any type of injury.
The moral of this story is that if you use the path, watch the lights and watch for cars.
The redesign of the paths may ameliorate this problem but I now avoid the park after 5.
Some would say that’s a good idea.
I might say that another driver could run such a risk too. And the park is precious to all of usobservers as well as doers.
On a happier note, I’m pleased to be able to congratulate Katrina Stierholz and her committee for having raised the money needed to construct a children’s playground at Four Corners. Katrina’s perseverance and that of her committee members has paid off.
This effort should serve as a model for those who would like something to happen in our community.
Following on the success of the community gardens, this is a further sign of the resilience of our neighborhood and its “can do” spirit.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, September–October 1999.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1999_09.pdf, printed page(s) 2; PDF page(s) 2.
