2 days ago
Where is Forest Park at in the road to recovery?
ST. LOUIS – It's been nearly a month since a deadly tornado went through St. Louis, leaving widespread destruction from Clayton to north St. Louis. While some progress has been made, there is a long journey ahead–including for Forest Park.
During the storm on May 16, it went through the west and north sides of Forest Park, damaging over 4,000 trees, according to the park.
'Repairing and making Forest Park safe again will require a massive, expensive effort,' the park said in a release.
Several areas of the park remain closed due to the extensive damage, which include:
Trails and paths on or near:
Lagoon Drive between Emerson Grand Basin and Picnic Island
Skinker and Lindell boulevards
St. Francis of Assisi statue, Korean War Memorial, Vandeventer Place Gates near Jewel Box
Art Hill's allee of trees
Kennedy Forest and boardwalks
Cascades waterfall
Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center
Anne O'C. Albrecht Nature Playscape
Forest Park officials emphasized their request that visitors stay away from damaged areas, as there may be 'hangers' of large, loose limbs sitting in a tree above. Additionally, guests are asked not to remove any signs, barriers and cones on paths.
One of the locations inside Forest Park to sustain damage was also The Muny, which lost many trees throughout the 11.5-acre campus.
Communications and Public Relations Manager Gabe Hartwig told FOX 2 that the preshow stage at the west Purina Plaza was destroyed, but the main stage, theatre, and offices remained intact.
'Our Tony Awards Watch Party on Sunday at Ballpark Village also served as an opportunity to support disaster relief efforts across St. Louis. Generous Muny fans brought food items and toiletries for the St. Louis Area Foodbank, and we collected nearly $2,000 in donations for the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis,' Hartwig said.
As cleanup is still underway, anyone who would like to donate to The Muny can click here.
To donate to Forest Park Forever, click here. To volunteer in cleanup efforts throughout the park, click here.
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