A Blueprint for Social Equity and Economic Prosperity — March Bonus Episode

The March issue of Parks & Recreation magazine is out now,
and on this bonus episode of Open Space Radio we’re diving deeper
into one of the feature articles, “St. Louis: A Path Toward
Equitable Design.” The article showcases the framework plan for
the Chouteau Greenway in St. Louis — a $250 million greenway
development. The public-private partnership spans 15 miles and 20
neighborhoods, with the goal of connecting communities and
unifying different populations.


One person who has played an instrumental role in this project is
Susan Trautman, CEO of Great Rivers Greenway, and we’re thrilled
to chat with her on the show.


On this episode, we discuss how important it is that a public
space like this connects diverse populations throughout the city,
and the impact that this kind of project makes on the communities
that it touches.


We also talk about the release of the Chouteau Greenway Framework
Plan that was recently released in December 2019. The plan
focuses on four main topics:


Alignment (feasibility of possible routes),

Design & Identity (look and feel of the greenway),

Economic Growth (the greenway as a catalyst for opportunity)

Equity (equitable outcomes in project and process)



Social equity remains at the forefront of Chouteau Greenway, as
well as community engagement, and Great Rivers Greenway is
currently reviewing submissions for the new name of the greenway.
Due to the sensitive nature of the name “Chouteau,” which was the
name of a slave owner in St. Louis, a large part of this project
is soliciting a new name from the community — and they have over
1,000 submissions!


To learn more about this project and see what the future holds
for the greenway, tune in to the episode below.