SierraScape January - August 2018
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by Caroline Pufalt
EMG Chapter Secretary

Creve Coeur Lake Memorial county park covers 2,145 acres. But 40 of those acres have been the focus of a contentious debate over the proper use of park land, the meaning of outdoor recreation, and transparency and honesty in government. A huge ice rink development threatened the park. But citizen push back helped expose the project for what it was; a land grab at the expense of the public and the park. Finally, the development was defeated and the park protected.

The project was a huge indoor ice skating complex and sports medicine facility, two stories with 800 plus parking lot planned for those 40 acres. Traffic, noise, loss of open space, pollution were all concerns.

Furthermore, the project ran right up against the law in that the 40 acres in question were purchased with federal help under the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). That law requires the land to support outdoor recreation. Because of this law, the National Park Service needed to review the project for compliance. After careful review and public input, it was clear this project would not be in compliance.

In summer, the 40 acres were stripped of all trees and ground cover and graded in a supposed benign storm water control project. That looked suspicious and turns out to have indeed been false. What followed was a sad display of underhanded officials and developers attempting to fool the public, to ravage park land and get a head start on a project which was not yet approved.

However, not all was lost due to the many citizens who spoke up against this proposal, and to several responsible county council members who pushed back and kept asking questions. Thanks especially to councilman Dr. Sam Page. Finally the rink promoters admitted they were looking for alternative locations outside the park. So, it is a big 40 acre victory for the park, validation for the LWCF and a push for better government. Thanks to everyone who helped!