Recognizing Forest Park’s Heroes
Many people work behind the scenes every day to maintain Forest Park’s beauty and ensure each visit is safe and memorable. On May 16, 2025, some of those everyday heroes became real heroes as an EF-3 tornado ripped through the region. Staff and volunteers directed people to safety, delivered first aid to those who were injured and provided transportation when transit options weren’t available.
Four Forest Park Forever staff members, a City of St. Louis Park Ranger and an Explore St. Louis volunteer at the Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center went above and beyond their usual—and already invaluable—duties that day and were recognized as “Hospitality Heroes” on September 17. Explore St. Louis created the Hospitality Hero Recognition Program to reward “heroic acts of customer service and the impact [St. Louis employees and volunteers] make to the visitor experience.”
Sustaining Forest Park and welcoming millions of visitors each year is a collaborative effort. Forest Park Forever’s dedicated team works with volunteers, including those with Explore St. Louis, and the City of St. Louis to continually improve this 1,300-acre oasis and meet our visitors’ needs, even when the unthinkable happens.
Our Hospitality Heroes
From left to right: KJ Reynolds, Steve Burkhardt, Dominic Derfler and Cody Jackson (Not pictured: Sandy Ericson and Roger Franklin)
Dominic Derfler, Forest Park Forever arbor technician
Sandy Ericson, Explore St. Louis volunteer
Cody Jackson, Forest Park Forever landscape support specialist
A guest who had been injured by flying debris during the tornado received first aid from Dominic, Cody and Sandy—who also is a nurse—at the Visitor Center in Forest Park. The Park visitor returned a few days later to thank the team members for their quick action, calm demeanor and kindness. He also offered to help with tornado recovery to give back to Forest Park and support the people and mission of Forest Park Forever.
Cody had previously been nominated for remaining “calm, cool, and collected” and “professional and kind” during a separate incident near the Saint Louis Zoo on August 5, 2024. While helping a visitor in need, Cody “really helped keep parties as calm as possible,” according to our partners at the Zoo who submitted his nomination.
KJ Reynolds, Forest Park Forever executive assistant
A couple visiting St. Louis arrived in Forest Park the afternoon of May 16 and took shelter in the Visitor Center. They were stranded with their luggage after Metro and ridesharing operations suspended service around the Park to make room for emergency responders. KJ determined which roads were passable and then drove the couple to their destination.
Steve Burkhardt, Forest Park Forever facility and security manager
Roger Franklin, City of St. Louis Park Rangers
Steve and Roger braved the winds from the approaching tornado to alert Park visitors who were playing on the handball courts, playgrounds and other amenities around the Visitor Center, ushering them into the basement storm shelter. With only minutes to act, they risked their own well-being to ensure others’ safety.
You Can Be a Hero for Forest Park
As the nonprofit conservancy that maintains Forest Park in partnership with the City of St. Louis, we have expertise in land management, ecology, conservation, park operations, community engagement, education and customer service. This team is now hard at work restoring Forest Park from the tornado’s damage. You can join us in our meaningful work by becoming a Forest Park Forever member, supporting our daily efforts to make Forest Park a joyful, welcoming and safe place for 15.5 million visits each year.