Tornado Recovery: How to support our efforts, what to know when visiting Forest Park
Forest Park experienced severe damage from the tornadoes that devastated our region on Friday, May 16.
The Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center remains closed and without power.
Many paths and trails have hazards and obstructions from large fallen trees and related damage, requiring a massive, expensive effort to repair and make the Park safe again.
Our teams are removing fallen trees and working with contractors to remove aerial hazards. For your safety and theirs, please avoid work areas.
Teams from Forest Park Forever and our partners in the St. Louis City Department of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry continue to assess damage, clear hazards and plan recovery.
Ways You Can Help
We are touched by the many offers to volunteer and donate to recovery efforts. It’s clear how much the Park means to our community!
Repairing and Sustaining the Park: We welcome support for Forest Park’s restoration and repair by becoming a supporting member or making a one-time donation to recovery efforts.
Volunteering: We are lining up volunteers to help remove debris after each area is cleared of hazards. You can let us know through this form if you’re interested in volunteering, and we’ll contact you about upcoming opportunities. You can also subscribe to our e-news to learn about opportunities as well as on-going recovery efforts.
Keep in Mind When Visiting the Park
While most institutions in the Park have reopened, outside paths continue to have obstructions and hazards throughout. Our recovery teams ask that visitors give us space and consider other outdoors spaces for outdoor recration until we are able to work through the massive amount of large, fallen trees and related damage.
Particularly from the west and north ends of the Park all the way to the Anne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape, hazards and hardhat work areas remain. Even if a street or path is clear, there may be “hangers” – large limbs suspended in a tree above – and our team or City Parks crews may be using space for heavy equipment or to stage the large amount of debris from taking apart fallen or damaged trees.
If attending an event or visiting an institution in the Park, please resist the urge to inspect damaged areas until our trained professional teams and contractors are able to clear areas safely again.
Know that stoplights in several neighborhoods and major intersections surrounding the Park remain without power, slowing traffic. Plan ahead.
Thank you for restoring and sustaining Forest Park for our community!