Background
The public organizations and the citizens of city of St. Louis and its surrounding region have been resolute at regenerating the metropolitan area due to the declining economic and social situations. Part of the primary effort set by the states of Missouri and Illinois is the establishment of a planning body in each state to direct coordinate and manage the comprehensive planning initiative that covers economic, human and environmental development.
Location Map
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These public planning organizations were the final stage of a long process and effort to place them in operation. The organization, St. Louis 2004, started visioning sessions throughout the metropolitan area during the period between 1996 and 1998. As a result, the St. Louis 2004 Park and Open Spaces Task Force was established for the sake of advocating open space planning. As a consequence, during the year 1999, the non-profit organization, Gateway Parks and Trails 2004, was established to lead the Clean Water, Safe Parks and Community Trails initiative. During the same year the Governors of Missouri and Illinois sign the enabling legislation authorizing the first bi-state park and recreation district.
In the year 2000, Proposition C is approved with support from three counties in Missouri and two counties in Illinois . This approval resulted in the establishment of The Great Rivers Greenway District, in Missouri , and the Metro East Park and Recreation District in Illinois . These two bodies are responsible for the coordination efforts spanning both states.
Bi-State Cooperation
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The focus of this case study will be the Great Rivers Greenway District (GRGD) which extends its authority from Proposition C , which assigns the development of a public system of interconnecting greenways, parks and trails to The Great Rivers Greenway. It is the charge of the organization to work with and within the regulatory authorities of existing units of government and public agencies.
