Sprucing up a downtown park at the intersection of homelessness

ST. LOUIS Downtown a few years ago at Hobo Park, homeless people sipped beers, sat on old benches and rested on bedding unrolled on a grassy incline. Open bidding for cigarettes started at 50 cents a piece.

Last week, the benches and homeless people were long gone. The comfy incline was fenced off, covered with new plants and mulch.

A young boy darted across thick green grass where a littered pool used to be. He passed a long row of fuchsia roses in full bloom, all the way to a new set of monkey bars on a far side of the park.

Its a nice little oasis in the city, said his mother, Valorie Helt, watching from a distance.

For nearly two years, the nonprofit group Friends of Lucas Park invested about $150,000 worth of donations and countless hours of time into sprucing up the park, which covers one city block at 14th and Locust streets.

Its the latest attempt to reclaim the 150-year-old park between the Central Library, Washington Avenue loft district and the Rev. Larry Rices large homeless shelter.

People will gather at 8 tonight for a viewing of The Princess Bride to celebrate the parks reopening.

Its just greener, cleaner and more inviting and usable for those who live and work in the area, Friends of Lucas Park board member Daniel Flynn said of the changes.

There are organized monthly cleanup days and events, such as outdoor Pilates classes and a childrens bike rodeo. Theyve been patient and disciplined to stay off some areas to allow new vegetation to take root.

But a more obvious challenge remains. The area is ground zero for the regions homeless population.

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Sprucing up a downtown park at the intersection of homelessness