Park Supporters to Rally at County Council

Leaders of St. Louis-based the Open Space Council have organized a at the the St. Louis County Council meeting Tuesday to protest a  proposed 2012 county budget that cuts 133 park jobs and closes 23 county parks, including and parks.

The rally is set for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in front of the St. Louis County Government Building, 41 S. Central Avenue in Clayton.

“Selling parkland is not the answer to budget shortfalls. Loss of parks means a significantly lower quality of life for all St. Louis residents,” said Brittany Barton, project manager for the Open Space Council.

Barton said it has been suggested the county's parklands would be sold to the highest bidders. "Selling parkland is an irreversible act, and the Open Space Council is working to ensure that all land remains intact," she said.

However, County Executive Charlie Dooley that the county was not planning to sell the parks and later suggested that the county would find ways to keep the parks oepn.

"Hopefully we have opportunities to form some partnerships with the state or local municipalities or social welfare groups...A lot of our parks are in municipalities. They can take over those parks as well," Dooley told reporters during an event Monday at .

Some parks slated to be closed, however, are in unincorporated areas of St. Louis County, such as Affton. These neighborhoods have no municipality to fall back on.

Despite the public criticism of the proposed park closures and an online that has now gathered more than 2,400 signatures, Dooley defended his budget.

“The parks, their revenue is like $18.5 million. They have a budget of $26 million. There is a shortfall there. We have to make up the difference. We have to live within our budget."

“I’d like to see all the parks stay open. That’s the ultimate goal," Dooley said. "We are open to suggestions."

Rally attendees are asked to wear green, and Barton said the Open Space Council will provide rally signs until they run out.

A regular county council meeting will be conducted Tuesday at 6 p.m. A public hearing about the budget begins at 6:30 p.m., or as soon after the regular meeting as possible. Every attendee will have the opportunity to speak at the hearing from 2 minutes to 4 minutes. Comments also can be emailed to the county's administrative director at gfrank@stlouisco.com or can be called in to 314-615-5440.