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Trailnet, EPA Launch Neighborhood Greenways St. Louis

Release Date: 12/10/2013
Contact Information: EPA Region 7 - David Bryan, 913-551-7433, [email protected], Twitter: www.twitter.com/EPAregion7; Trailnet - Jennifer Allen, 314-566-0429 (not for publication), [email protected], Twitter: @trailnet

Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Lenexa, Kan., Dec. 10, 2013) - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will join Trailnet of St. Louis to kick off its Neighborhood Greenways St. Louis project with ceremonies at 2:45 p.m. today, Tuesday, Dec. 10, at The Greater Ville Neighborhood Planning Commission Community Room, 4651 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, in St. Louis.

EPA has awarded a $29,623 Environmental Justice grant to Trailnet for a project that encourages residents in the City of St. Louis to prevent and reduce pollution, help with watershed management, and reduce rates of obesity and asthma by advocating for safe and inviting spaces for walking and biking. Trailnet advocates for creating neighborhoods where walking, biking and taking public transit is a way of life.

Targeted neighborhoods include The Ville, Greater Ville, Jeff Vander Lou, and Carr Square just north of downtown; Forest Park Southeast in mid city; and Dutchtown in south St. Louis.

Karl Brooks, Regional Administrator of EPA Region 7, and Ann Rivers Mack, Chief Executive Officer, Trailnet, will speak at the event.

EPA’s Environmental Justice Grants enable community organizations to develop solutions to local health and environmental issues in low-income, minority and tribal communities overburdened by harmful pollution.

Trailnet helps municipalities design streets, sidewalks and trails where people can walk and bike safely to local destinations within and throughout their community. Neighborhood Greenways St. Louis will help implement the city’s Sustainability Plan.

The EPA Environmental Justice Small Grant program supports activities designed to empower and educate communities to understand environmental and public health issues and to identify ways to address these issues at the local level. The long-term goals are to help build the capacity of communities with environmental justice concerns and to create self-sustaining, community-based partnerships that will continue to improve local environments in the future.