Keeping Parks and Trails Open During COVID19
When the COVID19 pandemic hit in March 2020, an initial negative action by St. Louis County was to close all parks and trails in the County. However, parks and trails needed to stay open for everyone’s mental health. The i5Group believed that increased innovation, along with public education and positive reinforcement, was needed to handle the demands of increased park and trail usage.
In response, the i5Group created a concise booklet, titled ‘Keeping Parks and Trails Open’ that advocated for the importance of accessing parks and open space during the pandemic. The i5Group researched neighborhood parks in St. Louis County, that with their closure, would create inequitable access to open space for neighborhood residents. The i5Group recommended policy changes and created a sub-page on the i5Group’s website with best practices from park districts across the country.
The i5Group shared the booklet with regional leaders and organizations. Stephen Ibendahl, Principal of the i5Group, was interviewed on St. Louis’ leading radio station, KMOX.