A project to re-imagine one of the subsidized housing superblocks in the Near North Side, Preservation Square, has been long in the planning phases, so an update with funding secured was much welcomed news in 2019.
Loretta Hall Park
Murphy Park
There's something I really like about these mid-century parks. They are heavy on the concrete and feel very urban. Makes me want to break out the Vision Gator and skate like its 1979. The 1960's parks don't as much seek to provide a green space, natural getaway as much as they intend to be a city park, a complement to their surroundings. Heck, even the horseshoe pits are surrounded by concrete.
DeSoto Park
The coolest thing I learned today was from talking to some guys who just got back from the Real Madrid-Inter Milan match Downtown. They were kicking the ball around. I struck up a conversation and it turns out DeSoto Park is the site of a long-running adult semi-pro soccer league. It is played on Sunday's and it is an International scene with players from Mexico, Central and South America, Bosnia, Croatia, Poland, of course old time St. Louis guys, etc. These guys described an awesome scene where the families of the players cook out and socialize while watch the games. The fields are in good condition as are the goals.
St. Louis Place Neighborhood
The Carr Square Neighborhood
This is one of those parts of town that has seen such massive disinvestment and lack of care and respect from it's inhabitants and leaders, that it is basically a wasteland. There are huge swaths of unused land, mainly the north west corner where Pruit-Igoe used to be, that are just jungles of weeds.
