COmmunity involvement

Every community is different and there is no one way to engage the public around a project. The first step is to get out into the community and learn what people think, believe and value. The West Florissant Avenue Great Street Project’s community engagement approach was first to understand better the community’s vision for the corridor and their concerns for redevelopment and change.

Community Involvement

Designed for the community, with the community

The Project team developed draft street and branding designs based on extensive data, community goals and implementability. At all Project stages, the team gathered feedback through advisory committee members, stakeholder meetings, community events and public open houses. In addition, status updates, documents and comment options were available on a public website and through team members who were made available for phone calls and meetings. The Project team spent two years engaging with at least 4,000 residents and community members on the scope, vision and potential impact of the West Florissant Avenue Great Streets Project. Public engagement was not limited to specific team members – all Project team members spent time presenting to groups, meeting with stakeholders and business owners, dropping off flyers, attending community events and discussing the Project at open houses. The end result was draft street designs and public improvement options that could serve the community’s existing needs while promoting a safer and more connected future for the corridor. Finally, the Project team relied on community feedback to refine further and revise draft design recommendations.

Community Open House July 2023

On July 12 2023, St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works held a Community Open House at the Dellwood Recreation Center. The project team assisted attendees with questions regarding timeline, proposed enhancements, and right of way and land acquisition. People were given the opportunity to leave additional feedback in writing via a comment form or directly on the project map.

Open House Boards and Strip Map

Screen Shot 2023-07-13 at 2.35.49 PM

Public Hearing and Community Open House August 2022

On August 11 2022, St. Louis County Department of Transportation held a Public Hearing at the Dellwood Recreation Center. The project team assisted attendees with questions regarding timeline, proposed enhancements, and right of way and land acquisition. People were given the opportunity to leave additional feedback in writing or verbally with a court reporter about what they want to see in their community.

Public Hearing Presentation

Community Involvement

Open Houses

March 2017

The project team developed draft street and branding designs based on extensive data, community goals and implementability. At all project stages, the team gathered feedback through advisory committee members, stakeholder meetings, community events and public open houses. In addition, status updates, documents and comment options were available on a public website and through team members who were made available for phone calls and meetings. 

Feedback results

Community Involvement
Community Involvement

Trailnet Pop-Up Street Demonstration July 2017

In order to show the community how updated street design could improve pedestrian safety and calm traffic, the project team partnered with Trailnet and St. Louis County Department of Transportation to host a “pop-up design demonstration” on Saturday, July 15, 2017. The demonstration was held on West Florissant Avenue between Ferguson Avenue and Canfield Drive. The demonstration involved creating a temporary median, designated pedestrian crosswalk and consolidated traffic lanes. The project team helped walk pedestrians across the road to demonstrate the crosswalk and asked them to fill out a survey.

Survey results

Agreed

It is dangerous to cross West Florissant Avenue, but vehicles stop at crosswalks.

Disagreed

Drivers go the speed limit and respondents felt safe crossing the avenue.

Split

The sidewalks and crosswalks feel safe, and drivers will go the speed limit on West Florissant Avenue.

Open House January 2018

After over a year of data collection and community engagement, the project team had developed draft conceptual designs ready for public review and refinement. The project team hosted an open house January 31, 2018 at the New Life Community Church of God in Christ to get feedback on proposed street design improvements and changes, public realm improvements and corridor branding options. Business and property owners, local residents and area stakeholders involved in economic development and quality of life along West Florissant Avenue and surrounding neighborhoods were asked to provide specific and valuable input to further refine the draft designs before submitting to project partners for final review.

Feedback results

Stakeholder Meetings

The project team scheduled many stakeholder and group meetings to introduce the Project purpose, vision and scope as well as gather valuable local insight. These meetings provided key information on public safety and EMS routes, utilities, school bus routes and redevelopment efforts. Other meetings were an opportunity for the Project team to talk directly with residents near West Florissant Avenue during their regularly scheduled meetings. These efforts helped the Project team better understand what the community valued and wanted to see on this span of West Florissant Avenue. Below is a list of stakeholder meeting targets during the Design Phase. 

Ameren (utilities)
American Missouri Water
Bi-State Development Agency (Metro)
Black Oaks/Summerset Neighborhood Association (Ferguson) Centene Corporation (Ferguson business)
Christian Hospital EMS Services
Community Forward, Inc.
Dellwood City Administrator
Dellwood City Council
Dellwood City Officials
Dellwood Mayor Reggie Jones
Dellwood Recreation Center
Emerson (Ferguson business)
Ferguson City Council
Ferguson City Officials
Ferguson Fire Department
Ferguson-Florissant School District
Ferguson Mayor James Knowles
Ferguson Neighborhood Policing Steering Committee

STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK RESULTS

Ferguson Police Department
Ferguson Senior Citizen Commission
Ferguson Woods Neighborhood Meeting
Ferguson Youth Advisory Board
Forrestwood Neighborhood Association (Ferguson)
Hudson Hills Neighborhood Association
Jeske Park Neighborhood Association
Metro North Fire District (Dellwood)
Nesbit-Newton Neighborhood Association
Southwest Ferguson/North Hills Neighborhood Meeting Southeast Ferguson Neighborhood Association
Old Ferguson East/Old Ferguson West Neighborhood Associations ONE Ferguson
St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger
St. Louis County Police
St. Louis County Council – Hazel Erby and Rochelle Walton-Gray St. Louis County Transportation
Trailnet
West Florissant Avenue Small Business Association

Advisory Committees

The West Florissant Avenue Great Streets Project advisory committees were formed based on feedback from project partners and other committee members to provide a diverse and meaningful cross-section of project stakeholders. The Technical Advisory Committee provided the project team feedback on technical issues including planning and zoning, traffic, land use, transit, community development, and recreation. The Community Advisory Committee provided the project team with information about community goals, concerns, and ideas. Members included Dellwood and Ferguson residents, elected officials, nonprofit leaders, business owners and community activists.

Technical Advisory Committee

  • City of Dellwood
  • City of Ferguson
  • East-West Gateway Council of Governments
  • Ferguson-Florissant School District
  • Great Rivers Greenway
  • Metro
  • Missouri Department of Transportation
  • St. Louis County Department of Planning
  • St. Louis County Economic Development Partnership
  • St. Louis County Executive Office
  • St. Louis Promise Zone

Community Advisory Committee

  • 9-1-1 Salon
  • Best Insurance
  • Career Compass LLC
  • City of Dellwood Planning Department
  • City of Dellwood resident
  • City of Ferguson City Council, Ward 1
  • City of Ferguson Planning Department
  • City of Ferguson resident
  • Community Forward, Inc.
  • Dellwood Lounge
  • Emerson
  • Ferguson-Florissant School District
  • Ferguson Youth Initiative
  • Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis
  • Keefe Group
  • KP Development, Inc.
  • Missouri Department of Transportation
  • North County, Inc.
  • ONE Ferguson
  • St. Louis County Department of Health
  • St. Louis County Department of Transportation
  • St. Louis Economic Development Partnership
  • Save-A-Lot
  • Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis
  • West Florissant Avenue Business Association
  • Zisser Tire