OUR MISSION - CONSERVING, RESTORING AND SUSTAINING LAND, WATER AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES
In 2025, Open Space STL proudly celebrates its 60th anniversary, honoring its legacy as the St. Louis region’s first activist environmental and conservation group, whose dedication to protecting natural treasures led to the creation of iconic spaces like Queeny Park, Bee Tree County Park, the Chubb Trail, and Castlewood State Park.
Founded in 1965, Open Space STL works independently and collaboratively to conserve and sustain land, water, and other natural resources for the health and well-being of people throughout the St. Louis region.
GET INVOLVED & MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Itching to get your hands dirty and volunteer? Our volunteer events are continually updated, check them out and sign up to volunteer!
OUR PROGRAMS
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Operation Clean Stream
Since 1967, Open Space STL has organized Operation Clean Stream, one of the country’s most significant and longest-running Meramec River restoration projects.
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Operation Wild Lands
Volunteers assist with the proactive management of public open spaces to improve wildlife habitats and nature-related outdoor recreation.
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Land Trust
Open Space STL works as a land trust to identify areas that can be protected for conservation or recreation, discouraging improper land use and detrimental development.
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Trash Bashes
The River des Peres is an annual clean-up of the River des Peres watershed, and the Confluence Trash Bash is an annual clean-up of the Missouri and Mississippi river watersheds
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Community Stewardship Alliance
The Community Stewardship Alliance (CSA) is a conservation program intended to provide focused, trained, volunteer leadership to restore and maintain the natural areas within our St. Louis County Parks.
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Watershed Planning
The goal of this and previous planning efforts is to achieve and restore the Meramec River and its tributary streams to water quality standards, and to maintain healthy streams throughout the Lower Meramec Watershed.
“A good river is nature’s life work in song”