Lower Meramec Park

PARK AMBASSADORS: Laura Yates, Blake Ritter, and Kathy Heffern

This 271-acre park is located in south St. Louis County along the banks of the Meramec River. In 2024, volunteers participated in many kinds of native restoration on 7.1 acres.

  • From https://www.flaticon.com/free-icon/cancel_3239883

    0.50 acres of invasive species removed

  • From https://www.flaticon.com/free-icon/dog_12852034

    650 willow-stakes placed

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    10 cubic yards of trash cleaned in collaboration with Operation Clean Stream Meramec River cleanup program

Restoration and resilience: A community coming together to make a lasting difference

One of the great examples of the work being done by our Community Stewardship Alliance (CSA) team is at Lower Meramec Park. Over the past three years, led by the passionate Laura Yates and Blake Ritter, volunteers have been working tirelessly to restore and preserve this precious land.

Building up the bank

Remember that stretch of trail along the Meramec River? Thanks to our volunteers, we've added native willow stalks to combat erosion and protect the biking path. These willows do double duty: their roots anchor the riverbank, while their presence helps improve water quality. Also, we have reforested part of an agricultural field with many tree planting events.

Restoring life, one seed at a time

Near the Krumm Road entrance, the transformation is even more striking. For years, we’ve hosted “honeysuckle hacks,” removing this invasive species with the sweat and determination of our incredible volunteers. Now, with mature honeysuckle mostly eradicated, we’ve seeded the area with native woodland grasses and flowering forbs. This isn’t just restoration—it’s a rebirth. Laura puts it beautifully:

“My goal has always been to use my passion for native plants to increase biodiversity in our parks, especially as we face the challenges of climate change. Seeing volunteers braving the cold and rain, asking questions, and working hard fills me with hope.”

The Next Chapter Starts With You

Our work for 2025 is already mapped out:

  • Monitoring and Education: We'll track seed germination in spring and use this as a hands-on learning opportunity for volunteers.

  • Reseeding and Restoration: If needed, we’ll reseed the area in April.

  • Thinning Out Cedars: To give other native species room to thrive, we’ll begin reducing the population of Eastern Red Cedars around the Krumm Road entrance.

Recently, Laura saw a cut leaf grape fern, a perennial evergreen member of the adder’s tongue family.

“It’s so joyous to see nature bounce back from the suppression of invasive exotics! We’ve found other wonderful species popping up, either from the seedbank, laying dormant underground, or carried in by animals or humans.”