Ruth Park, Centennial Commons and More Discussed at Park Commissions Meeting

The University City Park Commissions meeting was held Tuesday at the Centennial Commons Building at 7210 Olive Blvd. Much of the meeting echoed some of the same concerns from Monday’s council meeting—the lights at Ruth Park Golf course and their effects on the city’s revenues as well the grant awarded for the installation and operation.

“We received a grant, and now it looks like we are in violation of it because the lights have been turned off,” said Vice President of Park Commissions Karen Palmer.

A new landscape design for Ruth Park driving range is underway, but is not final. Nearby residents were not polled but were sent a survey that asked if they had any comments about the plans. As of the meeting date, there had been no responses from residents.

The park commission estimates that revenue loss is around $11,000. Expenses at night are $25,000 to operate the driving range lights on the golf course. 

“We are saving money,” said Interim Director Ewald Winker, referring to the differences between what it costs to operate the lights and total revenues in the last 12 months of approximately $83,000.

The landscape design group for Ruth Park, The Lawrence Group, will host a driving range kickoff meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday at the driving range. 

According to commission member William Field, last year 67 percent of attendees at the golf course were nonresidents of University City, and this year 77 percent were nonresidents. 

“If managers of the golf course have this kind of information, it helps them in their marketing and how they want to approach fee structures,” Feld said.

The general park reports opened some questions about the need for certain park features as well as litter control. 

Fogerty Park has dried out wood chips and is need of new ones. 

Greensfelder Park has rusting covers that hang over the slides on the playground, according to commission member Linda Peoples.

Because of lack of use of the tennis courts at Fogerty Park, Winker said he is considering filing a request that the tennis courts be removed. 

Heman, Adams and Lewis parks are reported to be up to par and in good condition. 

Winker said the River Des Peres area was a “constant battle” because the University City Park Commission is not responsible for cleaning it. Instead, volunteer groups clean the area up, only to have it be polluted again because of a lack of efforts from MSD (Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District).

Recreation Superintendent Lynda Euell-Taylor gave updates about the use of the pool at Centennial Commons. Due to complaints from some patrons, there has been a change in the music that has been played at the pool for several years. The pool now has music and non-music days. 

The facility is also now allowing nonswimmers to come into the pool area with regular clothes on, as long as they are not entering the pool with swimmers. This, she said, came as a result of patrons complaining of having to “dress out” in swimwear when they are not planning to get into the pool. 

The commission also discussed the transparency of voting and agendas to the public as well as the possibility of drafting new commission policies about promotional events and programs.