Parks Rally Held in Downtown Clayton

A rally in support of St. Louis County parks drew a large crowd Tuesday in downtown ahead of a County Council meeting.

Meanwhile, participants at a smaller event staged across the street called for an ordinance prohibiting residency requirements at a county women's shelter.

"Let's not let it go any farther than tonight," said Ron Coleman, executive director of Maryland Heights-based The Open Space Council, told the parks rally through a megaphone. He referred to attendees taking a stand by speaking out against the proposed closure of nearly two dozen county parks in an effort to cut costs.

Participants waved signs, chanted "Save our parks" and shared their thoughts about the possible closures. Some attendees brought their dogs.

Bob Nelson of the County Parks Board encouraged people to back a plan he raised last week in remarks to the County Council. He is advocating a 2-cent increase in the county's property tax assessment. That means average county homeowners would pay $6.78 more per year than they do now, Nelson said.

Across Central Avenue, Michelle Schiller-Baker said she and other rally attendees want the County Council to enact an ordinance clarifying requirements for admission for the Kathy J. Weinman Shelter. Schiller-Baker is with St. Martha's Hall, a shelter in St. Louis City.

Ellen Reed, facilitator with St. Louis End Violence Against Women Network, said the residency issue "has been going on for a while." Women in a dangerous domestic situation need to get shelter as quickly as possible after leaving their homes, and she indicated that preventing their admission because they are not St. Louis County residents delays that process.