City of St. Louis Launches PIER Plan Neighborhood Events

ST. LOUIS -- The City of St. Louis is bringing a barrage of resources to the O'Fallon Park neighborhood to help improve the safety and wellbeing of residents. O'Fallon Park is one of 15 focus neighborhoods, as identified in the City's PIER Plan (pp4), that faces some of the biggest challenges around crime, poverty and vacancy.

"Reducing crime is my top priority in the City of St. Louis," Mayor Slay said. "To be most effective, the City has created a plan that identifies and implements strategies to prevent crime, intervene in people's lives when they start down the wrong path, enforce laws, and help offenders successfully reenter our community once they have paid their debt to society."

During this Saturday's free community event at the O'Fallon Park Recreation Center from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., the Department of Health will provide snacks and refreshments, activities for the whole family, and health screenings for HIV, lead, asthma and blood pressure. St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers and St. Louis firefighters will provide information on gun and fire safety. Residents are also invited to visit the Citizens' Service Bureau event station to report concerns about nuisance properties, stray dogs or other concerns. 

The following City departments will be on hand to work with residents:

• Department of Health
• St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD)
• St. Louis Fire Department
• St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE)
• Citizens' Service Bureau
• Neighborhood Stabilization Officers
• Problem Properties Task Force
• Street Department and Refuse Division
• Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department
• City Emergency Management Agency

"This PIER Plan neighborhood event is designed to meet citizens with services right where they live," Mayor Francis Slay said. "Our teams will help people navigate how to better connect to the many services our government provides its residents to help them succeed."

"Informing, educating, and empowering the community are essential services in public health," Melba Moore, the acting director of health for the City of St. Louis, said. "Government has to meet people where they are, let them know what services are available, and provide those services."

"The health and safety of our citizens has to be our number one priority here in the City of St. Louis," 21st Ward Alderman Antonio French said. "This weekend's event will help improve the quality of life for families in and around the O'Fallon and Penrose neighborhoods."

Saturday, May 14th is the first of four PIER events over the next two months. Additional neighborhood events are planned for Wohl Recreation Center (May 21st), Marquette Park (June 4th), and Gregory J. Carter Park (June 18th).

Each event will feature informational tables and giveaways from different City of St. Louis government agencies and community service providers. Food will also be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis, as well as the chance to sign up for prizes.