Shannon and I were bumming around on a Sunday and stopped by the grand re-opening of Love Bank Park at Cherokee and Nebraska in the Benton Park West Neighborhood.
This park has seen a major community-led investment that elevated a former greenspace and basketball hoop into an impressive space that is designed to be a community space that can “bank on love”, hence the name.
The idea to elevate the park came to life in 2015 and the latest investment is an exciting addition to a perfect encapsulation of St. Louis soul and progressive Midwestern urban community.
Here’s the vision from the Cherokee Street Community Improvement District.
Images from CherokeeStreet.com
Per the design firm, Arbolope Studio, the concentric circles and curvvy disign are a nod to a Venn diagrams in an attempt to visualize the overlapping cultures and vibes of Cherokee.
“The vision for Love Bank Park is to create a multi-functional and environmentally sustainable public space on Cherokee Street - one of the most multi-cultural and progressive communities in the City of St. Louis. The curved geometries of Love Bank Park are inspired by Venn diagrams - in which overlapping curves demonstrates areas of commonalities between unique elements. These curves help define program elements and allude to the desires of the Cherokee Street community to create a welcoming and inclusive park and neighborhood.
The site, formerly an empty lot, was partially activated by community members who placed basketball hoops in 2015, instantly creating an active community destination.
Building on this grass-roots momentum, Love Bank Park provides space and infrastructure for a variety of activities. An open plaza space with seating, chess tables, shade trees and planted areas provides a welcoming place for neighbors and visitors to gather and relax - or during community festivals, provides a place for concerts, dances and other activities. A large basketball play area in the northern half of the park is designed for shooting hoops, half-court and full-court play, and can serve as a food truck court during festivals. It is the first permeable basketball court in the region.
Designed with permeable pavers, permeable asphalt, rain-gardens and planted areas, the site is also a demonstration landscape for sustainable design and sustainable storm-water management. ”
I am so happy Cherokee Street volunteers chose a true St. Louis business for the design, in Arbolope Studio who are in the Forest Park Southeast Neighborhood. I’ve never understood hiring suburban firms to do work here. Elevate those committed to St. Louis, not sprawl. We need all parties committed to St. Louis’ future. That starts with businesses and people rooting down right here and being part of us, not a sideline suburban observer.
Image from Arbolope Studio
Before we take a look at what we saw on our maiden voyage to Love Bank Park, let’s take a look at this property over the years.
There used to be a handsome corner building here, and then a greenspace and then a small pavilion and basketball hoop. Thanks to Google Streetview, here’s a walk down memory lane:
After demolition:
Interim, elevated use:
Here’s what we saw on a sunny April day.
The first thing you will note walking on the Nebraska Avenue sidewalk is the handsome no-mow street lawn plantings and freshly poured sidewalks. This landscape and street interest is a perfect complement to the park itself. It says “we care” to passers by on the street or sidewalk.
The planted spaces tend to hug the hardscape of the park and form a buffer from the adjacent brick building.
There is whimsical seating along Cherokee Street and inside the park boundaries, there are bike racks for those arriving on two wheels and the road verge is planted here as well.
There is a semi-circle seating area that overlooks the basketball hoops and center space. Notice the shade trees that will provide relief from the sun in summer months.
There are chess tables, water fountains (with reusable water bottle filler) and a center space for performances and gatherings.
There are three basketball hoops built on a porous service that is easy on the ankles and knees, as well as management for rain water runoff.
The hardscape is colorful and eye catching.
There are poles with string lights for evening events.
I’d love to learn more about the hurricane fence structure if anyone knows.
This pocket park is a higher use for this formerly vacant lot and will be an asset for the neighborhoods surrounding Cherokee Street for years to come.
Nice work to all who volunteered, planned and contributed to this effort. It is clear to me that St. Louis is the most inclusive, dynamic and fun place to live in the region.
