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All posts written by St. Louis City Talk contributors unless otherwise noted.
The park has seen much investment and hard work over the years. There is an active park committee dedicated to improving the park. This used to be not such a nice place, it is getting better year after year as more eyes/ears and sweat equity are directed toward the park, the center of this great neighborhood.
This is a beautiful park. One of my favorites. And you can't help but draw the comparison of O'Fallon Park to Carondelet Park as both have popular fishing lakes, extensive paved walking trails, picnic places, a wooden home, similar boathouses, nearly identical service buildings and massive modern Recreational Complexes.
Okay, in visiting and blogging on all 108 St. Louis parks I've come across another mystery. The city website lists Tambo Park, a 1 acre park at Rutger and Ohio Avenues in the Gate District neighborhood as being placed into ordinance in 1985. Google maps has it listed here...
Per the city website, 14th Street Mall Park is a 1.27 acre park placed into ordinance in 1976. Well, if all that is true, I certainly can't find it. Of course, I found the amazing 14th Street Mall re-branded as Crown Square...but no park.
The park was named after David Hickey, the first St. Louisan to lose his life in WWI. Per the city website:
Dedicated April 10, 1941 and named in honor of David Hickey, the first St. Louisian who gave his life for his country in the World War in the Battle of the Toul Sector, February 24, 1918. (source)
This park is really a narrow strip of land along the western edge of the city as well as some islands of land in sections where River Des Peres Boulevard splits. The land in between the north and southbound lanes of River Des Peres should really be no-mow, not unlike much of the easements of I-255 in Illinois.
I used to live near here for years, so this review will have some personal perspective. For instance, there are red tailed hawks and fox that hunt in this area. I cannot seem to find the proof, but I am convinced this part of the city was either a former landfill or common dumping grounds; or maybe when the cemetery was abandoned, it was filled and graded with crude fill dirt. Why?
W.C. Handy spent time in St. Louis around 1893; enough time to inspire one of his best known works: "St. Louis Blues", one of the first blues songs to succeed as a pop song. The song was published in 1914 by Handy's own company. The song gained so much popularity that it inspired the dance step the Foxtrot.
This park is great for two reasons. First, of all the parks, this one has the best relationship with and access to the Mississippi River. This is the spot most popular with fishermen. Guys drive and walk right up to the banks and fish for mainly buffalo. This local delicacy, usually fried as described to me by the guy I talked to. You cast with heavy test line and poles that look like they are intended for the ocean. These fish get big.
The park was named in the honor of Captain Charlton H. Tandy. Per the State Historical Society of Missouri, Tandy was born a free black man in Kentucky and went on to great things, serving in the Missouri Militia during the Civil War and a respected member of the Republican Party and civil rights activist.
This park is in an improving area just south of some really, really nice urban new construction just east on MLK Drive called Arlington Grove. This is a great example of urban infill that is sensitive to its surroundings.
Per the Lindenwood Park Neighborhood Website:
Here is a history of Lindenwood Park as relayed by Mr. and Mrs. Schneidewind of the 6600 block of Pernod.
Lindenwood Park did not exist until after the 1955 bond issue. Then it was a four-block-long by one-block-wide area of woods with sinkholes and kids’ club houses.
This rather large, 29 acre park is a staple of the surrounding areas. In fact, there is a volunteer association established for the park. It's called the Tilles Park Neighborhood Association and you can read all about their concerted efforts here.
Per the city website, the park was named in honor of Richard H. Amberg (1912 1967) for his personal distinction and his contributions to the parks and playgrounds of the city. Mr. Amberg also served as publisher of the Globe Democrat for a number of years. (source)
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