Conclusions

Project Conclusions

Is the construction of a "Park Corridor" a viable option for the East St. Louis area?

East St. Louis is a city that is filled with a rich history, warm and friendly people, and most importantly, a hope for a better future. This hope stems from the unfortunate state of economic and social welfare that has plagued this city for the past twenty years. In recent times, there have been privately and publicly funded projects to help this diminished economy and rejuvenate the city as well as the spirits of the residents. ESLARP, the East St. Louis Action Research Project, was designed to rebuild East St. Louis through a series of projects; some as big as a Farmer's Market and some as small as cleaning up an abandoned lot. In recent years this city has benefited by these projects and has seen a turn of events. East St Louis is on its way to improving the quality of life for its residents! The goal of our group is to propose a project that would benefit the city of East St. Louis and its people. After analyzing the economic and social ramifications, we feel that a "Park Corridor" is exactly what East St. Louis needs.

The "Park Corridor" will be about a five-mile stretch of land connecting Frank Holten State Park, located in southern East St. Louis, to the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site further north. It will serve as a passage from one park to the other and as a clean recreational area where people can enjoy the outdoors, while adding value to the surrounding community. Through a series of different analyses, our group has determined that a Park Corridor will indeed improve the quality of life in East St. Louis. We feel that the addition of the Park Corridor provides many benefits to East St. Louis as well as the surrounding communities.

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

The first analysis that was done was an economic analysis. In this, we assessed the costs, benefits, and the discounted values of implementing a "Park Corridor" in East St. Louis. The immediate costs of initializing this project were high, which was to be expected. Included in immediate costs are the site preparation and the construction. Site preparation included the demolition of an estimated 100 abandoned houses, while the construction for the project included different factors such as the rental of equipment, the building of a visitor's center and five pavilions, and the purchasing and planting of at least 1000 trees. The long-term costs were assessed on an annual basis. The bulk of this cost was the landscape maintenance.

In our assessment of the benefits associated with this project we learned that the economic benefits were good, but nothing extraordinary. Included in these benefits were tourism and equipment rental values. During this assessment our group came to an important realization. We realized that the intrinsic benefits associated with this project are of greater importance than anything else. It was assessed that indirect benefits such as good health through recreation, nature and wildlife education and other aesthetic factors involved greatly outweigh any monetary concern associated with this "Park Corridor". The intrinsic benefits of the "Park Corridor" will result in improved quality of life in East St. Louis.

VISUAL ANALYSIS

A visual quality analysis was done for this project that proved to be of great importance. Twenty-five visual images were used to represent East St. Louis before and after the construction of the "Park Corridor". Through surveys and expert evaluations, an assessment of visual quality was conducted. The results proved that in a project such as this one, visual quality has a high importance. Places of high visual quality are often viewed by society to be more desirable than locations of low visual quality. A park that is aesthetically pleasing is necessary for the park to be successfully implemented.

CULTURAL/HISTORIC ANALYSIS

In addition to the previous analyses, a cultural and historical evaluation was done. Because East St. Louis has much important historical and cultural significance, it was important to determine whether the construction of the "Park Corridor" would negatively or positively affect this historical factor. As discussed previously, the "Park Corridor" will serve as a passage from Frank Holten State Park to the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. The increase of visitors through the corridor to the Cahokia Mounds site may result in possible deterioration to that area. This could ruin the Cahokia Mound's cultural value. However, we feel that the increase of people visiting the site will result in the Cahokia Mound's attaining greater economic value and furthering the education of the city's history.

WILDLIFE ANALYSIS

In the proposed "Park Corridor", a main attraction for people will be the opportunity to witness wildlife in a natural environment. Our "Park Corridor" project will serve as a home for local wildlife and a refuge for migrating animals. Many endangered species including the great egret and blue heron will be able to find safe areas in which to live and feed. Not only does the "Park Corridor" give to the wildlife, but it will also give back to the community. The community can gain pride for their part in helping to preserve endangered species, and the wildlife will surely attract curious people, increasing the variety of information and education offered within the city.

Through the different analyses that have been done, the East St. Louis Park Corridor is more than a viable option. This project should be implemented because of the positive impact it will have on East St. Louis and its community. The corridor will quickly become a meeting place for communities, families, and friends to come together, as well as a source of pride. This in turn promotes interaction amongst members of the community which will further the development of the area's rich culture. The addition of a unique park and recreation corridor will improve the quality of life for the citizens in the surrounding area. It will be a clean and well-maintained area where people can go to enjoy the outdoors and recreational activities that the corridor will provide. The goal of this web page was to prove the importance of implementing this worthwhile project through a series of evaluations. After completing these evaluations there is not a shadow of a doubt that this project will result in anything but a bright and happy future for East St. Louis.