[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6092255,"mediaKeyId","2855930-e8407c4c7b26e1efbc3d6dc3e76434be","parentId",2855930,"title","Commission updates: Stacy Park fence removal and seedings; commission to weigh field renovation funding and parking changes during soccer season","audioSeconds",272,"startMs",7432000,"endMs",7704000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2855930-e8407c4c7b26e1efbc3d6dc3e76434be&start=7432&end=7704","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2855930-e8407c4c7b26e1efbc3d6dc3e76434be/thumbnail_7432000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6092255/Olivette-City/St-Louis-County/Missouri/Commission-updates-Stacy-Park-fence-removal-and-seedings-commission-to-weigh-field-renovation-funding-and-parking-changes-during-soccer-season","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6092255-b9aa5d2123fed79c67ae3365ab89b069/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437978&Signature=Ehvd3S8q3N02tu3OFK4FNLAErxQuw4Sk5fb6Q3Jy5YhDAKwt-dGZLWvfZjNvch0pyChLCZXGiAf1c6zhUHkW9K9NQtTI7yJ24kNn~joAnazv2l3mmtGiiwKxjw0sx6iA995J~T1ItuGbLIEFG~LbGhiHR6~yn3-wmy4K5jTfGy4ZJWguQmSgV0KD-pchq3bGAN9leIHTaR03KeFgRqtoaEfXXs6xLdOxFDTS9c98qTOP3swb~12hpUg97uHs7NrsOA6WwlfSrziPs3KbGzO8WG3L8eizn~0TI9k1l0jo1svzDnR8sVACiPM4t76-2TbkZiUEmh4vhR276OmsIu3dPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Olivette, MO","date","2025-02-19T00:00:00Z","article","Parks staff on Feb. 19 described several physical improvements and short-term maintenance steps at Stacy Park and elsewhere, including fence removal, overseeding, and a seeded savanna grant, and discussed parking-management steps for soccer weekends.

Fence and playground area

Director Beverly Tucker Knight said staff removed the single playground fence at Stacy because it created a \"false sense of security\" and had been used by some adults to leave children unsupervised during pavilion events. She said where the fence immediately borders private property staff will retain existing fencing; where it does not touch private property they will remove and replace fencing selectively as part of a broader master-plan rollout. \"That fence is a false sense of security that fence does not protect children. It actually, is a huge exposure of liability for us,\" Tucker Knight said.

Field maintenance and renovation prospects

Staff summarized short-term field-care steps taken last fall — overseeding and aeration — and described plans for spring surveys and drainage work. They said large-scale field renovations (irrigation, turf, regrading) are capital projects with multi-million-dollar examples cited when comparing to nearby Clayton upgrades. Staff noted potential grant sources (for example, sports-field grants such as those sometimes provided by Cardinals or other groups) but cautioned that many grants include use restrictions and that irrigation and pesticide use have environmental and policy implications.

Stacy parking and scheduling

To address weekend soccer parking, staff said they plan to stagger game times on weekends and use alternate fields (including Worsen) where feasible. They also said use of the Ladue School District facilities for practices and games has reduced pressure on city fields.

Other updates

Staff said they received a small conservation grant for a savanna planting on the eastern side of Morrison Park and praised Park Ops staff for developing an in-house seed-growing program that will reduce future plant purchasing.

Ending

Staff will bring detailed master-plan visuals to a future meeting and continue to research capital funding and grant opportunities for field renovations while implementing near-term maintenance and scheduling changes to reduce weekend parking pressure.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Olivette February 19, 2025 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Parks staff described removal of a Stacy Park playground fence — removed because it encouraged unsupervised children and created liability concerns — and outlined stepped field maintenance (aeration/overseeding) while noting capital field renovations would require significant outside funding.","taxTitle","Olivette City, St. Louis County, Missouri","taxId",72613,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6092261,"Commission working group proposes simple recycling pilot at Stacy Park: blue cans and single-hole lids",162,6138000,6300000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2855930-e8407c4c7b26e1efbc3d6dc3e76434be&start=6138&end=6300","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2855930-e8407c4c7b26e1efbc3d6dc3e76434be/thumbnail_6138000.jpg","/articles/6092261/Olivette-City/St-Louis-County/Missouri/Commission-working-group-proposes-simple-recycling-pilot-at-Stacy-Park-blue-cans-and-single-hole-lids","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6092261-29f9da9353c76bcac109adb25e195b3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437978&Signature=GxaXQ1k3TPevjnD5aRZPCFxJejp68UF0f7my6cbuFh1bEmbNrajr4g5lL8ejp7q-zuXj~AconNY4diJ45IuQS-ILBjbaOKITHr9B3uKY-QPCVPETwqZet6cgqKsUY6zoGCU~9UppjGvcLsqq2Rznlr4PgqUHKapiSFdpDHq8VfAGjNFfcPtqm2yZjRUIhz6TAVgPGRe5Oshio9vbyoVFA5TLpfHArhf2ZT3kKAp60xd4lSm3cYNQDhs~XSa9MH7IGzhoof-r08pVELNURLLVdQGnF2kyMMyfqDCxga9wBZEplv2RdvZJ0liqwZlY1UeybNkzk~bjsmXwjIP~8-dMgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A parks-commission working group on Feb. 19 recommended a low-cost pilot to improve recycling at Stacy Park that focuses on bottles and cans and uses visual cues and restricted-lid openings to reduce contamination.

The group proposed painting four existing receptacles blue (or buying blue lids), installing circular single-hole lids sized for bottles and cans, replacing lengthy text-heavy signage with a simple, highly visible label, and monitoring the pilot before committing to a wider, more expensive rollout.

Why it matters: Park staff and commissioners said recycling contamination is common and the current, lengthy signage produced under an old grant is ineffective in the field. Staff said full recycling receptacles and excess pavilion trash have become a maintenance and budget issue for park crews.

Key details

- Pilot elements: select four receptacles at Stacy to label and outfit for bottles/cans only; repaint or procure blue covers; add a short, clear sign and single-hole lids to discourage non-target waste.

- Monitoring and partners: park operations staff (including Ed Casner) will help monitor contamination and maintenance needs; if the pilot performs well staff will explore grant and budget options for scaled deployment.

- Related operations: staff noted that rental deposits now cover damage/extra cleanup for pavilion users and that large volumes (for example, pizza boxes) are expected to be handled by renters or placed in trash; recycling pilot focuses on bottles and cans only to limit complexity.

Implementation

Park staff said they will try a temporary, very-low-cost test (spray paint, temporary lids) and report back with usage and contamination rates. Longer-term recycling receptacles and matching trash receptacles would require a larger budget and potentially a grant; staff said the city has applied for recycling-related grants in the past and will continue to pursue funding.

Ending

Commissioners supported the pilot as a low-cost, testable step that would reduce contamination and staff maintenance burdens; park staff will execute the pilot, monitor results and return to the commission with findings and recommended next steps.","A working group recommended a low-cost pilot to improve recycling at Stacy Park by marking a handful of receptacles in blue, installing circular single-hole lids for bottles and cans only, and monitoring results before wider rollout; park staff will test the approach and report back.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6092266,"Resident raises Villa Park drainage and ADA entrance concerns; staff says restroom renovation and re-engineering planned",117,138000,255000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2855930-e8407c4c7b26e1efbc3d6dc3e76434be&start=138&end=255","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2855930-e8407c4c7b26e1efbc3d6dc3e76434be/thumbnail_138000.jpg","/articles/6092266/Olivette-City/St-Louis-County/Missouri/Resident-raises-Villa-Park-drainage-and-ADA-entrance-concerns-staff-says-restroom-renovation-and-re-engineering-planned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6092266-372550e92bd4899e0067809b16724dfc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437978&Signature=gSBIj7rRbfk3vPWAN22-UPlM9Smb0AJZzcX-405W3koBdJMQOqpXfosbzPQLuztBJ35g0007xdo3g-SIEVlLYS4w2VoJ59-XYVWuUqgBq8WKbCeJYP-743QenhEgAq6OTb1wuMgdA9XjAdUrKzUoblTCdpyuL56ZEcjBT4syZrPXTvI2gt1cb7-Qut2cdWaG35navuvfvzMvm1uYiqmcES2DOehOmItsxU-V0WyzweX9B~kPiErV6cJtKhYzM0damSuwVMoxeSftqlR~zXP5HQGPIRIP7Sv3nc1wDRaQAKIGP1hTxgYiwBdaUL9gFOAzJ~l08KlhUKHedYQ4tQx71Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A resident raised concerns about stormwater and a missing accessible entrance at Villa Park during the public-comment portion of the Feb. 19 meeting.

Josh Tomachek told the commission he had emailed staff about the \"north side of Villa,\" the northeast corner that provides access from Tess Avenue, and asked about the planned ADA entrance. Parks and Recreation Director Beverly Tucker Knight said staff had originally included a paved ADA entrance in the park master plan but removed that design after engineers found it would send stormwater down a private driveway on Tess and worsen local drainage problems.

\"There is an open storm sewer trench back there that's kind of probably an ancient creek,\" Tucker Knight said. She explained the paved ADA connection was pulled from immediate plans to avoid worsening drainage onto private property and that the project remains on the department’s to-do list for re-engineering and future inclusion in park work.

What staff said

- Re-engineering and timeline: Tucker Knight told Tomachek the department will \"reengineer that\" entrance design and incorporate it into future work at Villa Park. She said restrooms at Villa remain slated for renovation within the next couple of years, but no firm timetable had been set.

- Notifications and outreach: Staff offered to add Tomachek’s email to the department’s Constant Contact distribution list so he would receive project notices and program information. Staff cautioned that mass emails come from Constant Contact and may land in spam folders.

Public response

Neighbors attending the meeting described persistent mud and surface runoff in the area described and thanked staff for the explanation. Jim Burston, another resident, said he watches Villa Park closely and concurred that drainage is a recurrent problem.

Ending

Staff said they will keep Villa Park improvements — including the restroom renovation and a re-engineered ADA entrance — on the project list and will notify nearby residents when design work and public meetings are scheduled.","A resident urged the commission to address drainage on the north side of Villa Park where a planned ADA paved entrance was removed from current plans after engineers found it would direct stormwater onto private property; staff said the restroom renovation remains slated and the ADA entrance will be re-engineered as part of future work.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6092267,"Commission chair proposes e-bike rules for parks, recommends banning high-speed class 3 bikes on hiking trails",580,4973000,5553000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2855930-e8407c4c7b26e1efbc3d6dc3e76434be&start=4973&end=5553","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2855930-e8407c4c7b26e1efbc3d6dc3e76434be/thumbnail_4973000.jpg","/articles/6092267/Olivette-City/St-Louis-County/Missouri/Commission-chair-proposes-e-bike-rules-for-parks-recommends-banning-high-speed-class-3-bikes-on-hiking-trails","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6092267-e6522cab795ca2dc0a8f337d041e11ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437978&Signature=Tzur8swgHuJY519F3w3r~ZjDez1aeKONPc2NdKSr9p-75GEtPnVgEAeI4eiLd7qdQKxbUJ~OUOK9f4OZoMVL2zrBNYZHGyxH~rlVo2rgxNAQMoWMH08biM8gcguD84wAOX8VnP8E4oaHXAN5fVtR1pSXxDBLOz2TmBR-eUUtl0FgFJfPW0180D2NQBRhyUKxhfaOR2ABn8i2OKdOvMKnKlG33-bqNzZ2ap3Xg3sflGCaoSTlOZZMc-W8hGePoGc3z2-Y5yRMuJv3k1XUEW3c5V7sBzDQn3JP5R2npyGIP0UW8nm2N5MEi2JErg9mkWn5Fh4-XnGvw9lWjozUbcv85w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commission Chair Sue Rich on Feb. 19 proposed adding standard e-bike classifications to Olivette’s vehicle code and the parks code and recommended the city allow class 1 and class 2 electric bicycles on paved greenway paths while prohibiting class 3 devices and bicycles on unpaved hiking trails.

Rich said the definitions and class framework are industry-standard and used by agencies such as the Missouri Department of Conservation and Great Rivers Greenway. \"My recommendation is that we allow class 1 and class 2 in our parks… but I do think we should ban the class 3,\" Rich said, explaining class 3 can achieve higher speeds without pedaling and is not appropriate for narrow, unpaved trails.

Why it matters: commissioners and parks staff said higher-speed or throttle-enabled devices create user-safety concerns on mixed-use greenways and unpaved hiking trails and that the city’s existing Chapter 3-75 for alternative vehicles (last substantively updated in 2008) does not explicitly address modern e-bike classes.

Key points and next steps

- Scope: Staff recommended prohibiting bicycles (electric or non-electric) on the new unpaved hiking trails (Sassafras, Cottonwood and other single-track routes), and posting “no bicycles” symbols on those trails. The ban would not target paved greenway segments where safe mixed use is common.

- Speed and enforcement: Rich proposed a 15-mph posted speed suggestion for paved greenway segments to remind riders to slow down; commissioners acknowledged such limits are difficult to enforce but said signage gives police an ordinance-backed tool when complaint-driven enforcement is required. Police enforcement would rely on complaint patterns and, if repeated, the department would attempt identification and contact with parents or riders.

- Process: Rich asked staff to consult the police chief and prepare a draft ordinance that inserts e-bike classifications into the city’s vehicle/alternative-vehicle rules and amends the parks code. She described the legislative path: draft, commission review, two city-council readings, codification and then budget allocation for signage. Rich said she would like the ordinance ready for council consideration and signage funding ahead of the summer season if possible.

Public and commissioner comments

Commissioners and members of the public discussed enforcement feasibility, the difficulty of distinguishing classes visually, and operational trade-offs (for example, allowing class 1 pedal-assist bikes but banning throttle-powered class 3 models). Some commissioners said temporary measures such as movable speed-display trailers could be deployed by police in problem areas; others urged caution because many riders are children and officers often prefer education and parent contact over citations.

Ending

Staff will take the commission’s feedback, consult the police chief and draft an ordinance for a future meeting; council approval would require two readings before codification and subsequent purchase of signs if the commission and council adopt the changes.","Chair Sue Rich asked staff to draft an ordinance defining e-bike classes, to allow class 1 and 2 on paved park paths but prohibit class 3 on hiking trails and unpaved trails; staff will consult the police chief and return a draft ordinance for commission review and then city council consideration.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6092272,"Olivette Parks staff report rising youth sports participation, cite referee pay and field upgrades as priorities",621,1627000,2248000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2855930-e8407c4c7b26e1efbc3d6dc3e76434be&start=1627&end=2248","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2855930-e8407c4c7b26e1efbc3d6dc3e76434be/thumbnail_1627000.jpg","/articles/6092272/Olivette-City/St-Louis-County/Missouri/Olivette-Parks-staff-report-rising-youth-sports-participation-cite-referee-pay-and-field-upgrades-as-priorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6092272-e2808f8a7c61ebad08c9459ea3902c27/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437978&Signature=PqWMvt7Rhv-vigDNucscpBDXJHOHPE9IIJfu8IuGAR~tdsmSAllaVztvRDigyI-TQoyK5Anf11fRByg7jqE2hhfdjX5~3wx-7J-OtdoYCvFzbhspvC6XCJRoFUfoD7sPKRL5FyKdox4j59tWEBaflkjj0FZ76u3csyzwCTJzyxZZ7ey2q7smFqPsuGn0eoDu4x1~3NohsEg1SAH4Bonq120CNXZNdB2pwSkhuAN0Jje4mcGwwrHT-KkLSgtzyBH-u4mq7-uHOoSapWs0ZYeeKUme3v79WOiDYzy75mmechX7U7unPS677v9BV7wr3s~l9iOj6GFSU4WIi0LFSHACXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Olivette City Parks and Recreation staff on Feb. 19 presented their annual youth-sports report, saying registrations and team sign-ups rose across soccer, basketball and baseball and that the department has changed how it hires and trains referees and coaches.

The presentation, led by Recreation Supervisor Hannah Samorka and Recreation Coordinator Christophe Weagle, outlined the department’s objectives — \"a safe, fun, and clean environment\" and a focus on teamwork and skill development — and summarized season-by-season registration figures and recent changes in operations.

Samorka said individual soccer registrations rose from levels shown in 2023 (619 individual soccer registrations cited for 2023) to larger team participation in 2024 after adjustments to fees and outreach. She described fee levels used in recent seasons: in their slides Samorka reported 2023 individual micro soccer registration at $70 and K–5 at $110; for 2024 she said micro was $90 and K–5 $130. For baseball Samorka said the department had set 2025 individual rates (as of the meeting) at $110 for micro and $150 for K–5. She said team registrations remain a separate, flat fee and that many late registrations arrive after published deadlines.

Why it matters: the growth affects field use, staffing and equipment costs and informs budgeting for park maintenance, staffing and possible capital projects.

Most important operational changes

- Referees and officials: Staff said they shifted officials from contractor status to hourly employees last year so the city can train them, pay higher hourly wages and improve referee quality and retention. \"We switched in the last year to hourly employees…so now we can train them,\" Samorka said. The change also allowed staff to expand interview questions and to hire earlier in the season.

- Coaching and background checks: Coaches must complete background checks and attend pre-season meetings and clinics; staff added more online coaching resources and plan to expand coach clinics beyond soccer to baseball and basketball.

- Scheduling and partnerships: The department continues to use school gyms and fields through a partnership with the Ladue School District (facility scheduling handled through FMX) and reported expanded interjurisdictional play with University City and Clayton to reduce repeat matchups and increase competitive variety for teams.

- Camps and vendor partnerships: Staff described plans to bring national vendors including Challenger Soccer for summer camps and to trial Skyhawks and other providers; revenue-share arrangements apply for national providers.

Cost recovery and equity

Parks staff said program fees \"break even for direct costs,\" but do not cover capital expenses such as field renovations, irrigation or major turf replacement. \"It's breaking even for direct costs. As far as indirect costs of renovating the fields, we don't have that yet,\" Parks and Recreation Director Beverly Tucker Knight said. Staff advised that field renovations like the ones Clayton has done can run into the millions for turf and irrigation and that grant opportunities exist but often carry use restrictions.

The department confirmed it offers a fee-waiver program for families who qualify (school lunch verification or similar documentation) and said waiver requests in sports are currently fewer than for camps.

Community feedback and improvements planned

Staff summarized a recent soccer survey and described changes already implemented for basketball and pending for soccer: shifting practice windows earlier where possible (condensing some sessions to 45 minutes) to avoid dark evening hours, hiring more and better-trained referees, and coordinating schedules with Ladue to minimize games on school breaks. Samorka said the department will add a question to registration forms asking families to indicate preferred practice times so staff can consider those requests when creating schedules.

Concerns raised at the meeting

Commissioners and parents questioned practice start times (04:30 and 05:30 were discussed), registration timing and late sign-ups, the new fee increases, referee shortages and parent behavior toward officials. A parent and volunteer coaches suggested options to allow parents to indicate practice-time preferences during registration; staff said they will pilot taking preference information into account.

Ending

Staff said they will continue marketing efforts (tabling at Ladue schools, social media), pursue partnerships to increase participation in older age groups, and report back to the commission as new data and post-season surveys become available.

","City recreation staff presented an annual report showing higher registrations across soccer, basketball and baseball, described changes to referee hiring and training, and outlined plans for camps, coach training and field improvements; staff said program fees cover direct costs but not capital work on fields.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission updates: Stacy Park fence removal and seedings; commission to weigh field renovation funding and parking changes during soccer season

Commission working group proposes simple recycling pilot at Stacy Park: blue cans and single-hole lids

Resident raises Villa Park drainage and ADA entrance concerns; staff says restroom renovation and re-engineering planned

Commission chair proposes e-bike rules for parks, recommends banning high-speed class 3 bikes on hiking trails

Olivette Parks staff report rising youth sports participation, cite referee pay and field upgrades as priorities