No‑Mow April: Webster Groves reports 36 pledges, 17 sign transactions and plans for next year

The Webster Groves Green Space Advisory Commission heard an update on the No‑Mow April program and how outreach, sign distribution and sign returns performed this year.

Commission Chair Jamie Wagner presented the summary: the commission ordered 50 new signs for the program; residents returned eight previously used signs during the campaign and nine new signs were sold, for 17 signs moved out of the recreation center inventory during the event. The commission’s sign stock currently stands at about 41 signs on hand, and coordinators said they may not need to purchase additional signs next year if return and reuse continue.

Program coordinators reported 36 residents formally signed up and took the pledge this year; commissioners noted some people had taken signs without formally completing sign-up paperwork. Several delivery and distribution points were reviewed — the library, neighborhood stores and Rolling Ridge were cited as places where flyers were taken quickly but signs sometimes were not deployed — and commissioners discussed moving outreach earlier in the season and increasing distribution partners.

Commissioners agreed to keep a photographic record of this year’s planting/sign stories and consider creating a short slideshow for local news outlets and the city website. They also discussed storing recovered signs and reusing them in future campaigns and recommended starting outreach and sign distribution before mid‑April in future years.

The commission will review a final sign inventory and outreach plan ahead of next year’s campaign and will revisit timing and distribution at an early-year agenda item in winter.

No formal motions or budget actions were taken at the session on this topic.