Earlier this year, Great Rivers Greenway requested proposals for a design, build, and community-involvement project for Porter Park and a newly proposed Greenway, both in the West End neighborhood north of Delmar. Applicants were asked to design benches and trash cans, and also to plan a fabrication workshop where youth could learn to work with metal and fabricate the artwork for the park. Creative Exchange Lab proposed the winning entry, and on Monday, August 15th, the designers and students will begin forging the artwork together.

Great Rivers Greenway District serves to improve the quality of life throughout the St. Louis region by developing a public system of interconnected greenways, trails, and parks. For the Porter Park and St. Vincent Greenway project, the competition sought a metal artist to collaborate with local youth. In the process Great Rivers Greenway found a whole network of local creative professionals on a mission.

CEL is a network of creative professionals and organizations, and for the Great Rivers Greenway project, CEL collaborated with Beyond Housing and Gaya Art Collective to design the park installation and youth education program.