It was placed into ordinance in 1937 and is within the LaSalle Neighborhood. The park is just south and west of the Nestle Purina campus, known to most in the area.
While there is no information on the city website related to who the park was named after, I will assume it was named after Joseph J. Mestres, (1874-1941) former St. Louis Democratic City Committee Chairman and friend and political ally of the Tipton family of the Cuckoo Gang, one of the most notorious bank robbing gangs of the early 20th Century (source).
There is really not much to see here, but the park does provide a green space for the subsidized housing complexes of Peabody-Darst Webbe and LaSalle Park.
There are tasteful street lights along Tucker, a sidewalk running down the center which recently got new benches and some nice new trees planted to provide some additional shade and interest.
It would be great to see some low maintenance landscaping and wild grasses in several key areas to decrease the amount of mowing/trimming and create natural areas to break up the monotony of this strip of land/park space.
These small areas would be perfect candidates:
I often walk downtown this way. its great, so much nicer than taking 8th st.
ReplyDeleteMy Great Grandfather, Joseph J. Mestres, was St.Louis City Parks Commissioner for many years..
ReplyDeleteUnknown, I'd love to interview you about your experiences. Please contact me at: groth_stl@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteThanks-Mark
I am of this family and the info is correct as I have heard it passed down
ReplyDeleteHi Ms. Mestres. If you are willing to share your stories, please contact me at groth_stl@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteThanks-Mark