Creating a Better Block

From Park Central Development

Come create a Better Block in the Grove! On Saturday, May 14 during the Tour de Grove races, the Mayor’s Vanguard Cabinet and the Grove CID will be hosting a Better Block event in which boarded up storefronts will be transformed into colorful vibrant storefronts, at least for the day. Come enjoy a temporary movie theater with outdoor film screenings throughout the day (including classic The Great Saint Louis Bank Robbery), a bakery/café with complimentary coffee and pastries, and an arcade with interactive games. There will also be interactive public art, including “I’m in St. Louis because…” where you can write in why you’ve chosen to stay in the City.

Green Strum Project will be performing from noon to 3 p.m. Urban Breath Yoga, a yoga studio moving to the Grove later this year, will be hosting a free yoga class at 1 p.m. More music throughout the day TBA. There will be outdoor seating and a barbecue for those wishing to view the day’s races.

The event will take place on Manchester, just west of Boyle.

The Better Block project is a national initiative to transform urban eyesores to vibrant and stable storefronts. The goal is to demonstrate the possibilities for an area of boarded up buildings, which is especially significant in the city of St. Louis, where stretches of boarded up buildings are of the norm. Local artists and volunteers will be creating marquees, awnings, and painted window displays for the project.

Interested in volunteering or donating materials to the project? Contact Stephanie at Stephanie@parkcentraldevelopment.org or 314-535-5311. Items most needed are paints and painting materials, as well as street furniture for the day.