The damage is done to Forest Park; the Barnes Jewish Hospital parking structure should have never been built in the first place. I’m against any of the mayor’s plans, yet if a compromise is needed, why not let them take Hudlin Park to the sky and demonstrate to the city what a rooftop garden is all about. Barnes Jewish Hospital has the staff and the knowledge to incorporate this into their plans, and it would still be our park.
BJH already has a rooftop garden, probably the largest in the city, on the 8th floor, in the children’s hospital, on its own properties, and my hat goes off to them for this. Some cities have green space laws; if you construct a building on 9.5 acres of green space, you need 9.5 acres of green roof.
We need more than just cash offered up like a carrot for our green space. Hands-on training programs could start right now in that little slice of Forest Park, Hudlin Park, 9.5 acres.
Walter Peterson
St. Louis