For six years as Communications Manager for the Gateway Arch Park Foundation, I was the social media manager and staff photographer documenting the progress of the CityArchRiver Project for public awareness, marketing, fundraising, and archiving the historic renovation of the Gateway Arch National Park.
The Gateway Arch Park Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to ensure that the Gateway Arch, its grounds, neighboring public space, and attractions will be a vital, welcoming, and well-supported resource for the community and nation for generations to come.
Founded in 2009 to support and coordinate a project to connect, invigorate, and expand the Arch grounds, the Foundation is a conservancy that collaborates with partners to operate and maintain the improvements made through the CityArchRiver project.
Fair St. Louis 2019, a year after the grand opening of the renovated Gateway Arch National Park. Crowds were able easily access the park from downtown, use the new amenities, and celebrate July 4 at a rare, urban National Park Service park.
Construction on the "Park over the Highway" in the summer of 2014. As the Gateway Arch was under construction in the 1960's, The I-55 highway trench was also being built. The CityArchRiver Project's primary goal was to physically weave the Gateway Arch National Park into the urban fabric of downtown St. Louis via a series of pedestrian-oriented projects.
A view of the completed project in 2018 created by one of the Gateway Arch Park Foundation's webcams, which I supervised.
Blues at the Arch is a community event presented by the Gateway Arch Park Foundation on Fridays in August. Blues at the Arch combines the two things that are the most "so St. Louis" - Blues music + the Gateway Arch. As Communications Manager for the Gateway Arch Park Foundation, I was the lead marketing manager for this great event, managing the ad buying and working with our team on earned media, PR, etc.
People who went to Blues at the Arch loved the music and atmosphere. In surveys, the #1 thing we heard is that people loved the how fun and diverse the crowd was. People said that the fact that people from all over the region were having a great time under the symbol of St. Louis - the Gateway Arch - made the whole experience so much more special. My favorite part of the event was photographing and interacting with the audience - and the t-shirt slingshot launch.
The Blues winning the Stanley Cup was an incredibly important event for Blues fans, the team, and all of St. Louis. Being a part of the Gateway Arch Park Foundation, I worked with the many civic groups who organized the parade and ceremony. It was certainly the most fun event I've ever experienced and a joy to photograph for the Foundation's social media.
Having recently completed the CityArchRiver project, it was amazing see this huge event use all the pedestrian, park, major event, and infrastructure improvements. The $380 million renovation of the Gateway Arch National Park was made for everyday connectivity and spectacular civic pride events like this.
Having recently completed the CityArchRiver project, it was amazing see this huge event use all the pedestrian, park, major event, and infrastructure improvements. The $380 million renovation of the Gateway Arch National Park was made for everyday connectivity and spectacular civic pride events like this.
This celebration and civic event really made tangible just why it was so important to connect the City, the Arch, and the River for the St. Louis region.