All Entries Tagged With: "recreational NoCo"
Ferguson’s Twilight 5K returns on May 14
Last year's inaugural Live Well Ferguson Twilight 5K drew hundreds of North County families and nearly 1,000 racers from all over St. Louis.
Since moving to Ferguson almost 12 years ago, I’ve had a lot of proud moments. But I don’t think I’ve ever felt more pride and straight-up love for this community than I did at last year’s Live Well Ferguson Twilight 5K.
Our planning committee had set a goal of 300 racers, so when 900+ eventually showed up, along with their friends and family, it was definitely an awesome surprise. The sheer mass of people, many aglow in the bright yellow 5K t-shirt I designed, was an amazing sight all by itself. But what really struck me that day was the incredible diversity of the crowd.
Looking around, I saw black people, white people, senior citizens, little kids, 20-something hipsters, moms with strollers, people in wheelchairs, hardcore racers, first-time runners….you name it. And they were all there with such a positive, happy spirit, for a while I could barely wipe the smile off my face. It was truly an inspiring day, proving that fun, healthy activity can unite almost anyone, and that’s why I’m thrilled to report that the second Twilight 5K is coming up soon…
Scheduled for Saturday, May 14, the race will once again benefit youth scholarships at Emerson Family YMCA, and NOCO will once again be a sponsor. Christian Hospital has also signed on as a partner this year, joining a wide array of other North County businesses and organizations.
If you’re ready for the race – either the one-mile run/walk or the 5K – you might as well go ahead and sign up. Registration is officially open. If you’re not quite ready yet and your muscles and mind need a little encouragement, you might want to consider Couch to 5K. Starting in March, this free nine-week program headed up by Ferguson resident Pat Shelton helped more than 25 novice runners finish the 5K last year, many with very impressive times.
I’m hoping to post a full story on Couch to 5K soon. Until then, why not check out the Twilight 5K website, updated for 2011 with fresh new photos and info on volunteer and sponsorship opportunities… You can also look here for pics from last year’s event.
Rollerskating goes retro @ Coachlite Feb 13
Like many NoCo residents of a certain age, I spent countless weekends rollerskating at the late Aloha Roller Rink in Spanish Lake. And that’s when I wasn’t acting out scenes from Xanadu, on skates, in my basement, or pretending to be Tootie from The Facts of Life.
The truth is, I loved rollerskating growing up, and I still do. But I rarely go anymore because the music (and the crowd) is always so…young.
Call me picky but I don’t want to skate to Miley Cyrus or Maroon 5 or whoever the latest pop sensation is. I want to groove to “More Bounce to the Ounce” or go old-school with “Rockberry.” And ideally, I want to be surrounded by smooth-skating older black people who can do things on wheels that will make your jaw drop.
THAT, to me, is great rollerskating. And that’s exactly what I hope to find this Sunday, when Coachlite Skate Center in Bridgeton hosts the Soul Food Skate for “mature adults.” Featuring retro music spun by early St. Louis hip hop pioneer DJ G.Wiz, this event will undoubtedly serve up some very sweet beats and showcase some classic old-school skaters. Even the hosts sound promising…the Dusty Rollers.
I’ll be there in my quad skates. Will you? The Soul Food Skate is Sunday, February 13, 5-8pm @ Coachlite, 3754 Pennridge Drive, 63044. Admission is $5. Skate rental available.
The Maline Greenway: two public forums coming up soon
Still in the planning stages, the Maline Greenway will eventually connect with the larger area trail network, running from Berkeley to the city of St. Louis.
Over the past eight years, the local nonprofit Great Rivers Greenway has been quietly building a region-wide network of parks, trails and bike routes all designed to encourage healthy, active living. Once completed, GRG’s 600-mile “River Ring” will encircle the entire St. Louis metro area, linking three counties and two states and offering an awesomely “green” transit alternative.
Here in North County, you can already see some of the network coming together – at the Confluence Greenway near Spanish Lake, the Sunset Greenway in Florissant, and the St. Vincent Greenway near UMSL – but one big piece of the puzzle is still in the works: the Maline Greenway. Spanning the length of Maline Creek (a historic natural stream now used for sewer drainage), the Maline Greenway will run through Berkeley, Kinloch, Ferguson, Jennings, Moline Acres, Bellefontaine Neighbors, Riverview and unincorporated NoCo, serving as a primary connector to off-road trails, public green spaces and on-street bicycle facilities. It will also be the connecting link between the St. Vincent and Confluence Greenways.
Like all GRG projects, this endeavor is being guided by substantial citizen input. In fact, during the next week, members of the public will have two opportunities to learn more about the Maline Greenway and to share their thoughts and ideas. Topics of discussion will include locating the greenway; identifying preferred amenities; issues or challenges; and protecting the natural habitat. GRG consultants will also explain how the Maline Greenway will support active and healthy lifestyles, economic development, and environmental stewardship.
And get this…everyone who attends will have a chance to win a youth bicycle! There are even free crafts for kids.
Open house #1 will be held Thursday, October 21, from 6-8pm at the Bellefontaine Community Center, 9969 Bellefontaine Road, 63137. Open house #2 will be Tuesday, October 26, from 6-8pm at McCluer South-Berkeley High School, 201 Brotherton Lane, 63135. You can show up anytime between 6 and 8, and of course, there is no cost. All are welcome!!
For more info about these upcoming public forums or the Maline Greenway in general, visit the GRG website or call (314) 621-5566. Whatever you do, just don’t miss this opportunity to participate in one of the most progressive, exciting projects in North County!
Happy Birthday, NOCO!
Greetings, NOCO fans! As you probably read, I’ve been on vacation for the past two weeks, soaking up the beautiful energy and glorious natural wonders of Kauai. I had intended to start posting here again on Monday (after all, last week was the one-year birthday of this blog!) but when I sat down to write, it was obvious that I still wasn’t “grounded” back here in North County.
You don’t visit a place as powerful as Kauai and not come away deeply affected. You just can’t avoid being inspired in some way, eager to bring a little bit of the island home with you. So here I am, full of all these amazing experiences from half way around the world, and now I’m wondering…how can I take what I loved there and try to “revisit” it here?
Admittedly, there are vast differences between St. Louis and Kauai. I realize that. We don’t have lush rain forests or sandy beaches or volcanic craters. Also not many surfers. But what we do have is the same magical ingredient that rests at the heart of pretty much everything in Kauai: WATER.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: NoCo sits at the confluence of two of the greatest rivers in North America. We are almost entirely surrounded by water, though it’s sometimes easy to forget. We are also fortunate to live among thick expanses of forest, mineral-rich natural springs, and remnants of ancient civilizations, not to mention unique geological features, great rustic trails, abundant wildlife, and even our own “mountain.”
Does that mean we’re a vacation destination on par with Kauai? Of course not. But do we have exceptional natural beauty that can feed the soul and potentially appeal to visitors, even eco-tourists? Absolutely. In fact, inspired by my recent kayaking adventure on the Wailua River, I’ve started to explore exactly what kind of water recreation is possible in and around NoCo. (Aren’t you curious?) I’m also planning articles on little-known local hiking paths, area caves, fun picnic spots, and a whole host of other “Outdoor Fun” ideas to help you discover the very best of North County.
Since launching NOCO last year, I feel like I’ve gotten a bit off course from my original vision, which was to create a hip insider’s guide to the place I love. So as we head into year two with this little community experiment, I’m really aiming to focus on topics that are not only fun for me to write, but also ideal for raising North County’s profile in a positive and even surprising way. You can look for more articles on restaurants, festivals, architecture and interesting things to see and do; less on school district news, municipal announcements and all the stories typically covered by publications with a real staff.
To all my longtime readers and advertisers, thank you SO much for supporting NOCO! I sincerely appreciate you and I really hope you’ll stick around! Mahalo!
By the way, don't believe me that NoCo can build eco-tourism around the Confluence? Here's a map showing numerous B&Bs, restaurants and other businesses surrounding a much smaller river confluence in Pennsylvania, where my friend Blue Tapp Scheffer is cycling the Great Allegheny Passage.
To see Blue’s trip journal, which encompasses more than 300 miles, look here.
Are you getting ready for the big day? NOCO is a proud sponsor of the 3rd annual Live Well Ferguson 5K