"After an extensive search, our team chose a candidate who will bring the necessary discipline and rigor to towing operations," said James Jackson. "These services of removing vehicles that pose a public nuisance from City streets, alleys, and properties are critical to the quality of life in our community. Dale has the qualifications needed for this leadership role, with a combination of operations and logistics management skills and a high commitment to public service."

Most recently, Dale served as an Emergency Management Specialist-Logistics with the City of St. Louis Emergency Management Agency. Prior to that, he held a variety of leadership roles with Boeing and the Department of Defense. His experience is anchored by 26 years of distinguished military service, culminating in his retirement from the U.S. Army as a First Sergeant and senior organizational leader responsible for operations, workforce development, resource management, and community and stakeholder engagement.

"Our Towing Division is responsible for providing services 365 days a year, 24/7, and we need those services to be as efficient as possible for the safety and quality of life of our residents," said Mayor Cara Spencer. "With his experience in managing large teams and high impact operations, I trust that Dale can take the division to the level of services our City deserves."

Approximately 25 vehicles are brought to the Tow Lot each day, and the division is responsible for the secure storage, inventory, and release of thousands of vehicles each year.

"Keeping the needs of the community front and center has been a driving force for me throughout my career," said Dale. "I look forward to bringing my skills and my experience in translating service concerns into coordinated action for the betterment of the City of St. Louis.

Edwin Young, Operations Manager, has led the Towing Division in an interim capacity since December 2025, and will continue in his role.

"I am extremely grateful to Ed for his dedicated leadership of the Towing Division for these many months as we searched for a new permanent Commissioner," said James Jackson. "Ed has shown tremendous commitment to our operations and led the team to improve services. The Towing Division is in a stronger place thanks to his commitment."

"It is truly reprehensible that anyone would target our residents when they are at their most vulnerable, exploiting their recovery journey for personal gain. I am profoundly grateful to this outstanding team for stepping up to marshal their skills and expertise to ensure that our neighbors are not alone as they rebuild, and that those who prey on them will be held accountable," said Mayor Spencer.

The City has identified a critical need to address increasing reports of contractor fraud. Many residents, already coping with the loss of property and rebuilding challenges, have faced additional hardship due to predatory practices. The Task Force was established to provide essential legal support to these victims and to ensure that bad actors are deterred from taking advantage of residents during their most vulnerable moments.

This Task Force is a collaborative effort between the City of St. Louis, a group of dedicated and respected volunteer legal professionals, Legal Services, and the Missouri AGO, who have all committed their time and expertise to this cause. The recruitment for this initiative was led by local attorney Celeste Vossmeyer.

"The mayor was hearing these awful stories out in the tornado recovery zone and I knew there was a way the lawyers I knew could help," said Celeste Vossmeyer, Attorney and Recruitment Task Lead. "When I began asking other attorneys, the answer was an immediate yes across the board. We are all from St. Louis and we want to help. This is our way of defending many of our neighbors who have been victimized by the tornado and again by shady contractors."

This effort also showcases continued partnership between the City of St. Louis and the Missouri AGO to center the safety of residents. The AGO's Consumer Protection Team will support this initiative by sharing information on contractor fraud complaints they receive with Legal Services intake volunteers for assessment and consideration. The Missouri AGO's Consumer Protection Team will also stand by to receive referrals for cases that warrant additional state resources or involve repeat offenders.

"Families in St. Louis shouldn't have to fear that a home repair will turn into a financial disaster. Contractor fraud can drain hard-earned money and life savings, and our office is working to protect victims and recover what they are owed," said Attorney General Catherine Hanaway. "Strong partnerships are essential to combat fraud and make a lasting difference in our communities, and we are proud to support this effort. If you cheat Missouri consumers, you should know we are paying attention, and we will hold bad actors accountable."

The Task Force will operate in partnership with Legal Services' attorneys. Volunteer attorneys will receive referrals, conduct intake screenings of residents, and refer cases to the corps of volunteer attorneys. Once referred, the legal professionals will conduct further intake and review processes to assess candidates for representation.

"Legal Services is proud to collaborate on this much-needed task force," said Shawn Caruso, Senior Attorney, Tornado Recovery at Legal Services. "Through our Consumer Law and Neighborhood Advocacy programs, we have been working diligently to serve survivors impacted by the 2025 tornado with various tornado-related issues, and we are eager to advance our efforts to help residents who are victims of contractor fraud."

The volunteer attorneys include respected local civil and commercial litigators as well as public interest, government, and appellate practice leaders:

• Pete Woods - Haar & Woods, LLP
  • A seasoned litigator with roughly four decades of experience, Pete Woods focuses his practice on business litigation, family law, and real estate disputes. He handles complex state and federal trials and appeals, often specializing in high-stakes business valuations, contract disputes, and property rights. Woods is also widely recognized for his community and civic leadership in the St. Louis area, including co-founding initiatives focused on racial reconciliation.
• Timothy Tevlin - Sandberg Phoenix
  • A shareholder at Sandberg Phoenix, Timothy Tevlin is a dedicated trial lawyer specializing in high-exposure products liability defense, complex business litigation, and consumer fraud disputes. He represents businesses and corporate shareholders across state and federal courts and additionally defends civil rights claims within specialized healthcare settings.
• Chris Clark - Thompson Coburn, LLP
  • Christopher L. Clark is a commercial litigator who assists businesses in navigating complex commercial legal challenges. His extensive courtroom background includes serving as a federal judicial law clerk and working as an Assistant Circuit Attorney in the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office, where he prosecuted major criminal offenses. He has also been involved in Missouri public and policy affairs.
• Brent Dulle - Husch Blackwell
  • Serving as the firm's Pro Bono Counsel for Civil Rights, Brent Dulle coordinates and leads civil rights litigation and pro bono initiatives. Before shifting his focus entirely to pro bono advocacy, Dulle spent 15 years within the City of St. Louis Law Department, where he served as a manager and primary trial attorney defending the city in negligence torts and civil rights lawsuits.
• Tim O'Connell - Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, LLP
  • As a partner at BCLP, Timothy O'Connell handles matters spanning real estate, public-private partnerships, financial services, and class-action defense. He possesses a deep background in public policy, having previously served as Chief of Staff to the Mayor of St. Louis and legal counsel to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen. O'Connell is highly regarded for his civic contributions, particularly his pro bono leadership regarding St. Louis housing and vacancy initiatives.
• Sheila Greenbaum - Capes Sokol
  • Sheila Greenbaum is a senior counsel widely celebrated for her expertise in appellate law, complex civil litigation, and employment law. Prior to her work in private practice, she accumulated nearly 30 years of public sector experience, including a 15-year tenure as the Director of the Staff Attorneys Office for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Greenbaum is a deeply influential St. Louis civic leader, having served as the president of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis and on the boards of the ACLU.
• James Crowe - Retired, U.S. Attorney's Office, Criminal Division
  • Described by colleagues as the historic "backbone" of the federal prosecutor's office in St. Louis, Jim Crowe spent over 40 years with the Department of Justice. He served as the Chief of the Criminal Division for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri for three decades. Crowe specialized in high-profile prosecutions involving white-collar crime, organized crime, major financial fraud, and public corruption.

"The City of St. Louis is going to great lengths to assist residents in the tornado recovery zone," said former U.S. Attorney Jim Crowe. "Our help as private legal experts, working for free, can greatly enhance this work. I have spent a lifetime prosecuting white-collar crime. Our team will go after them if it warrants criminal charges at the state or local level."

This public-private partnership is a commitment to ensuring that recovery, repair, and rebuilding efforts are conducted ethically and that residents have the necessary legal resources to defend their rights.

Residents who may be victims of contractor fraud due to the tornado are encouraged to go to https://lsem.help/recoveryintake. Any other attorneys who are interested in providing pro bono legal support to our community's most vulnerable members are enthusiastically encouraged to join Legal Services' Volunteer Lawyer Program. Learn more about volunteering at https://lsem.org/volunteer/.

More information regarding the Contractor Fraud Legal Task Force, including how residents can apply to see if they are eligible to receive services through this initiative, will be made available soon on the https://lsem.org website and www.stlrecovers.com under the "Get Help" tab.

An individual present at the following locations tested positive for measles on Saturday, Sept. 19; however, they were contagious but likely asymptomatic as early as Sept. 12.

Sept. 12 一 3:30-7:50 p.m. The Cat's Meow
Sept. 12 一 6-11:30 p.m.  Busch Stadium, seated in or near Section 141
Sept. 12 一 9:30 p.m.- 2 a.m. Paddy O's

Because measles is highly contagious, the Department of Health urges anyone who may have been exposed-especially those who are immunocompromised, pregnant, or a parent of a child too young to be vaccinated-to contact their health care provider or the Department of Health immediately.

"If you were present at any of these locations during the exposure window, please monitor your health closely for the next 21 days," said Dr. Faisal Khan, Director of Health. "If you do begin experiencing any of the listed symptoms, we strongly recommend self-isolating immediately and contacting your care provider for the next steps. It is very important that you do not report directly to a medical facility without informing them first."

Anyone present during the exposure window has a chance of developing measles if they are not fully vaccinated. The Department of Health has been working closely with the affected venues and the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services to notify anyone present during the established exposure window.

Since symptoms develop 7-14 days after exposure, we expect anyone who contracted measles to begin experiencing illness within the next few days. We strongly recommend that anyone who experiences a high fever, cough or runny nose, red, watery eyes or a rash that begins on the face and spreads to other parts of the body immediately isolate and contact their care provider. Please note that a rash may not develop for several days after exposure, so do not wait for one to appear if you are experiencing any of the other listed symptoms.

Measles can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and death. Measles is transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. The virus can remain infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to 2 hours after an infected person leaves an area, which accounts for the inflated exposure window.

The main concern at this time is for people who are not already protected against measles. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine provides strong protection against measles, especially after two doses. Measles can be especially dangerous for pregnant women and their unborn babies. Children too young to be vaccinated are more likely to have severe complications if they get infected with the measles virus.  

Health care providers can find recommendations for infection control and diagnostic testing in the health alert issued on Sept. 4. Providers should report any suspected cases to their local health department immediately, preferably while the patient is still with the provider.

More information can be found on the Department of Health website.

For more information, please contact the City of St. Louis Department of Health at 314-612-5100 or health@stlouis-mo.gov.

Plan Area 4 includes Wells-Goodfellow, Hamilton Heights, Kingsway West, O'Fallon, Penrose, College Hill, and Fairground Neighborhood. The neighborhood planning process is helping establish a long-term vision for the area while also informing the City's ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts following the May 16, 2025 tornado. 

The Community Field Day & Pop-Up Market event outside Mathews-Dickey Club begins at 4:00 p.m. and will highlight the emerging vision for a PLAY District — the Penrose Learning, Athletics and Youth District — centered on youth excellence and connecting Mathews-Dickey, City Academy, Penrose Park, and the Velodrome. The event will also discuss the future reuse of the former Scullin School site.  

The event will feature Velodrome bike rides, lawn games, free food, and a pop-up vendor market, giving families an opportunity to experience the connections between these important community assets and envision how they can work together to expand opportunities for youth, recreation, health, education, and community activity.

Donations of new or gently used sports equipment will also be accepted during the event and donated to Mathews-Dickey Club youth, helping provide additional resources and opportunities for young people in the community.

The community meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Mathews-Dickey gym and will provide residents and partners an opportunity to review the Plan Area 4 vision, discuss priorities, and provide feedback as the neighborhood plan moves toward completion.

All residents, youth, families, community organizations, businesses, and partners are welcome to attend.

For more information about PlanSTL or to follow updates for Plan Area 4, visit the PlanSTL website or email the team at info@planstl4.com.

For over 20 years, the house at 2932 University Street has sat vacant as the only visibly deteriorating property on the historical street. Today, thanks to the nearly three-year renovation led by BTD Equity Management (BTD), it's a fully restored single-family home back on the market. 

"This was the only house on the block that was dilapidated," said Sheila Johnson, CEO of BTD Equity Management.  "So, getting this place renovated will definitely bring up the neighborhood."

Johnson founded BTD in 2013, first licensing the company in Delaware before relocating operations to St. Louis and obtaining a Missouri license in 2014. Since then, BTD has purchased more than 20 properties through the city's tax auction process, renovating 16 to date. This includes rental properties for outside investors and a CDA-funded affordable housing project on Clarence Avenue that was completed roughly five years ago. Now, BTD has taken on this historical vacant project to help the community. 

Outside front view of completed 2932 University Street home. 

The renovation was a gut job, according to Johnson; new plumbing, electrical, roof, and walls were built throughout the home. With the historic nature of the home, a professional demolition company had to come in and safely clear the property of any lead or asbestos before rebuilding began. 

With the age of the home, building materials needed to meet strict preservation standards. Johnson worked with historical consultants throughout the project to make sure the renovation qualified. 

Johnson explained that preserving the home's historic character meant nearly every replacement feature had to be specially made.

"Everything had to be custom," Johnson said. "All the moldings, windows, blinds; nothing was just regular off the shelf." 

BTD also made a point of restoring small original details, like the tiled front porch entrance, to keep the amazing charm and character of the home.

View of entrance way inside the 2932 University Street home.

Investing Back Into the Community 

The historical requirements, plus the unexpected costs along the way, stretched the project's timeline to almost three years and pushed the total investment to about $600,000, which was well above the home's initial renovation budget. Despite mounting costs, Johnson recalled that the team never considered abandoning the project.

"At one point, when we knew the budget was up, we could have made the decision to stop," she said. "But we don't like starting something and not finishing it!" 

This project was supported in part by CDA funding through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) award. Before placing it on the market, BTD hosted a private open house exclusively for neighbors in the community. Allowing longtime residents and their families the opportunity to see the amazing renovation and potentially purchase the home if eligible. 

This property is designated affordable housing, meaning buyers must meet income qualifications tied to household size. With four bedrooms and three bathrooms, the home is currently listed at $299,500, and completely on the market to purchase for a suitable family. Johnson hopes the home will become a place where a family can put down roots.

"We really want a family," she said. "Someone that has maybe two or three kids." 

Outside back view of completed 2932 University Street home. 

Looking Ahead 

BTD has two more projects underway on the north side of St. Louis. A single-family detached home and a four-family property are being converted into two side-by-side duplexes. Unlike the University Street project, neither is a historic property, which Johnson hopes will mean a faster timeline.

Johnson also considers the area's proximity to the new NGA campus as a sign of what's ahead for the neighborhood. She's anticipating growing housing demand as employees fill positions there in the coming years. Looking toward the future of 2932 University, Johnson is optimistic about the neighborhood and its trajectory.

"There's a lot of stuff going on in the area," Johnson noted. "This would be a great little area for a nice family." 

About the Community Development Administration (CDA):

Established in 1974, CDA invests approximately $25 million each year in affordable housing, community development, and public services across St. Louis. As the City's housing and community development agency, CDA works in partnership with HUD, the Planning and Urban Design Agency and the St. Louis Development Corporation to ensure that funding priorities are transparent, competitive, and community-driven.

The exterior architectural lighting of City Hall will remain off at night through September 30 to help protect the millions of birds currently migrating south for the winter. 

St. Louis City sits along the Mississippi Flyway, a crucial route for migratory birds. More than 350 migratory bird species utilize the Mississippi Flyway, encompassing about 60% of North American songbirds and 40% North American waterfowl. Birds fly primarily at night to avoid predators and navigate using the stars and landscape features like the Mississippi River. Hundreds of millions of birds are estimated to travel through states along the Mississippi Flyway on their journey south, stopping throughout the region to rest and feed.

This amazing feat is celebrated on World Migratory Bird Day - where this year, the City of St. Louis was recognized as the first city to earn both Urban Bird Treaty City and Bird City distinctions.

Nighttime lighting can disorient and distract migrating birds, drawing them off course or to collide with windows and reflective glass. Turning off unnecessary outdoor lights reduces those risks. Learn more about incorporating DarkSky-friendly lighting at your home to protect wildlife at DarkSky Missouri. 

City Hall's iconic architectural uplighting, designed by Randy Burkett Lighting Design -the firm behind the Gateway Arch's lighting design- will remain off until Oct. 1. 

This effort follows Resolution 240, passed by the Board of Aldermen in February, which encourages coordination among City departments to implement bird-friendly practices that protect and enhance urban biodiversity.   

Other City efforts to protect and enhance urban biodiversity include the Milkweeds for Monarch program, through which the City has restored and dedicated 29 acres of native prairie space along the Mississippi to support the Great Monarch Migration and to give our feathered friends more places to rest as they travel across North America. 

Together, these efforts reflect the City's commitment to protecting St. Louis' urban wildlife and supporting the birds and other species that depend on the Mississippi Flyway. 

"This bill is the result of an intensive, lengthy, and collaborative effort to tackle a complex issue head-on," said Mayor Cara Spencer. "By bringing together city departments, aldermanic partners, neighborhood advocates, labor, and environmental leaders, we have established a nation-leading benchmark. We are proving that St. Louis can attract high-tech economic opportunity while prioritizing sustainability, protecting neighborhood health, and guaranteeing public accountability."

The signing marks the culmination of a year-long collaborative process initiated under Mayor Spencer's Executive Order 92 and BoA Resolution 111. The order replaced outdated zoning classifications regulating data centers under generic "office" or "warehouse" categories with an interim regulatory framework, while directing city departments to construct a permanent legislative framework. Over the past year, city leaders from the Planning & Urban Design Agency, Zoning Office, Water Division, and Sustainability Office worked closely with members of the BoA, community residents, labor leaders, environmental advocates, and industry stakeholders to craft a comprehensive policy.

"By putting the city's first comprehensive regulations in place, we've made it clear that St. Louis not only expects new data centers to run on renewable energy, but also that developers invest their resources to expand clean energy infrastructure and to innovate in ways that protect the air we breathe and the water we drink," said BoA President Megan Green. "I want to thank the many, many residents who shared their views and stayed engaged throughout this process; it's because of them that our city now has some of the strongest data center regulations in the country."

As data center infrastructure expands nationally, St. Louis residents have voiced crucial questions and concerns regarding potential impacts on neighborhood quality of life, public health, energy and water resource demands, heat generation, and local electrical grid stability. BB 49 directly addresses these concerns through best-in-class, legally binding safeguards:

• Strict Buffers and Neighborhood Protections: Data centers are strictly prohibited in all residential districts and local neighborhood commercial zones. Where permitted with conditions in industrial and commercial zones, mandatory buffer setbacks safeguard sensitive uses:
  • Micro Data Centers (<10,000 sq. ft., <5 MW): Minimum 150-foot setback.
  • Standard Data Centers (10,000-250,000 sq. ft., 5-30 MW): Minimum 300-foot setback.
  • Major Data Centers (>250,000 sq. ft. or ≥30 MW): Minimum 600-foot setback from residential homes, schools, public parks, light rail stations, and transit centers.
• Comprehensive Noise Mitigation: Operational noise levels cannot exceed 5 decibels (dBA & dBC) above pre-application baseline studies at property lines. All noisy equipment, including cooling units and backup generators, must be fully enclosed within sound-dampening structures.
• Resource & Grid Safeguards: Water-intensive evaporative cooling systems are prohibited. Developers must enter into binding agreements with the St. Louis Water Division, fund hydraulic model studies, and pay any system impact fees. Operations cannot begin without explicit, written grid capacity verification from the electric utility provider.
• Leading Renewable Energy Mandates: Standard and Major facilities are required to start operations at a minimum of 25% renewable energy, scaling to 50% by Year 5, and achieving 100% renewable energy by Year 10. Noncompliance triggers steep financial penalties (up to 300% of the market rate for regional bundled Renewable Energy Credits), preventing grid strain and mitigating thermal heat impacts through mandatory Cool Roofs, Green Roofs, or solar installations.

The bill's protections set a best-in-class model for cities nationwide by pairing rigorous environmental standards with transparent public governance and enforceable community benefits. St. Louis is among the first major U.S. municipalities to pass a comprehensive, dedicated data center zoning code that proactively regulates energy sourcing, noise impact, and land-use compatibility for data center developments.

While enforcing rigorous protections, Board Bill 49 establishes a predictable, transparent development path that generates meaningful economic value for the city:

• Guaranteed Community Engagement and Public Impact Agreements: Developers of Major Data Centers are required to advertise and host public community meetings with advance notice sent via mail and email to neighboring property owners and neighborhood organizations. Furthermore, developers must sign binding Public Impact Agreements with the City to fund neighborhood infrastructure upgrades, public safety resources, and local welfare improvements.
• Local Job Creation and Economic Growth: Major applications must document anticipated construction and permanent operational workforce numbers, supporting union labor and strengthening the city's tax base through local earnings tax and property tax revenue.
• Urban Architectural Integration: Buildings along downtown commercial frontages must dedicate at least 50% of ground-floor space to active uses (such as office, retail, or amenities), meet architectural window transparency standards, and screen all loading docks and utility infrastructure from public view.

Board Bill 49 also responsibly keeps major commercial investments and construction jobs viable in the city. Provisions call for mandatory economic impact reporting, where developers seeking a conditional use permit must submit a third-party report detailing construction and permanent jobs to assess local labor opportunities. The bill also provides that project details and economic considerations from community meetings must be made publicly available, enabling labor and residents to verify hiring numbers for accountability.

While many jurisdictions rely on reactive, piecemeal restrictions or retrofitting existing general industrial codes, Board Bill 49 establishes a proactive, nation-leading template. Key elements that position St. Louis at the forefront of municipal data center policy include:

• First-in-Nation Renewable Scaling Framework: Unlike typical land-use codes that ignore utility demand, BB 49 legally binds facilities to a 10-year transition toward 100% renewable power, setting a new national benchmark for municipal grid protection.
• Tiered Buffer and Noise Thresholds: By categorizing facilities into Micro, Standard, and Major data center tiers, the ordinance establishes precise, distance-based setbacks (up to 600 feet) and low-frequency noise caps (5 dBA & dBC over baseline) to safeguard urban neighborhoods.
• Comprehensive Water Safeguards: Banning water-intensive evaporative cooling prevents local water depletion, addressing an environmental vulnerability seen in data center hubs across the U.S.

The City extends sincere gratitude to all partner agencies, aldermanic sponsors and partners, regional stakeholders, and resident advocates whose extensive feedback, technical expertise, and dedication were instrumental in shaping this legislation. BB 49 takes effect immediately.

Partner Statements and Quotes

Alderwoman Anne Schwietzer (Bill Sponsor)

"Data centers cause harm to people and the environment. They must be strongly regulated While not perfect, this bill will limit data center development in St. Louis to the most appropriate locations for their size and impact, ensure projects are thoroughly scrutinized through a comprehensive and public application process, and require data centers over five megawatts to operate with 100% renewable energy by year ten. This bill is a big step forward for our city."

Alderwoman Sonnier (Bill Co-Sponsor)

"Data centers are coming to cities across the country, and as our city decides our approach, our strongest considerations should center public health, public safety, affordability, environmentalism and the needs of our residents; these are the values that both myself and Alderwoman Schweitzer prioritized as we worked in Board Bill 49.

While this bill isn't perfect and doesn't prevent all harms. It does mean that any approved data center will have clear rules, expectations and standards that won't be up to the decision or feelings of any one individual or entity. I give my deepest gratitude to the many residents, advocates, planning and sustainability staff that have shared their thoughts, expertise, and time with me over the past year, and who showed up continually despite their frustrations."

James Owen (Executive Director, Renew Missouri)

"Ensuring data centers are responsible and sustainable corporate neighbors in St. Louis is of paramount concern for civic leaders and citizens alike. The renewable energy requirements put forward by the leadership of sponsors Alds. Schweitzer and Sonnier as well as the support of Mayor Spencer - some of the strongest in the nation - will strike a balance between economic development and the City's own clean energy goals. Renew Missouri is proud of its staff's involvement with assisting these leaders on forging a path forward that will serve as a model for all cities."

Jake Hummel (President, Missouri AFL-CIO)

"This bill strikes a vital balance by bringing high-tech economic investment to St. Louis while ensuring our city's working families aren't left behind. This landmark legislation will create good-paying local union construction and operational jobs while centering the community. We applaud the leadership of Mayor Spencer's administration and President Green, Ald. Schweitzer, Ald. Sonnier, and Ald. Oldenburg for their collaboration to get this bill across the finish line."

John Stiffler (Executive Secretary-Treasurer, St. Louis Building & Construction Trades Council)

"The City of St. Louis is leading our region, and possibly our nation, in providing a path for local governments and school districts to benefit from data center development while addressing resident concerns. Going down this road will create thousands of good paying, union jobs, for skilled tradesmen and tradeswomen."

Ron Kitchens (Managing Partner, Greater St. Louis, Inc.)

"We commend Mayor Spencer and the BoA for their work passing this legislation, which gives St. Louis the opportunity to secure new, transformational economic opportunities that will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment for our city. St. Louis is already set to see $3 billion in investment through the Midtown data center project, and our team at Greater St. Louis, Inc. is excited by the prospect of billions more on the horizon."

ST. LOUIS, (September 17, 2026) - City Comptroller Donna M.C. Baringer announced today that the City of St Louis General Operating Fund generated a surplus of just under $46M for the Fiscal Year ended 6/30/2026. This surplus is a result of increased revenue and lower than budgeted expenses. Compared to the prior Fiscal Year, General Fund Revenue grew 10.9% to just over $612M. Expenses using the same prior Fiscal Year comparison grew by just 3.2% to $567M. 

"This continued strong fiscal performance allows us to provide appropriate City services to residents, a competitive salary to City workers, and the capital to support critical infrastructure and improvements," said Comptroller Baringer.

In line with City Ordinances, half of the operating surplus is transferred to the City-Wide Capital Fund. The remaining balance is transferred to the City's General Fund Reserves. 

Comptroller Donna M.C. Baringer is the chief fiscal officer of the City of St. Louis and is charged with safeguarding the city's credit rating and protecting taxpayer dollars. Learn more about the Office of the Comptroller.

For more information about the event, including the The Glow on Friday, Sept. 18 and Race Day, Sept. 19, and the and the most up-to-date schedule of events, parking information, FAQs, and any potential schedule changes, please go to The Great Forest Park Balloon Race website and follow their social media channels on Instagram and Facebook.

Things to Know Before You Go

Traffic Tips

• East and West-bound Exit Ramps at I-64 and Hampton Ave. will be CLOSED 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm on Friday Sept. 18 AND beginning at 3:00 pm on Saturday Sept. 19.
• Hospital Drive at Kingshighway Blvd. will be CLOSED and Steinberg Skating Rink parking lot is CLOSED for construction.
• Clayton Avenue underpass at Kingshighway will be open to pedestrians & vehicle traffic with special event access only.
• This Getting Around/Directions page provides maps and recommended routes.

Parking

Free parking is available on all streets not closed for the race. Parking lots within Forest Park will also be open for public parking. Please see Getting Around/Directions for parking map and street closures.

Car pooling and/or using public transportation are recommended!

Public Transportation Options

Central Fields is located just under a mile from two MetroLink stations. Eastbound passengers should exit at Forest Park-Debaliviere, walk south into the park and then east on Grand Drive. Westbound passengers should exit at Central West End, walk west on Children's Place, cross into the park and follow westbound walking paths to Faulkner Drive.

Be sure to download Transit, the official app of Metro Transit. Purchase your Metro passes ahead of time on the Transit app, which also provides route maps, next departure times and trip planning, including a trip that combines Metro Transit with ride-sharing. 

Learn more on the Metro St. Louis site: https://www.metrostlouis.org/transit-toolbox/

Cost

There is no cost for admission into the Balloon Glow or Balloon Race. Public parking within Forest Park is also free throughout the weekend. Food, beverages, souvenirs, and certain special activities are available for purchase.

Food, Beverages, and Seating

A variety of food and beverage options will be available for purchase. You may also bring your own refreshments. No open flames or cooking appliances allowed. Soft-sided coolers and cans are preferred. 

No glass, please!

Viewing at Emerson Central Fields is best from a blanket or low-profile folding chair.