Cottleville’s Legacy Park opening festivities set for Oct. 3

Cottleville’s Legacy Park opening celebration is gearing up in grand fashion, and Cottleville Mayor Don Yarber couldn’t be more excited.

“At this first gathering of neighbors, I’m going to ask them to look to their left and their right and shake hands with a neighbor they never met,” Yarber said. “I want this to truly be a community gathering place—a place to come together with neighbors and enjoy the community.” 

The opening celebration is being presented in cooperation with Great Rivers Greenway which will also feature a ribbon cutting for new the new one-mile trail segment of the Dardenne Greenway trail at the park.

Enjoy free hayrides, a petting zoo, full access to the new children's playground, tours of the century-old log cabin, games, face painting, food and beverages.

World Bird Sanctuary, a Bounce House, a magician, Ronald McDonald, the Little Caesar Mascot, the Spartan Mascot, the K-9 Unit, $1 Pony Rides and music by Short Term Memory will all be on hand.

A 5K Run will kick off the day’s festivities at 8 a.m. Registration can be completed online at cityofcottleville.com. Fee: $20.00 after Sept. 26.

Yarber named the park as a legacy for future generations. The park is easily accessed from the new Cottleville City Hall, a 15,000-square-foot ecologically friendly building with a walkout lower level where the Police Station is located. The City Hall is one of about 2,000 “green buildings” worldwide. 

“It’s really great,” said City Administrator/Police Chief Scott Lewis. “The bobcats and backhoes are working on the trails, and people are already out working out on them. The playground is packed consistently, and we’ve gotten tons of letters and e-mails, even from residents outside of Cottleville thanking us for this wonderful park.”

So far, the first phase of the Dardenne Greenway trail has been built. In the near future, another trail, part of the “Safe Routes to School” will be built, connecting Warren Elementary School to the new park.

“We’re racing to get everything ready by the celebration,” Lewis said. “The parking lot is in, and the grading for the dog park is going on as we speak. The family pavilions, tennis courts, basketball courts and amphitheatre seating are done. The only thing left to do is to construct the actual stage and the concession/restroom areas.”

The Cottleville/Weldon Spring Rotary Club is doing all the fundraising for the amphitheater. It’s all coming together because of donations and grants. It will be named the Rotary Amphitheater.