Jackson Park in Old North, is one of the oldest St. Louis City parks. The park is a circular city block that was once home to a gorgeous fountain, a promenade, and tall trees. The park suffered greatly as the surrounding neighborhood experienced years of decline and blight. In recent years, the park consisted of a poorly maintained baseball field, a crumbling/rusting playground, and a tiny basketball court that was littered with broken glass.
Roughly two years ago, the Alderwoman, April Ford-Griffin, announced that she would be able to commit a significant amount of city funds to rehab the park. She brought forth a plan to the community for input. The community held a charrette to discuss the proposed plan and decide on suggestions to alter the plan. The community submitted its suggestions to the Alderwoman who accepted them and incorporated them into the official design documents. 
A few months later construction began, including a walking path, new sidewalks, a water fountain, upgrades to the baseball diamond, and an extension of the park that includes a basketball half-court, a big new playground facility, and swings. Construction is still underway. As a local resident, I've watched park usage increase 10-fold. It has been a spectacular transformation!
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