In 2015, neighbors and businesses in the Cherokee Street neighborhood came together to clean up two vacant lots and install a basketball hoop at the corner of Cherokee Street and Nebraska Avenue. The intent was to provide a place for children to play and for the community to gather – to “bank on love.”
Since then, the small, 7,000-square-foot area, which came to be known as Love Bank Park, has hosted community events like arts camps, basketball tournaments, Juneteenth celebrations and more.
Last week, the Cherokee Street Community Improvement District announced a major redevelopment for Love Bank Park, with completion expected by summer 2023.
The $1.2 million project will improve the public space in several ways, including creating a community plaza with planting beds, seating and chess tables, a built-in performance venue, an expanded basketball court and more.
The basketball court – which started it all seven years ago – will be upgraded to become the ideal space for pick-up games and half-court tournaments. It will also be the first permeable basketball court in the St. Louis region.
A new shade structure will not only offer respite from the heat and other elements year-round but will also double as a performance area with a built-in stage for concerts, speakers and other small events.
In addition to planting more beds and small trees, the redeveloped park will also prioritize sustainability through permeable pavement and rainscaping, the practice of repurposing rainwater to use for plants, trees and other green space.
For more information, including ways to support the campaign to fund the project, visit the Cherokee Street Community Improvement website.
