Urban Vitality and Ecology Initiative
The City of St. Louis Urban Vitality & Ecology (UVE) initiative was launched in partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri Botanical Garden in 2013 to advance objectives in the City of St. Louis Sustainability Plan, and the Mayor’s Sustainability Action Agenda of priority implementation items.
In attempting to achieve short and long term goals to connect people with urban natural resources, the UVE initiative will attempt to use a process that engages our diverse community, promotes equity and aligns with stakeholder priorities.
Immediate Goal: Collaboratively develop and implement a community-based pilot project to test process and techniques.
Near-Term Goal: Work with stakeholders to create and maintain an urban natural resources/biodiversity inventory and atlas that reflect current natural assets and future opportunities to enhance, expand and access them.
Long-Range Goal: Develop a citywide Urban Vitality & Ecology Strategic Action Plan that provides the basis for well-informed policy modifications and community-based decisions, strategically prioritizes both redevelopment and key natural resource opportunities, and identifies actionable items for implementation.
Washington University’s engagement with the UVE Initiative was largely concluded with the completion of the Baden Open Space Plan.