👋 Good Morning, West County!

In today’s ⚡️ West County Pulse newsletter:

• 🎉 $26M Tax Refunds

• 🏗️ WildCare Park Progress

• 🤡 Six Flags Joker Ride Halfway Done

Let’s jump into today’s newsletter!

— Jared Michel

THE DIGEST

🎉 St. Louis City to Refund $26M in Remote Work Taxes

The City of St. Louis has agreed to refund $26 million in earnings taxes to remote workers who lived outside the city during the pandemic years of 2020-2022. The settlement comes after a lawsuit challenged the city's collection of the 1% earnings tax from non-residents working remotely. Starting July 1, 2024, eligible taxpayers can apply for refunds through September 20, 2024, with payments expected to be completed by the end of the year.

🏗️ WildCare Park Construction in Full Swing

The St. Louis Zoo's new safari-style park, WildCare, is making progress in Spanish Lake. A baby zebra named Roxie was recently born, and addax calves are expected soon. Construction crews are busy preparing the 425-acre former golf course for more animals, with plans to house around 250 adults from 30 species by the park's opening in 2027. The zoo projects WildCare will generate over $660 million for the region in the next decade. Click the embed below to see a full video rendering of the new park.

🌿 Discover Tyson Center's Secret WWII Past

Fox 2 posted a story about the fascinating WWII-linked history of Washington University Tyson Research Center. The property is home to around 65 bunkers that once stored ammunition and military supplies. Today, some of these bunkers have been repurposed for the Endangered Wolf Center to store food and hay. Tours inside the park actually start from inside one of the bunkers.

BUSINESS

🤡 New Joker Ride Halfway Complete at Six Flags

Six Flags has made significant progress on their new Joker: Carnival of Chaos ride. The park reports that construction crews started early Monday morning and managed to install half of the ride structure by the afternoon. Visitors to the park can catch a glimpse of the new attraction taking shape.

🛍️ Sassafras Clothing Co. Opens in Wildwood

Sassafras Clothing Company, a new women's and children's clothing boutique, has opened its doors in Wildwood. The store celebrated its grand opening event over the weekend and is now open for business Wednesday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm and Sunday from 11am to 4pm. Sassafras aims to bring comfortable, stylish clothing to the area, perfect for the modern "sassy babe."

CITY HIGHLIGHTS

Ballwin

🌊 North Pointe Leisure Pool Reopens After Repairs

The leisure pool at North Pointe has reopened after being closed for emergency repairs since June 9th. The pool had to be drained and repaired, which took about a week to complete.

Chesterfield

🚴‍♂️ Kids Triathlon: Bike, Run, Swim to Victory!

The Chesterfield Family Aquatic Center is hosting a series of exciting races for kids aged 3-15 this coming Saturday. The Youth Triathlon challenges kids 6-15 to bike, run, and swim, while the Splash N Dash offers a run and swim option. For younger athletes aged 3-6, the Kids Try-Athlon provides a fun introduction to racing. Learn more / register here.

Creve Coeur

🎊 Creve Coeur Celebrates Millennium Park Upgrade

Creve Coeur's Millennium Park celebrated its grand reopening on Thursday evening after undergoing a $2.5 million renovation funded by the city's parks and stormwater sales tax. Mayor Robert Hoffman led the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion. The event featured live music performed by the RetroNerds, entertaining the crowd that gathered to celebrate the park's new look.

🚨 Cops on the Coop: Over $700 Raised! 🥇

The Creve Coeur Police Department's recent Cops on the Coop fundraiser, in partnership with Chick-fil-A, raised over $700 for Special Olympics Missouri. The event saw 15% of mobile order sales donated by Chick-fil-A, with the other half of the total amount generously contributed by patrons at the restaurant. The successful collaboration between law enforcement and the popular fast-food chain showcased the community's support for this worthy cause.

Des Peres

🎣 Reel Fun at Des Peres Youth Fishing Derby!

Des Peres Park is hosting a Youth Fishing Derby this Saturday for children ages 3-12. Participants should bring their own fishing pole and bait, and can compete in the Longest Fish Contest and most fish caught in each age division. The event promises a morning of fishing fun for all young anglers! Register online here.

🤸‍♀️ Inclusive Play Coming Soon to Des Peres Park

Des Peres Park is set to open a new inclusive playground this summer. The state-of-the-art facility will feature two separate play structures catering to children of all ages, along with various climbing elements, a two-bay swing, and a we-go-round. Construction on the playground has been underway for several months, and the grand opening is expected to take place soon.

Eureka

🎉 Eureka Rocks Central Ave with Trixie Delight!

Last Friday, Eureka Parks and Recreation hosted a spectacular Concert on Central featuring the band Trixie Delight. The event was a resounding success, with the community coming together to enjoy a night of music and fun. Eureka Parks and Recreation expressed gratitude to the attendees, local businesses, and various city departments for their support in making the event possible. Checkout a neat video summary of the event here.

Manchester

🏊‍♂️ Stingrays Swim Meets: Pool Closes Early

This summer, the Manchester competition pool will close early at 3pm on select days to host swim meets featuring the local Manchester Stingrays team. Residents are encouraged to plan their lap swimming accordingly on June 26, July 10, July 18, and possibly July 19.

🎺 Pops & Patriotic Concert at Schroeder Park

Manchester Parks and Recreation is inviting the community to a free Pops & Patriotic Concert on June 23 at the Schroeder Park Amphitheater. The Saint Louis Wind Symphony, an all-volunteer concert band, will perform a variety of wind band music. The group is dedicated to preserving and promoting wind band music, supporting music education, and encouraging new compositions.

Town & Country

🏘️ 21-Home Subdivision Proposed Near CBC High

Town & Country's Board of Aldermen introduced legislation on June 10 regarding the development of a 21-home subdivision near CBC High School. The request, made by Grand Communities, LLC/Fisher Homes, includes rezoning, site plan approval, and a boundary adjustment with Creve Coeur. While the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval, residents expressed concerns about the project's impact on privacy, aesthetics, and stormwater management during the public hearing.

Wildwood

🎖️ Civil War Generals Presentation at Historical Society

The Wildwood Historical Society is hosting a presentation by Dan Fuller on tomorrow at 7:00pm about Civil War Generals buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery. The event will be held at the Society's headquarters at 18750 Highway 100.

Valley Park

🎓 VPSD Shares Summer Updates

The Valley Park School District has released its Summer 2024 newsletter, showcasing the inspiring and excellent initiatives within their Limitless Learning Community.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Click the 🔍 next to an event to visit its details page. * indicates an event requiring registration or tickets.

Next Week

Tomorrow
Chesterfield Chamber Summer Concert @ Faust Park @ 7pm 🔍

Wednesday
Ballwin Summer Concert: Saint Chuck @ New Ballwin Park from 7pm to 9pm 🔍

Thursday
Ellisville Concert: Trilogy Band @ Bluebird Park from 7pm to 9pm 🔍

Friday
Town & Country Concert: Zero to 90 @ Town & Country Town Center from 7pm to 9pm 🔍
Wildwood Music on Main: Fat Pocket from 6:45pm to 9:15pm 🔍

Saturday
Chesterfield’s Concert: Pyromaniacs @ Chesterfield Amphitheater beginning at 6pm 🔍

THANKS!

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