What Kind Of Tradition Would You Like To See In Creve Coeur?

When you think of an event that screams to the world, "We're Creve Coeur!", what comes to mind, besides say, the Creve Coeur Days community festival?

Peter Kageyama, author of the book, For The Love of Cities, invited community members to think about that question during a recent weekend seminar. Kageyama preaches community engagement in presentations around the country, and shared some examples from cities where residents and city leaders came together to make things happen in a way that makes a unique statement to both outsiders and residents about that city.

Some of the events from around the country included a dinner on a bridge in Shelburne Falls, MA and Bubble Gum Alley in San Luis Obispo, CA.  Kageyama noted that the ideas don't come in any handbook available to city administrators and may require some serious thinking outside the box in some cases. One of the ideas that came out of Creve Coeur's exercise borrowed from the Shelburne Falls example to have a community meal at the Olive Blvd./Interstate 270 bridge.

Among some of the others:

• "Eat Your Heart Out", a twist on the "Taste of" theme.
  
• "Bikes And Brunch" On Ballas
  
• "Burning of The Honeysuckle" with a big bonfire
• "Scrubs Walk" from Mercy Hospital to Barnes Jewish West in hospital scrubs.
• "Park To Park" Bike Ride
• "Dog Days of Summer" at Conway Park with a pet parade, kiddie fishing, food trucks and an ice cream social.
• Hanging heart-shaped ballons on Valentine's Day around the city
• A Thanksgiving Tree, where residents could hang notes about what makes them thankful
• A Christmas light parade