Even if Earth Day has officially come and gone, there’s no expiration date on doing good for our planet—especially here in St. Louis, where our natural surroundings are a big part of what makes this city feel like home. Whether you’re walking along the Missouri or Mississippi River, biking the trails that crisscross our neighborhoods, or just enjoying a park with your family, you’re experiencing the beauty that Earth Day is all about.
The Heart of the City: Our Rivers
St. Louis is shaped—literally and culturally—by its rivers. The Mississippi, Missouri, and Meramec rivers aren’t just background scenery; they’re lifelines that connect our communities and our history. But they also need our help.
Litter, runoff, and pollution threaten these waterways, and keeping them clean is something we all have a stake in. Even small steps—like picking up trash during a family walk, switching to reusable water bottles, or participating in a local stream cleanup—can help protect the rivers that have shaped our region for centuries.
Organizations like the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, Missouri Stream Team, and Living Lands & Waters work year-round to preserve our rivers, and they always welcome volunteers and support.
Great Rivers Greenway: Our Path to a Greener Future
Another jewel in the city’s green crown is the Great Rivers Greenway. This network of trails and green spaces stretches across St. Louis City, County, and St. Charles County, giving people a chance to connect with nature without leaving their neighborhood.
Whether you’re riding your bike along the River des Peres Greenway or taking the kids for a stroll through Forest Park, you’re benefiting from the vision of making St. Louis a more connected, sustainable, and livable place. And as a parent, it’s a great feeling knowing that these spaces are here for our kids to grow up exploring—learning the value of nature firsthand.
The Greenway’s mission is simple: to bring people together in the outdoors while protecting our environment. That’s something worth getting behind all year round.
Easy Ways to Go Green in STL
If you’re feeling inspired but don’t know where to start, here are a few St. Louis-friendly ideas to live a little greener:
- Use the recycling bins properly—know what’s accepted in our local program.
- Support local farmers and markets like Tower Grove and Soulard.
- Join or donate to local eco-groups doing boots-on-the-ground work.
- Plant native species in your yard to support pollinators and reduce water usage.
- Bike or walk when you can—the greenways make it easy!
A Greener Legacy
As a dad, I think a lot about the world we’re leaving for our kids. Earth Day may only be once a year, but our actions every day shape the future they’ll inherit. And here in St. Louis, we have such a strong foundation to build on—from our rivers and trails to the passionate people working hard behind the scenes.
So even if you missed an official Earth Day celebration, it’s never too late to celebrate the Earth. Start today. Start small. Start local.
Because here in St. Louis, every day can be Earth Day.
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