The Old North St. Louis neighborhood has a number of gardens that neighbors have planted and cared for across many years. These gardens are leased from LRA, which means they are at risk of being lost in the future. Gateway Greening has a new initiative to purchase and place gardens into a trust, ensuring that they remain green spaces as the neighborhoods around them continue to thrive.
 

Wingmann Park
1400-1406 Dodier Street

Wingmann Park is a tree-covered triangle just a block north of Crown Candy and is the first green space developed in Old North. It is named for Jeanne Wingmann who lived in the neighborhood and was a longtime teacher and volunteer after she retired at Ames School. She would have been pleased to see the little free library and reading circle now located in the space memorializing her. 

 

Ames Butterfly Garden
1100-1104 St. Louis Avenue

Various perennial plantings draw butterflies to this garden, which was begun in 1996 in cooperation with Ames elementary school across the street. The Monarch Sculpture showing the life stages of a butterfly was designed and installed in the garden by Uriel Starbuck, and is a landmark for everyone entering the neighborhood on St. Louis Ave from I-70. Each fall neighbors bring Monarch caterpillars to the school, so that students can see them change into butterflies, tag and release them. 

 

Hebert Garden
1501-1507 Hebert Street

Hebert Garden located at the corner of Blair Avenue and Hebert has various shrubs and flowering plants, an arbor, and a sign honoring Johnnie Owens. Johnnie lived across the street, loved the garden, and volunteered in Old North in many ways. A brick path installed by neighbors winds through the garden.