St. Louis volunteers lend a hand to improve Riverfront Trail

A team of Boeing employees in St. Louis spent a day last month volunteering their efforts to open a "bio-window," or a clear view of the Mississippi River, along the Riverfront Trail bike and hiking course in that city.

The Boeing team of more than 70 volunteers collaborated with members of Trailnet, which manages the trail, and Grace Hill Trail Rangers, a group of young adults dedicated to improving St. Louis neighborhoods and managing the trail. The volunteers spent the day cutting, weeding, raking and picking up trash in the area, which is roughly the size of a football field.

The effort was initiated by the F/A-18 team, in coordination with The Morse Group, a St. Louis firm specializing in driving community growth. 

"It's great to be able to do something with the team, and make a real, immediate difference," said John Scheibel, an engineer with Boeing. "I took my daughter and son on the trail last Sunday, and it was great to be able to not only see the river, but to be able to tell them that Boeing made the view possible."

The effort is the beginning of a two-part improvement plan for the trail. The second step, scheduled for next spring, involves installing benches, planting native bushes and flowers, and painting the adjacent flood wall with a mural specially designed by Boeing employees and community members.