The Forest Park Conservancy is committed to creating a culture that is inclusive, safe and welcoming. We will continue to address barriers that many BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and low-income communities have to experiencing the mental, physical, spiritual and healing properties that nature and the outdoors provide. We openly acknowledge that many of these community members do not feel safe and welcome in Forest Park, and racism and discrimination does happen and will continue to happen, unless we raise our collective awareness around this harmful behavior. Together, we need to recognize it, interrupted it, and resolve conflicts through love, empathy, respect and a true sense of personal responsibility without discrimination.
To build awareness around this issue in Forest Park, we will be sharing stories about racism and discrimination that occur in Forest Park. We are so grateful for the individuals that have chosen to share their experiences.
You are being invited to hear from one of FPC’s volunteer leaders in the Forest Park Community.
One Rapid Response Team Member shared their experience which illustrates that unconscious bias does occur today in Forest Park. We encourage you to take this story with you when you spend time in Forest Park and the outdoors.
Thank you for all the work that the Forest Park Community does for Forest Park. I am a beneficiary of your great work. I am currently a Rapid Response Team Member for Route 8.
I am writing because today I had an encounter which was rather unpleasant. I am not sure to whom I should address my issue.
I understand the aim of the one-way loops to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As much as I abide by the one-way system as much as possible, sometimes I break them because of personal issues. Today, while turning around on Wild Cherry to go to the bathroom, I encountered a group of five to six hikers who proceeded to reprimand me.
One person yelled at me: “This is a one way!” I simply said “ok.”
We all had our masks on.
It was rather unpleasant and scary for me. I have been running in Forest Park for 10 years and have never been yelled at by a group of hikers. Then as I did my return up Wild Cherry, I came across a group of 5 people coming down toward me.
I asked if they also were reprimanded.
Nope, they did not.
Then I asked another set of 3 people coming toward me if they were yelled at?
Nope, they didn’t.
Both groups confirmed that they saw the same set of hikers climbing – the ones who yelled the rules at me. Then immediately I began thinking…was I singled out because I am Asian? All these people are Caucasians.
I began to wonder if this one loop system is giving people the right to yell at people as it has now become their “right” to? I want to share this story. Park rules, and regulations protect the park and keep it safe, but it can also cause friction and animosity between users.
As the Forest Park Conservancy and our partners work towards cultivating a culture in Forest Park and all public lands where everyone can have a safe, enriching, and welcome experience in nature, we hope that you will remember stories like these. We hope that these stories will inspire and empower you to stand in solidarity and join our journey for equality and equity for people of color and the belief that access to nature is a human right. That is why the Forest Park Conservancy has partnered with Love Is King, and joined the movement of zero tolerance of hate, bigotry, ignorance, and racism. Representation of people of color matters. These stories matter. We hope you will join us in the effort to achieve a Forest Park for all.