Examining growth opportunities for Spanish Lake

STL Partnership and St. Louis REALTORS hosts CRE consulting team, area leaders as part of Transforming Neighborhoods program

 As part of the Transforming Neighborhoods program, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (STL Partnership) and St. Louis REALTORS® recently hosted members of The Counselors of Real Estate (CRE) Consulting Corps, who came from all over the U.S. With the anticipated public opening of Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park in 2027, the team from CRE examined potential economic development opportunities in Spanish Lake, Mo., in unincorporated St. Louis County and the surrounding area. WildCare Park, is a world-class safari park and conservation center that is being built on 425 acres near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Economists estimate that over 10 years (2024-2034), WildCare Park will generate more than $660 million in regional economic impact.

Transforming Neighborhoods is technical assistance from the National Association of REALTORS in collaboration with the CRE that was granted to St. Louis REALTORS in coordination with STL Partnership. This program focused on identifying key economic development opportunities in Spanish Lake and surrounding areas due to the impact of WildCare Park.

From Oct. 13-15, the CRE team interviewed elected officials, regional planners, economic development leaders, university leadership, community stakeholders and representatives from the WildCare Park and other sectors to examine opportunities to build up the Spanish Lake areas.

Charlie Hinderliter, senior vice president of government affairs for St. Louis REALTORS and secretary of the STL Partnership board of directors, explained, “Bringing the Transforming Neighborhoods program to St. Louis has been a goal for years, and it’s rewarding to see our collaboration with STL Partnership make it a reality for Spanish Lake.”

“This kind of cross-sector collaboration is exactly how we move the region forward,” said Kellie Shelton, senior project manager at STL Partnership. “It’s exciting to see local leaders, residents and national experts focused on shaping Spanish Lake’s future together.”

After the meetings, among the CRE team’s initial recommendations presented to STL Partnership, St. Louis REALTORS and other stakeholders were:

• While crime is down in the area, work harder to make the area safer;
• Adopt streetscape and infrastructure improvements for the area;
• Promote the community’s natural beauty;
• Increase code enforcement;
• Increase homeowner resources and education;
• Encourage and facilitate Neighborhood Associations;
• Create incubator facilities promoting entrepreneurship in the area;
• Develop a marketing program that promotes the connections between WildCare Park and Spanish Lake;
• Support AgTech job growth and activities;
• Capitalize on and promote eco-tourism efforts in the region.

The final report, recommendations and action items will be shared with stakeholders in early 2026.

“One of the many great things we learned about the St. Louis region is the number of dedicated, passionate and hard-working people that work to make the Spanish Lake community a viable and interesting place to live,” said Eric Swanson, CRE, who led the CRE team. “WildCare Park is a unique destination that can help catalyze the efforts of these energetic people to foster improvements and enhance this part of the St. Louis region.”

These recommendations are building on other efforts focused on Spanish Lake and the region:

• Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park Economic Impact Report was shared in June 2024. This report totals WildCare Park’s estimated operational expenditures, visitor spending (both on and off site) and the project’s larger impact on regional employment and wages, business sales and tax revenue through 2034.
• Spanish Lake Small Area Study, which is part of St. Louis County’s recently implemented 2050 Plan, is a spatial analysis of the economic, social and environmental conditions, trends and possible outcomes for land use and infrastructure opportunities in the area.
• Additionally, in 2022, St. Louis County was also selected as one of 15 communities nationwide to participate in the S. Department of Transportation’s Thriving Communities Program (TCP), a highly competitive initiative designed to help under-resourced communities access federal infrastructure funding and implement community-led transportation and revitalization plans. Through this program, STL Partnership has led inclusive public engagement efforts across agencies to ensure local voices help shape transportation investments in the Spanish Lake community.
• Work through the TCP also led to the St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works receiving a Great Street Initiatives grant for Spanish Lake from the East-West Gateway Council of Governments.