By Tom Weber, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Four St. Louis aldermen are scheduled to meet today (Monday) to discuss the proposed lease of a patch of Forest Park.
The four are studying whether it's a good idea to let Barnes Jewish Hospital build on that land and whether the city would be getting a fair amount of money for it.
The land in question is separated from the rest of the park by Kingshighway. Barnes-Jewish says it would rebuild tennis courts and a playground currently located there.
Mayor Francis Slay was among the first public supporters of the lease, and says he still supports it. Aldermanic Board President Jim Shrewsbury says he still opposes the plan in its current form. His support is crucial because he sits on the three-member Board of Estimate and Apportionment, which must sign off on the lease.
The current plan would have Barnes-Jewish pay $1.8 million a year to the city, with that money going for park maintenance.