Brightside St. Louis: Leading the Charge for a Cleaner and Greener City
By Sophia Black, Washington University Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement 2025 St. Louis Fellow
In the bustling city of St. Louis, there is one organization that stands out for its dedication to improving the community. Brightside St. Louis, originally named Operation Brightside, has been a leading force in neighborhood cleanup and creating more environmentally stable areas throughout the city. With over 40 years of operation, Brightside has made a huge difference in the appearance and morale of the city, thanks to the collective efforts of its volunteers.
In 1982, Mayor Vince Schoemehl and St. Louis-Globe Democrat chairman, G. Bauman, recognized the city’s number one problem: it was dirty. This not only affected the physical appearance of the city, but also the morale of its residents. In response, they organized a major undertaking to clean the entire city. The operation started by encouraging volunteers to sign up 10 of their neighbors, who would then sign up 10 more, creating a domino effect for volunteer outreach. In the end, over 80,000 volunteers came together to clean and green the city, making a significant impact.
The initial beginnings of Brightside demonstrate the dedication and collective commitment that a city needs to take care of itself and its residents. And since its inception, Brightside has continued to lead the charge for greener and cleaner neighborhoods.
The Power of Community: Brightside’s Programs
“We all have a shared goal of living in a clean and safe environment,” says Mary Lou Green, Executive Director at Brightside. “We all have a shared neighborhood, we all live here, so we should all take care of our community.”
Brightside offers a variety of programs to engage and educate the community, including their Demonstration Garden, where residents can learn about native plants, Neighbors Neighborscaping, a resident-led sustainable landscaping program, and their Graffiti Eradication program, which relies on community members to report graffiti.
While each program serves a unique purpose, the Graffiti Eradication program is a standout for its impact on the community. As both a not-for-profit organization and a branch of the City of St. Louis Parks, Recreation, and Forestry department, Brightside is in a unique position to address the issue of graffiti in the city.
Removing Graffiti, One Day at a Time
One of Brightside’s main missions is to eradicate graffiti across the city. This eyesore not only affects the appearance of the community, but also has a negative impact on residents who see it every day. Five days a week, weather-permitting, the Brightside graffiti eradication team goes out to tackle different sites that have been reported by community members. Through this process, they are able to make a significant difference in the appearance of the city and improve the overall quality of life for its residents.
At Brightside’s main office, there is a Demonstration Garden, showcasing the beauty and potential of a clean and green city. This serves as a reminder of the power of community and the impact that Brightside continues to make in the city of St. Louis.
