NEWS
Meet the Board: Liz Gerard, Treasurer
Meet Liz Gerard, treasure of the Benton Park Neighborhood Association.
This month, we’re introducing members of the BPNA board and committees. Meet Liz Gerard, treasurer of the Benton Park Neighborhood Association.
Name: Liz Gerard
BPNA Role: Treasurer. I help out with social media as well
What I hope to accomplish with BPNA: Connect with neighbors who aren’t involved with BPNA and increase attendance at our fabulous event series
I work in: Financial research
Favorite neighborhood spot: Mud House
Benton Park resident since: 2017
Bio: Originally from Chicago, Liz moved to St. Louis in 2010 for college. She fell in love with the city’s architecture and rich history, and lived in several south city neighborhoods before buying a condo in Benton Park. Liz works in syndication for U.S. Bank Community Development Corporation, where she helps manage funds of tax credit investments. She is passionate about affordable housing and historic preservation. For fun, she enjoys traveling, biking, photography and exploring new hiking spots in the Midwest.
For more information or to get involved, you can email Liz at treasurer@bentonpark.org.
Meet the Board: Nicole Poston, Benton Park Dog Park President
Meet Nicole Poston, president of the Benton Park Dog Park Committee.
This month, we’re introducing members of the BPNA board and committees. Meet Nicole Poston, president of the Benton Park Dog Park Committee.
Name: Nicole Poston
BPNA Role: Benton Park Dog Park Committee President
What I hope to accomplish with BPNA: Reach our fundraising goal and begin construction on the Benton Park Dog Park in Fremont Park
I work in: Elementary Education
Favorite neighborhood spot: Flowers & Weeds
Benton Park resident since: 2016
Bio: I live just a block north of Benton Park Park and work in North Country teaching in the Riverview Gardens district for Special School District. Autism is my passion! I am often involved in some sort of fundraising effort for the world of special education.
I have two dogs in our semi-family with my boyfriend, both pitbulls and a mix. Their names are Samantha Jones and Avery. I have been working diligently for the last two years to fundraise for the dog park and make the lives of all pups better!! The dog park started as a passion project for my pup Ted who has since crossed the rainbow bridge, but I'm tirelessly working to keep my promise to him, #Teddytwopaws I am an obsessive dog mom and I genuinely enjoy making Benton Park the best neighborhood in south city.
When I'm not dog park promoting or hanging out with my dogs I'm enjoying a delicious craft beer or cocktail, (whoop! whoop! for Harrison @ Small Change) or crafting something, or looking for a new dinner recipe. Sometimes I'm simultaneously doing all three all three!
For more information on the Benton Park Dog Park or to get involved, email bentonparkdogpark@gmail.com.
Meet the Board: Bill Kranz, English Cave Community Garden Chair
Meet Bill Kranz, chair of the English Cave Community Garden Committee.
This month, we’re introducing members of the BPNA board and committees. Meet Bill Kranz, chair of the English Cave Community Garden Committee.
Name: Bill Kranz
BPNA Role: Leader of the English Cave Community Garden
What I hope to accomplish with BPNA: To secure "Goal 3": Bring back English Cave for mushroom farming, historical research and guided tours.
I work in: The Domain of Arts and Neighborhood Enhancements
Favorite neighborhood spot: English Cave Community Garden
Benton Park resident since: 2001
Bio: As a just retired community elder, I bring great experience in the blacklight theatre arts, a fascination with our underground history, and patronizing the closest bar that has Guinness on tap.
For more information on the English Cave Community Garden, email Bill at celestialtheatre@gmail.com.
Meet the Board: Don Morgan, President
Meet Don Morgan, president of the Benton Park Neighborhood Association.
This month, we’re introducing members of the BPNA board and committees. Meet Don Morgan, president of the Benton Park Neighborhood Association.
Name: Don Morgan
BPNA Role: President
What I Hope to Accomplish: With the help of the BPNA Board and all the neighbors working together, I would like us to be guided by these principles in running BPNA, sponsoring fun events, and creating helpful policies, programs and services for our neighborhood:
To know our neighbors and create community
To enjoy, preserve and develop our neighborhood in ways that benefit all
To help and protect each other
Benton Park Resident Since: I moved to Saint Louis almost 5 years ago and lived in DeMun neighborhood while we built our house here. We will be living in the house for 4 years this May.
Favorite Benton Park Spot: Blues City Deli – I spent my whole life till 5 years ago living in the New York/New Jersey metro area that just happens to have the best sub shops in the world. Finding Vinnie and the crew RIGHT ON MY BLOCK was heaven!
Bio: After a long career as a clinical psychologist in private practice, and Clinic Director and professor at Rutgers University’s Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, I’ve changed everything since moving to Saint Louis! I’m not working in psychology now, but have been fixing up our house, renovating some rental properties, running an Airbnb, doing my photography and art, playing music and serving on the BPNA board and also on the board of the Conflict Resolution Center that is working to resolve conflicts between neighbors, within the city administration, and between the police and citizens of the city. I have a daughter living in Brooklyn and my wife, Phyllis, has two kids living in Boston and Austin. We travel to these spots as well as Guatemala and California quite a bit, but we always get very happy when we return to our Benton Park neighborhood and friends!
For more information or to get involved, you can email Don at president@bentonpark.org.