KINLOCH, Mo. — A large-scale property cleanup initiative is taking place this week to remove brush and illegal dumping in Kinloch where St. Louis County, City and organizer officials made the announcement Wednesday.

Illegal dumping has been occurring for decades in Kinloch, according to officials. The city was once a flourishing cultural and economic hub. The city is the oldest incorporated African American community in Missouri.

“No longer will you be able to come from west county and dump your mattresses here. No longer will you be able to come and dump your stolen cars here. That is totally unacceptable,” said Rita Heard Days, St. Louis County councilwoman chair. 

The cleanup is in partnership with the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, the Regional Business Council and community partners. This is part of a larger effort by the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership.

Construction and utility companies, and municipal operating departments also are helping with cleanup efforts.

Rodney Crim, president and CEO of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, said the cleanup initiative will take place in phases with a mapped out plan.

“We depend on a lot of people to help us,” Crim said, noting that lawmakers at the state level are involved. “Working together, we can accomplish great things.”

Kinloch Mayor Evelyn Carter thanked the volunteers, companies and partnerships that are a part of the initiative.  

St. Louis Lambert International Airport and Boeing are undergoing enhancement projects that will help beautify the area near Kinloch, according to Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, airport director and CEO.

“We need to make sure Kinloch is a part of that,” she said. “This is not a one-person job.”

To help keep debris and trash from piling up again, the St. Louis County Police Department has access to surveillance cameras that are established in the area to catch perpetrators.

St. Louis City Mayor Tishaura Jones announced other cleanup initiatives to take place over the next two weekends in north St. Louis. She mentioned the city has 270 surveillance cameras that police have used to catch illegal dumpers.

Within the first months of 2025, Jones said the city has issued 85 summonses, filed 106 charges and assessed nearly 40,000 fines related to illegal dumping.

“It takes all of us to make positive change,” Jones said.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page and president and CEO of the St. Louis Regional Business Council Karen Branding also spoke during the announcement.