St. Louis installing free WiFi across nine city parks
The St. Louis Development Corporation is partnering with the city of St. Louis to provide free WiFi at nine parks in the city, funded by $5 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds, in an effort to bridge the digital divide and provide access to high-speed internet.
ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones' administration is partnering with the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) to bring free WiFi across nine parks in St. Louis City.
The initiative aims to advance digital equity across St. Louis City by creating digital literacy programs and providing access to high-speed internet. The project will be paid for with $5 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds coming from SLDC.
According to a study by Ernst & Young, along with the St. Louis Community Foundation, tens of thousands of families in St. Louis cannot access high-speed broadband or devices due to costs.
"Internet access is a vital public utility," Mayor Jones said. "As we continue to focus on bridging the digital divide, easily accessible WiFi in our parks will help St. Louis residents to stay connected.”
Phase 1 of the initiative began Monday with the following nine parks:
- Gregory J. Carter Park
- Loretta Hall Park
- Gravois Park
- Murphy Park
- Tilles Park
- Ivory Perry Park
- O'Fallon Park
- Fox Park
- Amberg Park
According to St. Louis City, additional free WiFi will be available on the corridor of Martin Luther King Boulevard between Kienlen and Grand, with work expected to begin in January.
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