DeSales Community Development is a community-based non-profit organization that promotes revitalization, affordable housing and good property management in neighborhoods in and near the City of St. Louis.

SouthSide Rec (SSR) is a free to low-cost youth program that aims to promote physical activity and advance social equity at the neighborhood level. Our goal is to ensure that children in St. Louis have access to youth sports, recreation, and extra-curricular activities regardless of where they go to school or their ability to pay.

SouthSide Rec has provided youth activities in DeSales’ historic service area of Fox Park and Tower Grove East since the summer of 2016. Since 2018, DeSales has been working closely with Dutchtown South Community Corporation and other partners to expand the existing SouthSide Rec program to the nearby neighborhoods in the Gravois-Jefferson Historic Neighborhoods Plan (GJHNP) planning area of Dutchtown, Benton Park West, and Gravois Park. 

Check out the SouthSide Rec Impact Report for more info on our programs!

Show your support for SouthSide kids with a stylish, comfortable SouthSide Rec T-Shirt from STL Style! If you would like an adult-sized t-shirt for $15, contact Sarah at [email protected]!

SouthSide Rec began its programming in Fox Park, located at 2700 Shenandoah Avenue. In addition, DeSales has partnered with local schools and Messiah Community Center to offer various indoor programs. During our recent work with the GJHNP, we have also expanded some of our recreation programs to Marquette Park and McKinley High School Field. 

DeSales hopes that SouthSide Rec can help activate underutilized parks in St. Louis City neighborhoods. By leading programs in Fox Park for a number of years, DeSales has been able to help improve the infrastructure of the park as well. We are excited for our next big endeavor, renovating the Fox Park field house, which will start with a $100,000 Community Development Block Grant.