About the Study
What Makes Spanish Lake Unique?
Spanish Lake stands out because of its natural setting and community assets. In fact, more than half of the land in Spanish Lake is open space, agriculture, or open land. This creates both challenges and opportunities for the future.
Some of its most unique features include:
Major parks and conservation areas
Farmland and open space
Neighborhoods with a mix of housing types
How Did We Get Here?
On September 3, 2025, after a year of study and community engagement, St. Louis County formally adopted the St. Louis County 2050 Comprehensive Plan, St. Louis County's long-range vision for the future. This Plan establishes priorities for how communities across the County can grow and thrive over the next 25 years.
The Plan provides a countywide roadmap for areas like land use, housing, transportation, economic development, parks and open space, sustainability, and community services. It serves as a guide for future public investment, partnerships, and decision-making while creating a shared vision for a more equitable, connected, and resilient County.
Each community within St. Louis County has its own history, opportunities, and challenges. The 2050 Plan emphasizes the importance of developing detailed plans for these communities to respond to local needs and priorities.
The Spanish Lake: Confluence of Opportunity Study is one of these community-focused planning efforts. It takes the goals of STLCO 2050 and applies them to Spanish Lake, creating a roadmap that reflects the community's unique character, building on its strengths and identifying feasible actions to guide future investment and revitalization.
The St. Louis County 2050 Plan Desired Outcomes are:
Safe and Thriving Communities
Fiscally Responsible Infrastructure
Equitable Growth and Opportunity
Housing Options for All
Strong and Healthy Residents
Purpose of the Study
The Spanish Lake: Confluence of Opportunity Study will combine data and community input to create a “small area plan.”
A small area plan is a guide for improving a specific neighborhood or part of a community. It focuses on one area instead of a whole city or county (unlike to the St. Louis County 2050 plan, which focused on the entire St. Louis County).
A small area plan looks at what a community needs, what is working well, and what could be better. It includes ideas for things like housing, parks, roads, businesses, and community services.
Most importantly, a small area plan includes steps for how to make these ideas happen. It helps local leaders and community members come together to identify real improvements and opportunities that can be made now and into the future.
To create this plan, St. Louis County is studying the history, current conditions, and potential future of Spanish Lake.
This Study will:
Set a clear vision for Spanish Lake’s future
Identify priorities to implement the vision
Recommend actions that can be carried out over time
Why Does this Study Matter?
Spanish Lake has seen many plans over the years. But there has not been one clear strategy to guide change. This study will bring everything together into one shared plan.
New opportunities are emerging. The opening of WildCare Park is expected to bring new visitors, jobs, and investment to the area.
This is the right time to plan for what comes next.
This Study will focus on opportunities to:
Strengthen neighborhoods
Improve safety and mobility
Support local businesses
Protect natural areas
Expand access to day-to-day services
Your ideas are essential to this Study! To participate in public engagement or tell us your thoughts, click the button below.
Project Team
This study is led by St. Louis County with support from a team of planning, design, and community engagement partners.
