History

The Recreation Council of Greater St. Louis (formerly The Special Recreation Council of Greater St. Louis) was organized in June of 1982 and was formally incorporated in January of 1983. The Council was initially funded, and continues to be funded, by the Productive Living Board for St. Louis County Citizens with Developmental Disabilities based upon the recommendation of a needs analysis study that was conducted in 1982.

In April of 1983, an Executive Director was hired to assist with the Council’s operation. Through a grant from the St. Louis Office for Mental Retardation and Developmental Disability Resources, a recreation coordinator for the City of St. Louis was hired in August of 1989. The coordinator position expanded to full-time in July of 1990.

In 1997, the Recreation Council further expanded its service area to include St. Charles County. This office, and its programs and services, are funded by the Developmental Disabilities Resource Board of St. Charles County. Through our funding partners, fundraising events, private donations and grant writing, the Recreation Council has been successful in addressing our mission of providing quality programming and services to our constituents.

Currently, the Recreation Council has four full-time and one part-time staff. In addition to our information and referral services, the Recreation Council has expanded its services to include voucher programs to assist individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in accessing funding for leisure and recreation programs. The staff also provide presentations to consumer, family and school groups and other organizations about the many opportunities our St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County communities have to offer.