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Proposition 1, a city charter amendment to require voter approval for any sale or use of parkland for non-park purposes, received 85% of votes, in final but unofficial election results.

The tally puts Florissant on a growing list of local governments requiring voters’ approval to transfer public parkland for private use, each spurred by residents seeking to conserve parks from commercial interests. They include ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´, ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ County and Olivette. In St. Charles, residents have submitted a petition to adopt a similar ballot measure. 

Supporters say they give taxpayers power to check local officials turning to parks to spur commercial redevelopment. In Florissant, the measure came at the urging of dozens of residents upset with a city decision in 2023 to give part of Koch Park to McBride Homes to build a new subdivision. In return, McBride gave the city land on a bluff next to Sunset Park.

At the time, officials said the deal secured new housing in the city and that a public vote was not required.

Residents then gathered more than 1,500 signatures on a petition to require one, prompting the city to respond by putting the question before the council. The council passed it, sidestepping the petition and moving the issue onto Tuesday night's ballot.

The measure, a charter change, will conserve the city’s 19 public parks totaling about 565 acres unless voters approve of any transfer of parkland. Residents worked with Open Space STL and the Great Rivers Environmental Law Center to draft the petition.

The change means the city cannot sell, lease, give away, trade or otherwise dispose of parkland — or build any structure meant for activities that aren't for park use or outdoor recreation — without approval from voters.

The law excludes existing structures in parks like the Bockrath-Wiese House in St. Ferdinand Park and cellular and water towers.