A sign of progress for the Forest Park Southeast neighborhood is embodied in the restored Adams School and Adams Park Community Center. Vacant since 1993, the original Adams School was made up of three buildings, all built in the late 1800's. Two of the buildings were renovated (dating back to 1894 and 1878) and a modern addition was added to connect them. The old buildings were restored to their original beauty, without major changes.
The addition is a modern, gray brick building that contains the cafeteria and gymnasium for the school. It is also shared by the community center and holds the community center's teen center, locker room, classrooms for adult education and a short-time day care facility.
Cardinals Care, the philanthropic arm of the St. Louis Cardinals, paid for the Jim Edmonds Field built behind the school and community center.
Partners in the project included Forest Park Southeast Community Council, St. Louis Public School District, McCormack Baron and Associates, Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation, BJC Healthcare and Washington University Medical Center.
