Welcome to Emerson Park!

The mission of the Emerson Park Development Corporation is to assist the residents of the Emerson Park neighborhood and

its surrounding communities in achieving their full human potential by offering high quality programs in three areas:

Housing and Economic Development 

Education and Job Training,

and Community Building

The Emerson Park Development Corporation (EPDC) is a 501(c)(3) not for profit community development corporation that strives to enhance the quality of life for the residents of the Emerson Park Neighborhood, and the communities of Alorton, Brooklyn, Cahokia, Centreville, East St. Louis and Washington Park, Illinois.

EPDC was established by a group of area men, women and youth, led by Ms. Ceola Davis of the Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House in 1985, was formerly organized in 1989 and recognized as a not for profit in 1995. The organization is governed by a thirteen member Board of Directors, all of whom are residents of the Emerson Park Neighborhood of East St. Louis, Illinois. The Board and Staff operate a number of programs under the six different divisions of the organization. Three of the six Divisions are staffed by paid employees, where the remaining three are still operated by volunteers.

In 1989, EPDC partnered with the University of Illinois and the Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House to improve East St. Louis’ degrading conditions brought on by middle-class flight and loss of industry. University students in architecture, urban planning and landscape architecture created a service learning and technical assistance program around community development to empower residents. For 20 years, EPDC has been assisting residents. Parsons Place and the River City Place housing development, Tomorrows Builders YouthBuild Charter School and the Emerson Park MetroLink park-and-ride station are just a few of the projects we have made possible. Thanks to financial support from a wide variety of grants, partnerships, corporate donors, and government funding, EPDC continues to empower Emerson Park residents in building a stronger, safer, healthier East St. Louis community.