New Urbanism Arrives In The Prairie

"Dardenne Prairie is on the verge of reaching a pivotal juncture in its relatively brief history, a crossroads where growth and civic pride may intersect to create a new identity for St. Charles County's sixth largest municipality."

"For cities that have them, downtowns are important for the simple reason that they serve as a focal point for the community, help to shape its image and play a crucial role in its economic vitality. A thriving downtown can be a source of pride and a beacon for growth. A failed downtown can make a community less appealing and discourage economic development."

"Dardenne Prairie, of course, is operating under a different set of circumstances. It has no identifiable downtown, and in some places it is difficult to tell where bigger neighbor O'Fallon ends and Dardenne Prairie begins."

"But it is a city with ambition. Last year marked the 25th anniversary for this still-growing community of about 7,000 residents. It also brought Dardenne Prairie's greatest economic successes to date, including the opening of two retail centers, stores such as JCPenney, Shop 'n Save and Target and the town's first movie theater."