Race for the Rivers

Greg Poleski - a mentor, a friend, the advocate.

Greg Poleski was born along the Mississippi River and became a friend and mentor to many. He was the person Missouri’s rivers and the Midwest needed when challenges arose, such as those on Bangert Island and Cora Island, and he helped uncover harmful development plans.

Whenever Greg saw a need—a floodplain to protect, public lands needing a voice, a developer or politician acting in their own interest, a letter to the editor to write, volunteers needing a leader, or river experts needing to share their knowledge—he jumped in and did everything he could. His dedication was recognized in 2016 with the “Missouri River Hero” award from Missouri River Relief, and in 2019, he received the Stream Team Ambassador Award for Advocacy, among many other honors.

In addition to being a leading advocate for nature, Greg was a river guide for Big Muddy Adventures and served on the board of the Mississippi River Water Trail Association. He created the Missouri River River Trail Association, contributed to an online resource published by MoDNR, was a member of the St. Louis Water Trails, and was a lifelong paddler.

Locally, Greg co-founded Greenway Network and proudly shared that it is Stream Team 463. To promote the importance of rivers and the Missouri Stream Team Program, he organized the Big Muddy Speaker Series in St. Charles, the annual River Soundings Symposium, the Pedal Paddle Series, and the Confluence Conservation Crew.

Often, the people who make the biggest difference are the most humble. They laugh about their failures, which are usually great successes, and they work well with others, always giving credit to those around them.

Please join us on Monday, January 19, at the Greg Poleski Memorial and MLK Day of Service Clean-up to help continue Greg’s mission to conserve natural resources and protect watersheds.

Please register today: https://greenwaynetwork.org/event/gregpoleski-mlk-cleanup-2025/

Pic by Laura M.

Registration closes at 5pm.

Be sure to follow the link on the registration page and fill out the electronic waiver.... ain't we gettin' fancy!

Send a message to learn more

We have streamlined our waiver process. You can fill it out on-line and don't need to send us an image of the printed paper copy. You can access the form at the link below. Please fill it out by Monday evening 5pm along with your minimum pledge.

Release Of Liability Waiver Please click the link to complete this form.

It's Give STL Day! Race for the Rivers benefits Greenway Network and we'd appreciate your support today, especially during Power Hours when $20,000 prize pools will be applied equally to every donation made within the hour: 9-10AM, noon-1PM, 3-4PM, 6-7PM, and 9-10PM. Thank you for helping to conserve natural resources and encourage sound management of our watersheds!