For full press release, maps and renderings in one PDF, click here.
Final Competition Report:
- Full report, print-ready
- Full report, web version (smaller file size)
- Executive Summary, print-ready
- Executive Summary, web version (smaller file size)
CHOUTEAU GREENWAY DESIGN COMPETITION COMPLETE; PROJECT PLANNING BEGINS WITH COMMUNITY INPUT
St. Louis, MO – Nov. 19, 2018 – Great Rivers Greenway and partners have completed the final phase of the International Design Competition for Chouteau Greenway, a 1-year public-private partnership to imagine a greenway focused on connectivity, economic opportunity, equity and sustainability in the City of St. Louis. A report published today details additions and refinements to the original conceptual plan submitted by the Stoss Landscape Urbanism team in April. The next phase of planning includes multiple engagement opportunities including recruiting additional neighborhood representation, input on the engagement plan itself and a community event in February.
The report shares a new mission/vision statement, “Chouteau Greenway will transform St. Louis by connecting people and our City’s most treasured places, creating inspiring experiences and equitable opportunities for growth”. More than just a free, accessible trail where people can exercise, commute or explore, the project’s goals include offering an exceptional experience to residents and tourists alike. The greenway aims to create dynamic, active spaces and serve as a regional gathering place that encourages collaboration and boosts civic pride.
Since being selected by the competition jury in May, the Stoss team, comprised of 13 firms or individuals from St. Louis as well as other cities, has been working with Great Rivers Greenway, partners and stakeholders to incorporate the feedback gathered during the competition into their concept. The next step is to create an overall framework plan, before beginning design and engineering on specific segments.
“This project is full of exciting opportunities and interesting challenges that will be a catalyst for new ideas; our team is looking forward to working with St. Louisans to find innovative solutions,” said Chris Reed, FASLA and Founding Director at Stoss Landscape Urbanism. “In our first six months, we will focus on studying routes, designing the look and feel of the greenway and proposing economic and equity plans for the project.”
When the framework is complete in Summer 2019, particular pieces of geography will be studied in projects called “labs” to test the framework and further design specific greenway segments. The map below show the routes to be studied throughout the area that stretches from Forest Park to Gateway Arch National Park and Tower Grove to Fairground Parks through 19 city neighborhoods.
In addition to Great Rivers Greenway and the Stoss team, the project will be led by a Steering Committee and Working Groups made up of residents, technical experts, City representatives and community leaders. In addition to the Community Advisory Committee formed last fall, Great Rivers Greenway now seeks six additional residents to ensure that each neighborhood in the areas to be studied is represented. Residents of Carr Square, Covenant Blu-Grand Center, Greater Ville, Jeff VanderLou, St. Louis Place and Tiffany neighborhoods are invited to sign up. Additionally, an Artists of Color Council was formed in July through an open call, hired to advise the local art and engagement components of the project.
“Chouteau Greenway is all about bringing people together to think differently about St. Louis,” said Susan Trautman, CEO of Great Rivers Greenway. “This process will have many voices working together to ultimately connect our city, creating opportunities for economic growth in an equitable way.”
The Stoss team will be collaborating with local consultant Vector Communications for Great Rivers Greenway’s civic engagement on the project. Anyone who lives, works, plays, learns or visits the area of the future Chouteau Greenway is invited to engage with the project in multiple ways including subscribing for email or text updates and attending a series of community events, the first of which is set for Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019.
“We will continue to connect with residents, businesses, students, community groups, property owners and other stakeholders,” said Shaughnessy H. Daniels, Community Engagement Manager for Great Rivers Greenway. “Please help us fill in our plan by sharing the groups, organizations or people we should know about – call us, stop by our office or find the form online.”
Details and sign-ups for all of those efforts, plus the end of the competition report, are available at www.ChouteauGreenway.org or by calling 314-436-7009.
About the Chouteau Greenway Design Competition:
The Chouteau Greenway Design Competition is a major public-private partnership to bring a long-time vision to life. The 1-year process is a transformational project to connect Washington University and Forest Park through our city to downtown and the Gateway Arch, with spurs north and south to connect our city’s vibrant neighborhoods, parks, business and arts districts, employment centers, transit and dozens of cultural and educational institutions. The Chouteau Greenway is part of the overall network of greenways being built by Great Rivers Greenway and partners. The competition is privately funded by Arch to Park, Forest Park Forever, Grand Center Inc., Great Rivers Greenway Foundation, Green Street St. Louis, Lawrence Group, Saint Louis University, Washington University in St. Louis and Washington University Medical Center Redevelopment Corporation, with the City of St. Louis as a major partner. For more information, visit www.ChouteauGreenway.org.
About Great Rivers Greenway:
Great Rivers Greenway is the public agency connecting the St. Louis region with greenways, with 125 miles built so far. St. Louisans decided to leave a legacy for future generations by investing in and connecting together some of our region’s best assets – rivers, parks and communities. A vote of the people in the year 2000 created a sales tax that allows us, with lots of partner and citizen input, to build, care for and bring to life the network of greenways, creating healthy habitats and watersheds along the way. Greenways help residents and visitors explore and enjoy the region and live life outside. For more information, visit www.GreatRiversGreenway.org.
About the Chouteau Greenway Artists of Color Council:
The Artists of Color Council is comprised of eight visual, literary and performing artists. Together, they have been hired to provide guidance on the Chouteau Greenway project. Pacia Anderson, Syrhea Conaway, Miles Dela Cruz, Tre’von Griffith, Chinyere E. Oteh, Sahara Sista S.O.L.S., Jerry Stewart and Diana Zeng were selected to provide guidance to Great Rivers Greenway and the Stoss team to design, promote and implement opportunities for local artists of color as part of the Chouteau Greenway, engaging the community along the way and ensuring that the art is representative and welcoming to the communities the Chouteau Greenway serves. Many thanks to the Whitaker Foundation for their support of the Artists of Color Council. More information at www.GreatRiversGreenway.org/AOCC.
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