Greenway: Forest Park to Trojan Park to Wellston MetroLink

Meet Mona

Posted on Thursday July 25, 2024

Mona Vespa is the President of GO! St. Louis. GO! is a local non-profit organization that encourages individuals and families in the #STL region to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle year round. They accomplish this through community collaborations, school-based programming and the creation of new and fun fitness events:

“Running is my sport, my hobby and my profession! Personally, I can’t imagine a better way to explore your own city than on foot, and the greenways are the perfect way to do that! Every time I run a greenway, I am reminded that our city is incredibly diverse in landscape and character, but is also comprised of neighborhoods and communities who are all working towards a similar goal: to make their part of our city a vibrant and welcoming home. And as a part of my job, what a joy it is to share that with the runners and walkers of our area. I’ve used greenways for several GO! St. Louis race routes, and our Summer Passport program’s entire focus is to introduce more runners to the incredible gem of these paths throughout our city. GO! St. Louis is thankful for GRG’s work and dedication to outdoor recreation in our region!”

Home Greenway: All of them!

Meet April

Posted on Thursday July 25, 2024

April Walker recently joined Great Rivers Greenway as an Outreach Specialist. These valued team members help out at events and programs across the region- answering questions, sharing project updates and handing out maps and greenway “swag.” April shares why she wanted to get involved with Great Rivers Greenway:

“I was ecstatic to be selected as an Outreach Specialist. I am excited to work with the community to encourage life outside on the greenways! I take my grandchildren to the Storybook Walk at Ruth Porter Mall Park and I live in walking distance of Trojan Park. We also visit Forest Park regularly by way of the St Vincent Greenway. The museums, water features and the Muny are our favorite places to go. We enjoy picnicking in the parks on the greenway too. I look forward to seeing the development of the greenway on the Hodiamont Tracks, which is also really close to home for me. Hope to see you outside on a greenway!”

Home Greenway: St. Vincent

St. Vincent Greenway Expansion in Wellston Now Open

Posted on Wednesday July 17, 2024

Connects Community to Transit, Businesses, Community Resources, Area Attractions, Neighborhoods & Parks

Community members joined Great Rivers Greenway (GRG) and its project partners Sunday, August 6, to celebrate the new half-mile expansion of the St. Vincent Greenway from Trojan Park at  Etzel Ave to Robert L. Powell Place in Wellston.

The afternoon kicked off with a parade held along the newly completed section from the Wellston Transit Center to Trojan Park. Then GRG, the Mysun Charitable Foundation and Wellston Mayor Nathanial Griffin took part in a ribbon cutting ceremony at Trojan Park. The celebration concluded with a free concert from local band Dirty Muggs.

The greenway now extends from Trojan Park along Stephen Jones Avenue and west to the intersection of Plymouth and Sutter avenues. Community members can walk, run, push a stroller, ride a bike or use a wheelchair along the paved, accessible path that connects them to Trojan Park, Yadier Molina Field, the Wellston MetroLink Station, Metropolitan Education and Training (MET) Center, STL Partnership Business Center, and the new MetroBus stop on Stephen Jones Ave.

“This greenway builds on our long-successful partnership with Wellston for Trojan Park,” said Susan Trautman, CEO of Great Rivers Greenway. “Even in a small section, we were able to make critical connections to transit and destinations for job training, plus create a lovely new community space along the way.”

Thanks to the support of the Mysun Charitable Foundation along with Great Rivers Greenway funds, a small “pocket” park was added at Plymouth and Stephen Jones Avenues, featuring a new deck with a seating area. The landing overlooks a recently cleared area of Engelholm Creek and provides a view of a new rain garden with native plantings. This not only provides habitat for pollinators and welcomes visitors, but also offers a place for the water to overflow during rainstorms. Built to flood, this rain garden filters rainwater and reduces pressure on storm drains. The park also includes solar lighting, a bike rack, a water fountain with water bottle and dog bowl features, and an emergency blue light tower.

Additionally, the development contributed new LED lights along Plymouth Ave., a new parking lot with permeable pavers at the corner of Stephen Jones and Etzel avenues, and a MetroBus stop with improved seating along Plymouth Ave.

“Our community is very excited to have even more of the St. Vincent Greenway to use every day,” said Nathanial Griffin, Mayor of Wellston. “We’re proud of our partnership with Great Rivers Greenway and we love being a regional destination for our parks and greenways.”

Community members can also travel along the existing stretch of the St. Vincent Greenway, which connects them to destinations such as Ruth Porter Mall Park, the West End and DeBaliviere Place neighborhoods, businesses along DeBaliviere Ave., the Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink station, and Forest Park at the Missouri History Museum.

A future path through Pagedale to St. Charles Rock Road that will connect the St. Vincent Greenway from Forest Park to the University of Missouri-St. Louis will be completed in 2024-2025.

Volunteer: Spring Greenway Cutback

Saturday, February 24, 2024 • 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Saturday, February 24, 20249:00 am - 11:00 am

Event Details

Multiple

Please see each location for more information.

NOTE: We are at capacity for this event. Please visit our Events page to explore other volunteer opportunities!

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Volunteers are needed for our Spring Greenway Cutback Event on Saturday February 24 from 9am to 11am!

We will be working at three different greenway sites to cut back native perennials and grasses in preparation for new growth in the spring. Our work in February will be rewarded later this year as we watch the native plants and grasses flourish when the weather warms up!

No experience necessary: Great Rivers Greenway staff will teach volunteers how to cut back the perennials and grasses.

What to wear: Please dress for the weather and bundle up. Long sleeve shirts, pants and closed toe shoes are required. Eye protection and gloves will be provided.

What to bring: All tools will be provided, but please feel free to bring your own loppers, garden shears and pruners if you have them. Please bring a water bottle to help us reduce plastic waste. Light snacks and water will be provided.  

Note: This event is limited to ages 13 and older. 

To sign up, please choose your location below and hit register! We’ll see you there!

Multiple

Additional Notes:

Please see each location for more information.

Taste of the St. Vincent Greenway

Saturday, September 23, 2023 • 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Saturday, September 23, 202311:00 am - 2:00 pm

Event Details

ST. VINCENT GREENWAY IN RUTH PORTER MALL PARK

5659 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63112, USA

5659 Delmar Blvd.
St. Louis, Missouri 63112

Enjoy this local business and community resource showcase along the St. Vincent Greenway in the West End neighborhood!

St. Vincent Greenway In Ruth Porter Mall Park

5659 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63112, USA

Additional Notes:

5659 Delmar Blvd.
St. Louis, Missouri 63112

Get Directions on Google Maps

Join Oasis: Ride on the St Vincent and Centennial Greenway

Friday, September 1, 2023 • 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Friday, September 1, 20239:00 am - 1:00 pm

Event Details

GRAND DRIVE THAT FACES THE DENNIS AND JUDITH JONES VISITOR AND EDUCATION

5595 Grand Drive, St. Louis, MO, USA

Meet in the parking lot off Grand Drive that faces the Dennis and Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center located at 5595 Grand Dr. in Forest Park. It is just east of the Dwight Davis Tennis Center. Bathrooms available. Approximately 12 miles

5595 Grand Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63112

Take a little tour of Forest Park, the St. Vincent Greenway, and the Centennial Greenway on a 12-mile ride through Clayton and University City. More than half of the route will be on bike paths, the rest will be on quiet neighborhood streets.

Visit stloasis.org or call (314) 862–4859 ext 24 to learn more or to enroll.

Grand Drive That Faces The Dennis And Judith Jones Visitor And Education

5595 Grand Drive, St. Louis, MO, USA

Additional Notes:

Meet in the parking lot off Grand Drive that faces the Dennis and Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center located at 5595 Grand Dr. in Forest Park. It is just east of the Dwight Davis Tennis Center. Bathrooms available. Approximately 12 miles

5595 Grand Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63112

Get Directions on Google Maps

Trojan Park in St. Vincent Greenway Now Open in Wellston for All to Explore and Enjoy!

Posted on Monday October 10, 2016

Saturday October 8 was a spectacular day to celebrate the transformation of a vacant lot in Wellston into the new 1-acre Trojan Park! Named after the mascot of Wellston’s former Eskridge High School, the park was designed by and for Wellston residents as a space for the community to gather and play. That’s exactly what happened as hundreds of people came together on a beautiful fall day to cut the ribbon and explore the park’s three playgrounds, family pavilion, butterfly garden, picnic tables, benches and full-size basketball court. The grand opening festivities included free pizza from the Pi Food truck, and music and dance performances. Former NBA player Larry Hughes was also on hand to lead a Jr. NBA clinic on the sport court.

Trojan Park lies within the larger St. Vincent Greenway—a seven-mile corridor that will stretch from the North Hanley MetroLink Station, near the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus, all the way to Forest Park.  The new park is an important component of the greenway’s master plan, serving as one of several community gathering spaces that also connect people to the greenway.

Trojan Park was developed as part of the National Recreation and Park Association’s (NRPA) 2016 Parks Build Community Initiative, which aims to demonstrate the transformative value of parks and recreation on communities across the country. Each year, NRPA builds a new park or revitalizes an existing park in partnership with recreational equipment manufacturers and community organizations within the region hosting its annual conference. Trojan Park represents the sixth Parks Build Community project aligned with the NRPA Annual Conference.

The park was built with the support of many partners and sponsors. Great Rivers Greenway collaborated with nonprofit partner Beyond Housing to engage the community, gathering critical input to form the park’s design.

The Municipal Park Grant Commission of St. Louis County provided a $315,000 grant to assist with site preparation and construction. Great Rivers Greenway secured the property, invested in the design and site preparation and has served as project manager. NRPA worked with playground equipment and park amenity manufacturers from across the country to receive donated site furnishings such as playground and fitness equipment, bike racks, lighting, drinking fountains and much more.

Great Rivers Greenway has also worked closely with the City of Wellston and the St. Louis County Parks Department to develop a detailed maintenance plan for Trojan Park they will be implementing together.

As project partners, sponsors and community members gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the new park, many parks and recreation professionals from across the nation were also in attendance as the 2016 NRPA Conference wrapped up in St. Louis. The festivities continued into the evening hours as current and former Wellston residents gathered in their new park for the annual Wellston homecoming celebration for a barbecue, fellowship, games, music, and dance performances.

For more information about the St. Vincent Greenway, click here.

Special thanks to the following vendors and companies for making this project possible, including the St. Louis County Municipal Park Grant Commission: