Whenever possible, we incorporate habitat restoration into our greenway projects. One way is by removing invasive plants—such as bush honeysuckle—and replacing them with native plants and trees to improve habitat and support pollinators. We also create rain gardens filled with native plants that not only attract bees and butterflies, but also help capture and filter storm water runoff. Here are 5 places to find native plants (and the pollinators they attract!) along greenways:
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Tag: Fee Fee Greenway
More Greenways for You in 2018!
Construction Update
Our team has been busy planning and building new greenways for you to explore and enjoy! Thanks to our many partners, and tremendous community feedback, we’ll be cutting the ribbon on several expanded greenways this year. We’ll also break ground on a few new projects in 2018. Here’s a quick update:
River des Peres Greenway
We’re putting the finishing touches on the extension of the River des Peres Greenway from the Shrewsbury- Lansdowne MetroLink to Slay Park. Trees and shrubs are all in place and wayfinding signs will be placed in the coming weeks. Thanks to this most recent expansion, the greenway now stretches a full 9.6 miles and connects to more places than ever before!
Centennial Greenway: Bridges over 364 & 94 in St. Charles County
In April, we’ll celebrate the expansion of the Centennial Greenway in St. Charles County over Highways 364 and 94. It now connects both sides of the community so people can safely walk or ride a bike across these busy highways. New connections to parks, schools, businesses and the Katy Trail on foot or bike are now possible thanks to these two bridges. Save the date for a ribbon cutting celebration with our partners on April 7, 2018!
Mississippi Greenway: Cliff Cave Park
In May, we’ll open the expanded greenway in Cliff Cave Park with a ribbon cutting May 4th and Community Day May 6th. This 2 mile expansion connects the existing greenway to the upper section of the park so it is more accessible for everyone. There’s also a new parking lot, restrooms and a neighborhood spur that connects to Telegraph Road. Wait ‘til you see the amazing view of the Mississippi River from the new overlook on the bluff!
Fee Fee Greenway: Aquaport to Creve Coeur Park
On June 14th, we’ll cut another ribbon on the expanded Fee Fee Greenway. This two mile extension along Quarry at Crystal Springs golf course makes it possible to walk or ride a bike all the way from Aquaport in Maryland Heights to Creve Coeur Park.
Gravois Greenway: Grant’s Trail
On June 24th, we’ll open the new trailhead at the south end of the greenway near Orlando’s. The first phase of this eagerly anticipated expansion includes restrooms, benches, landscaping and a play structure. As part of the festivities, we’ll also host an open house so you can learn more about the second phase of the project that will extend the greenway an additional two miles to connect with the River des Peres Greenway.
Deer Creek Greenway: Deer Creek Park to Lorraine Davis Park
Next fall, we’ll celebrate the 1.5 mile extension of the Deer Creek Greenway from Webster Groves Deer Creek Park to Lorraine Davis Park. When complete, there will be a total of 2.2 miles to explore and enjoy! There will also be a new boardwalk, landscaping with native plants, and a new pavilion with picnic tables and a drinking fountain in Lorraine Davis Park.
What’s Coming in 2018
The Great Rivers Greenway Board has approved funding to advance several projects in 2018. Here are a few highlights:
Chouteau Greenway
Together with our partners, we’ll advance the concepts for the Chouteau Greenway as the design competition continues through the end of June. See the latest updates here. Get the latest information on the Chouteau Greenway here.
Maline Greenway
Construction will soon begin on the first segment of the Maline Greenway in Bella Fontaine Park. Plans include the renovation of existing trails, replacement of three pedestrian bridges, and construction of an underpass beneath Lewis and Clark Boulevard that will connect both sides of the park, providing area residents with a safer way to enjoy all the park’s amenities and improved options for accessing transit.
New Trailhead on Deer Creek Greenway
Bids are out for a new trailhead on Marshall Avenue along the route of the Deer Creek Greenway that’s currently under construction. It will offer parking, a water fountain, a pavilion, benches, restored streambank habitat and more!
Centennial Greenway: Interstate I-70 and Delmar Improvements
We are working with our partners on the final designs to improve the greenway where it crosses over Delmar at I-170 in the City of University City. The goal is to make it safer and easier for people to navigate this intersection whether they are on foot, bike or in a car.
Stay tuned for more updates!
Greenway Construction Update: November 2017
If we summarized our greenway construction over the past three months in just one word, it would have to be… BRIDGES!
Since July, our project managers have overseen the placement of five bridges in three greenways across the region. Two in Cliff Cave Park for the Mississippi Greenway, one for the Fee Fee Greenway in Maryland Heights, and two over Highways 364 and 94 for the Centennial Greenway in St. Charles County.
In late July, contractors placed a 70 foot bridge over the creek that flows from the mouth of Cliff Cave in the Mississippi Greenway. A 210 foot bridge, one of the longest single span pedestrian bridges in the St. Louis region, was placed over Cliff Cave Road. New restrooms were installed in mid-October and work continues on the new parking lot serving the upper section of Cliff Cave County Park. Contractors are putting the finishing touches on the new overlook as construction continues between Cliff Cave Road and Telegraph Road. Trees will be planted between now and the end of the year but the rest of the landscaping will have to wait until warmer weather in the spring.
We know everyone is eager to explore and enjoy the new paved paths and overlook, but the upper section of Cliff Cave County Park is still closed. Our project manager and partners at St. Louis County Parks want to remind everyone this is an active construction site and for everyone’s safety, please only use the greenway in the lower section of the park. We look forward to opening this new greenway in spring 2018!
In September, a 78 foot bridge was set over Fee Fee Creek in Maryland Heights as part of the two mile extension of the Fee Fee Greenway from its current endpoint in McKelvey Woods to Creve Coeur County Park. A new “living wall” is starting to come to life with its first “cover crop” of wild rye grass. The purpose of the living wall system is to help capture the storm water that drains off the paved surface, reducing the impact on nearby creeks and streams. This living wall will also provide habitat for wildlife and insects. When the project is completed in early to mid-2018, the three mile greenway will connect the new Maryland Heights Community Center and Aquaport with Creve Coeur County Park.
Another construction milestone occurred in September with the placement of two bridges over highways 364 & 94 in St. Charles County. Two of the longest bridges in our system at 217 and 280 feet, they required four overnight highway closures. Construction crews are working on the approaches to the bridges and the project is expected to be wrapped up in 2017. Some landscaping work will continue into spring 2018. Stay tuned for updates on when the new Centennial Greenway bridges will be open for you to explore and enjoy!
Construction is about 90 percent complete on the River des Peres Greenway extension from the Shrewsbury- Lansdowne MetroLink to Slay Park. Painting is underway on the Lansdowne and Chippewa Bridges and new trees and wayfinding signs should be installed in the coming weeks. We’ll let you know when the greenway is officially open!
Construction to extend the Gravois Greenway: Grant’s Trail to connect it with the River des Peres Greenway began in late September with the closure of the southern trailhead near Orlando’s Event and Conference Center. Crews are building the foundations for the new restroom and trailhead amenities as well as beginning to layout the new paved greenway segment. As a reminder, you are unable to enter or exit the greenway at Orlando’s while construction of the improved trailhead is underway. The last 750 feet of the existing paved route is also closed. The first phase of construction is expected to last about six months with the second phase breaking ground in mid-2018.
Greenway Construction Update: August 2017
Our project managers have been busy overseeing greenway construction throughout the St. Louis region. Here are the latest updates:
In St. Charles County, crews have been hard at work building the supporting walls for the bridges that will extend the Centennial Greenway over Highways 364 and 94. The bridge truss segments will be assembled on site and then separately hoisted into place in September. This will require four overnight lane closures and all project partners are working together to minimize inconvenience to motorists who live and work in this area. Stay tuned for the exact dates when these new bridges will be set in place!
In south St. Louis County, work continues in the Mississippi Greenway: Cliff Cave County Park where contractors have placed two bridges, including a 210 foot bridge over Cliff Cave Road. Work continues on a new overlook which will provide visitors with a safe vista of the Mississippi River’s breathtaking grandeur. Paving on the east side of the project, the new parking lot, and restroom installation is planned for the coming weeks.
In the City of St. Louis, construction of a new extension to the River des Peres Greenway is substantially complete between Lansdowne and Interstate 44. Work continues on the Lansdowne bridge where the greenway will connect to the Shrewsbury MetroLink Station. Contractors are now focused on the stretch of greenway north of Interstate 44 to Francis R. Slay Park. Keep an eye out for new trees that will be installed this fall!
In Maryland Heights, the expansion of the Fee Fee Greenway from its current endpoint in McKelvey Woods to Creve Coeur County Park is well underway. Crews are preparing to set a 70 foot bridge across Fee Fee Creek next month. When the project is complete in early to mid-2018, the three mile greenway will connect the new Maryland Heights Community Center and Aquaport with Creve Coeur County Park.
Coming Soon: Bids for the construction of the first phase of the Gravois Greenway expansion and Deer Creek Greenway extension to Lorraine Davis Park were received the week of August 21. The Great Rivers Greenway Board of Directors will be reviewing them at our September board meeting. We’ll let you know when you can look forward to these projects breaking ground!
Greenway Project Updates: May 2017
Progress continues on 6.8 miles of new greenway under construction across the region
Despite the recent rainy weather, progress continues on 6.8 miles of new greenway under construction across the region!
In St. Charles County, work is underway on the Centennial Greenway expansion over Highways 364 and 94. The route has been cleared and contractors have started driving steel pile into the bedrock to support the new bicycle and pedestrian bridges, which are slated to be installed over the highways this September.
Along the Fee Fee Greenway in Maryland Heights, contractors are focused on excavation and earthwork to prepare the way for the new connection that will link Aquaport and McKelvey Woods to Creve Coeur County Park.
In south St. Louis County, work continues in the Mississippi Greenway: Cliff Cave Park where contractors are building the abutments for the walking and biking bridge over Cliff Cave Road. They are also building new retaining walls and working on the new stretch of greenway that will connect the upper and lower sections of the park.
On the north end of the River des Peres Greenway, contractors have already finished several segments of the new greenway and are rebuilding portions of the roadway on Ellendale. You can also see the greenway taking shape on the Lansdowne bridge where it will connect to the Shrewsbury MetroLink Station.
On the south end of River des Peres Greenway, the extension from Alabama to Broadway through Lemay Park is almost finished and is open to cyclists, joggers and walkers. The segment that will eventually connect with the Mississippi Greenway near the River City Casino has temporarily been put on hold. We are working with our partners at Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District to coordinate some planned repairs to the banks of the River des Peres as well as some sewer line improvements. As stewards of taxpayer funds, we do not want to build this segment of greenway only to tear it up again in the coming months to accommodate this construction. We will let you know the updated timeline for completing the connection as soon as details are finalized. Thank you for your patience!
4 Greenway Construction Projects Break Ground in first quarter of 2017
Our team has been hard at work on several new construction projects that have broken ground in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County during the first quarter of 2017. Here’s a quick update:
River des Peres Greenway
The River des Peres Greenway is currently undergoing construction in two directions. At its southern end, construction continues from the Alabama Bridge to the Mississippi Greenway. To the north, work began the week of March 13th to extend it another 1.8 miles from the Shrewsbury Lansdowne MetroLink Station to Francis R. Slay Park. When these projects are complete, people will be able to walk, run, ride a bike or use a wheelchair in a paved greenway all the way from the neighborhood greenway at Arsenal and McCausland to Jefferson Barracks and Carondelet Parks! (click here for more information)
Mississippi Greenway: Cliff Cave County Park
Construction of the two mile expansion of the Mississippi Greenway in Cliff Cave County Park began in February. Following guidelines provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, all tree removal has been conducted while the area’s tree roosting bats – including the endangered Indiana Bat – were still hibernating. This project builds upon the 5+ miles of greenways already built in Cliff Cave County Park, and will provide a safe, accessible (ADA) connection between the upper and lower parts of this park along the mighty Mississippi. (click here for more information)
Centennial Greenway: Bridges over Highways 364 and 94
In St. Charles County, construction is underway on a one-mile extension of the existing 2.2-mile Centennial Greenway that links Heritage Park & Museum and the Katy Trail State Park to connect thousands of residents on both sides of highways 364 and 94. The new route will enable on-street connections to nearby Laurel Park, Schaefer Park, Wapelhorst Park, the Laurel Park Trail, McClay Branch of the St. Charles City-County Library, Francis Howell North High School and Henderson Elementary School—all of which are less than two miles from the bridges. More than 800 native trees and shrubs, representing 26 plant species, will also be planted as part of the greenway project. (click here for more information)
Fee Fee Greenway: McKelvey Woods to Creve Coeur County Park
The Fee Fee Greenway parallels Fee Fee Creek, and lies within the Missouri River watershed in Maryland Heights in Northwest St. Louis County. In February, construction kicked off to extend the existing trail an additional 2 miles from McKelvey Woods along Crystal Springs
Quarry Golf Club, to connect with existing trails in Creve Coeur Park (near Marine Avenue). When it’s complete, people can walk, run, ride a bike or push a stroller all the way from the Maryland Heights Community Center, Aquaport and Dogport through McKelvey Woods to Creve Coeur Park. They’ll also be able to connect to the KATY Trail and Centennial Greenway in St. Charles County via the Creve Coeur Connector Trail and separated path on the Page Avenue Bridge! (click here for more information)
