Tag: Maline Greenway

Maline Greenway Construction in Bella Fontaine County Park

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Dear Neighbor of Bella Fontaine County Park and the Maline Greenway,

On behalf of Great Rivers Greenway, and our partners at St. Louis County Parks, I want to share the latest details about the construction of the Maline Greenway trail in Bella Fontaine County Park and how this project will impact your neighborhood.

This first phase of trail construction of the Maline Greenway within Bella Fontaine County Park will include a new trail underpass along Maline Creek beneath Lewis and Clark Blvd. to connect both sides of the park for people walking, jogging, pushing a stroller, riding a bike, or using a wheelchair. The project also features the renovation of 1.5 miles of existing trails within the park to improve accessibility and replacement of existing trail bridges in the park to bring them up to current standards.

The trail will be relocated so that the shifting creek does not threaten the new trail bridges. This project will also include streambank restoration to prevent erosion and stormwater management with native landscaping. Some invasive plants in the park will be removed and replaced with 300 trees and shrubs and a rain garden. See the map below for more details. Construction will begin in March 2018 and is anticipated to be complete in spring 2019.

This phase of the Maline Greenway is being built on public park property. Greenway construction will not take place on your private property. However, you may be impacted by project construction within the park. Pedestrian access to some areas of the park will be limited while trail bridges are removed and replaced. During this time, signs in the park will notify you of the bridge closure ahead. Additionally, construction vehicles will drive down public roadways to access the park. We apologize for any inconvenience that this construction causes. We will work hard to make this experience as timely and pleasant as possible for residents as well as park visitors.

We hope that this new greenway is an asset to you and your neighbors. If you have any questions about the project, please visit our website at www.GreatRiversGreenway.org, call me at
314-932-4902 or email powens@grgstl.org.

Sincerely,

Patrick Owens
Project Manager

More information about the Maline Greenway and Great Rivers Greenway:

Goals of this project include:

  • Expanding transportation options for people of all ages and abilities
  • Creating opportunities to exercise, socialize, and learn about history, culture, and nature

Planning for the Maline Greenway took place in 2011-12. Community members provided feedback for the first phase of construction of the Maline Greenway in Bella Fontaine County Park at open houses in March 2014 and January 2018.

When complete, the Maline Greenway will create a seven mile east-west link for walking, running, bicycling, and getting fresh air between the Mississippi Greenway (also known as the Riverfront Trail) and the northern end of the St. Vincent Greenway near the North Hanley MetroLink station.

Great Rivers Greenway is the public agency connecting the St. Louis region with greenways. In 2000, a vote of the people created a sales tax to leave a legacy for future generations. Those funds allow us to collaborate with partners and communities to build, care for and bring to life your network of greenways, creating healthy habitats and watersheds along the way.

Maline Greenway Construction to Begin in March

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Construction of the first 1.63 miles of the planned seven-mile Maline Greenway in North St. Louis County is scheduled to begin in March in Bellefontaine Neighbors.

This phase of the new greenway will be built primarily within Bella Fontaine Park, in partnership with St. Louis County Parks Department, and will create a safe, seamless connection between both sides of the park and make it easier for people of all ages and abilities to connect to transit on Lewis and Clark Blvd. The $2.6 million construction project includes new and refurbished, ADA accessible walking and biking paths and the replacement of three bridges. A new underpass will also be constructed beneath Lewis & Clark Blvd. in order to link both sides of the park.

Additional improvements to the park include a new raingarden and stream bank restoration along Maline Creek to better manage storm water and prevent erosion. Construction has been coordinated with Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District to coincide with planned improvements to the waste and storm water infrastructure in the area. There will also be new landscaping, including more than 300 trees and shrubs along with new seating areas for people to relax and enjoy the fresh air.

“It’s exciting to break ground on a brand new greenway,” said Patrick Owens, Great Rivers Greenway Project Manager. “This first phase will not only enhance Bella Fontaine Park for all visitors, but also make it easier and safer for people to connect to transit.”

The master plan for the seven-mile Maline Greenway calls for an east-west link between the Mississippi Greenway (sometimes called the Riverfront Trail) and the St. Vincent Greenway in North St. Louis County. The greenway will pass though the cities of Berkeley, Kinloch, Ferguson, Jennings, Moline Acres, Bellefontaine Neighbors, Riverview and the City of St. Louis, as well as unincorporated St. Louis County. Approximately 70,000 people reside in this greenway corridor that will eventually connect more than 350 acres of park land.

As progress continues on the first phase of the Maline Greenway, Great Rivers Greenway will be seeking community feedback on the second phase of the project, which is expected to connect West Florissant Avenue and Ferguson’s Forestwood Park. Construction on the first phase is expected to last approximately twelve months.

 

More Greenways for You in 2018!

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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 Project Updates

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What’s happening around the greenways? Here are a few of the updates on what’s happening right now:

Gravois Greenway: Orlando’s to River des Peres Greenway (Grant’s Trail)

Designs for this much-anticipated extension that will extend the Gravois Greenway from Orlando’s to the River des Peres Greenway are underway. As with all rrmapprojects, the safety of the people using the greenway is a priority. To make this connection a reality, it will require two bridges and an underpass for an estimated cost of $10.2 million. We are working to leverage grants and private donations to fund the project. We have already been approved for a $2 million Transportation Alternative Program Grant from East West Gateway and a $1 million private grant from the Mysun Foundation. The goal is to begin construction in mid-2017. Stay tuned!

River des Peres Greenway

The 1 mile extension of the River des Peres Greenway from the Alabama Bridge to the Mississippi Greenway near the River City Casino will begin construction in mid-June and be finished by fall so you can connect to the Mississippi River Greenway and Jefferson Barracks Park! On the other end, planning continues on the extension from Lansdowne to Francis Slay Park (Intersection of Canterbury & Ellendale). Final designs are being developed with construction slated for late 2016 through 2017.

When both projects are complete, there will be a continuous path from Francis Slay Park in the City of St. Louis all the way to Jefferson Barracks County Park in south St. Louis County.  (That’s 13.5 total miles including the Christy Greenway and Carondelet Connector!)

Chouteau Greenway

The St. Louis region was awarded a $10.3 million US Department of Transportation TIGER grant (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) to construct a new MetroLink light rail station along with places for people to walk or ride bikes through the Cortex District.

As a primary partner on the application, Great Rivers Greenway will develop the first segment of the Chouteau Greenway between Boyle Avenue and Sarah Avenue as part of the overall project’s local match toward the TIGER grant. As soon as contract negotiations are complete, the project team will be announced and design work will begin immediately.  Design and engineering should continue through the end of 2016 with an early 2017 ground breaking for the new Boyle Avenue MetroLink Station and first constructed segment of Chouteau Greenway.

Maline Greenway

Construction of three replacement bridges in Bella Fontaine Park, new and refurbished trails, and an underpass that will connect both sides of Lewis & Clark Boulevard on this first 3.5 mile segment of the Maline Greenway are expected to begin later this year.

Centennial Greenway: Bridges over 364 & 94

This project will connect the existing Centennial Greenway to neighboring communities on the other side of the intersection of highways 364 and 94.  These two bridges will eliminate this barrier for people walking or riding bikes and connect the existing trail system to Wapelhorst Park in St. Charles and Laurel Park in St. Peters.  MoDOT is currently reviewing final plans and construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2017.

St. Vincent Greenway

ST VINCENT RUTH PORTER MAN WALKING SUMMERThe Loop Trolley Project on DeBaliviere Avenue that is extending the St. Vincent Greenway from Delmar to Forest Park is underway and will be finished this fall. Design and engineering of the route identified in 2014 from Etzel and Skinker in Wellston to St. Vincent County Park will continue through 2017. A new 1-acre  “pocket park” will come to life at the corner of Etzel and Skinker in October 2016! Click here for the details.

When this “missing link” is complete, it will connect the cities of Wellston and Pagedale to the Wellston and St. Charles Rock Road MetroLink stations and St. Vincent County Park. It will also complete a seven mile, continuous greenway stretching all the way from Forest Park, across the University of Missouri-St. Louis Campus, to the North Hanley MetroLink Station!

You can find the current and future status of each greenway on the master plan page here.