Where should your greenways go next?

Posted on Tuesday November 10, 2026

A man walking down a trail with fall foliage in the background

We are seeking residents’ priorities for routes and destinations to guide the expansion of the network of greenways in the next five, ten and twenty years across St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County. The greenways are funded primarily through sales tax revenue from those three counties, so people who live and work there are especially encouraged to take the survey by December 18 at www.GreenwayPlan.org.  

Since voters chose to fund the greenways in 2000, GRG and partners have developed 140 miles of greenways across the region, attracting 3 million visitors each year for exploration, transportation, exercise and play. Greenways also include conservation projects, amenities like benches and signs, and public art along the way, and connect people to their jobs, schools, parks, rivers, neighborhoods, business districts, transit, nature, and each other. The agency updates their strategic plan every five years with community input.  

“Your voices are central to bringing the greenways to life – these are your tax dollars at work,” said Mark Perkins, Chief Executive Officer. “While many factors go into deciding where a greenway will have the most impact, one of the most critical ones is what community members want.”  

Great Rivers Greenway statistics at a glance: 

  • 140 miles of greenways built to date across the 1,200 square-mile, 3-county, 105-town region 
  • The average St. Louis resident pays just under $6/year (less than 50 cents a month) for the greenways
  • More than 12,000 trees planted along greenways, plus acres of native plants to improve habitats  
  • 300+ partners and 3000+ volunteers annually bring this vision to life  

“The survey is easy, just three questions, but it will have an impact for years to come,” said Shaughnessy H. Daniels, Director of Civic Engagement for Great Rivers Greenway. “We want to hear your top 10 destinations, your top three priorities for the routes we haven’t studied yet, and anything else you want to tell us.” 

The survey will remain open until December 18, 2026, with two virtual information sessions on November 30 from 6-8pm and December 11 from 11am-1pm; anyone can join Zoom anytime to ask questions or learn more. Three survey participants will be randomly drawn to each receive a $300 grocery gift card. To learn more, take the survey, request a copy be mailed out, find a translated version, take the survey by phone, or request other accommodations, visit www.GreenwayPlan.org, call 314-436-7009 or email info@grgstl.org.  

GreenwayPlan.org also includes resources to understand the agency and its process better, including a video about all the factors that go into decision-making for new greenway routes. The Greenway Challenge is an interactive game that asks players to be a GRG project manager as they play: “Can you bring a greenway to life on time, on budget, with as much possible impact for the community?”