Tag: Mississippi Greenway – Cliff Cave Park

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 Construction Update: November 2017

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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.

Spotlight on the Mississippi Greenway

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What is the Mississippi Greenway?
The master plan for the Mississippi Greenway stretches 32 miles from the Missouri River at Pelican Island Natural Area to the Meramec Greenway near Bee Tree Park in south St. Louis County. When complete, it will connect with the Missouri Greenway, Maline Greenway, the Trestle, the Arch grounds, Gateway Mall and River des Peres and Meramec Greenways south of downtown St. Louis.

Projects within the greenway include Jones-Confluence Point State Park in St. Charles County, the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge and Riverfront Trail in the City of St. Louis, the McKinley Bridge Bikeway and Branch Street Trestle and the Trestle in the City of St. Louis.

Current Status
North-Downtown St. Louis Riverfront to Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
The 12.5 mile Mississippi Greenway: Chouteau Riverfront to Old Chain of Rocks Bridge (Riverfront Trail) winds through both sides of the flood wall that protects the City of St. Louis and offers views of the working riverfront that even most native St. Louisans have never seen before. A 1.5 mile extension from Biddle to Chouteau opened in June 2016 and now connects to the new circulation pathways on the Gateway Arch grounds.

South- Cliff Cave County Park and Jefferson Barracks to River des Peres
Currently, there are two completed greenways south of downtown St. Louis along the Mississippi Greenway–Cliff Cave County Park and Jefferson Barracks to River City Casino.

Mississippi Greenway: Jefferson Barracks to River City Casino extends 1.6 miles from the trailhead in Jefferson Barracks Park to the northern edge of the River City Casino Property along the River des Peres. Visitors to Jefferson Barracks Park in St. Louis County can use this greenway to get an up close view of the Mississippi River, and will soon be able to walk or ride all the way to Carondelet Park or the Lansdowne-Shrewsbury MetroLink Station via the River des Peres Greenway.

Mississippi Greenway: Cliff Cave County Park is a 4.7 mile loop (paved) nestled in a unique park that gets its name from the cave tucked in the bluffs of south St. Louis County. The park offers hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails as well as picnic areas and shelters. Construction on a new overlook, two bridges and a paved, ADA accessible greenway that will connect the upper and lower sections of the park along with a neighborhood spur out to Telegraph Road is underway. Click here to see videos of the bridge installations. (Fun fact: the new bridge over Cliff Cave Road is largest single span pedestrian bridge in the region!)

Exploring the Mississippi Greenway
There is so much to see along this greenway from iconic landmarks to industrial operations, to sweeping views of the Mississippi River!

Old Chain of Rocks Bridge:
For more than three decades this bridge was a landmark for travelers along Route 66. It is now open daily for people to walk or ride bikes to connect to Illinois or simply enjoy  views of the Mississippi River! The bridge has appeared in movies such as “Escape from New York” in 1980 and most recently for “The Empty Man” slated to be released sometime in 2018. In February 2018, the bridge will be closed to all visitors for approximately one month to complete some necessary repairs to the bridge deck.

Mark your calendars to join us January 13 and 14, 2018 for Eagle Days at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge—a two day festival celebrating our nation’s emblem bird.

NOTE: There is no parking on the Missouri side of the bridge, but you can park on the Illinois side –Click here for directions. Of course, you can also ride your bike from downtown St. Louis near the Arch grounds!

Cliff Cave Park:
While construction is underway in the upper section of the park, bring your bike or enjoy a walk on the Mississippi Trail. This 4.6-mile paved, loop asphalt trail circles the floodplain bottomland and offers beautiful views of the river and fall colors on the bluffs. Plan your visit here.

Projects and Partnerships along the Mississippi Greenway

Greenway Guides
For the past three years, Great Rivers Greenway has partnered with the Urban League of St. Louis for the Greenway Guide Program. After completing training with the Urban League, Guides work together with staff, other support teams and partners at the City of St. Louis to monitor and patrol this greenway. Guides also operate the Mary Meachum Visitor’s Center—Friday through Sunday—offering support such as bicycle repair, directions and first aid. Not only does the partnership provide excellent job training and employment for our community through the Save Our Sons program, it also enhances the experience for people using the Mississippi Greenway from the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge to Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd at Chouteau. Since its inception in 2015, 18 individuals have leveraged their experience as a Greenway Guide into full-time jobs.

On-the-Job Horticulture Training with St. Patrick Center
Great Rivers Greenway has teamed up with the St. Patrick Center to provide hands-on maintenance, landscape and horticulture training along the Mississippi Greenway. St. Patrick Center clients work side-by-side with Great Rivers Greenway staff and other partners to maintain three pollinator gardens at the McKinley Bridge Bikeway, Mary Meachum Center and Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. They also assist as needed with weeding, mulching, pruning, and invasive species removal.

Not only does this provide valuable on-the-job landscaping and trade skills for the St. Patrick Center clients, it also helps restore habitat, better maintain the greenway, and enhance the visitor experience for everyone. Watch a video about the program here.

Pollinator Partnership with St. Louis University
Great Rivers Greenway has partnered with St. Louis University to host two internships on pollinator diversity in urban environments. These positions support research efforts currently underway by St. Louis University Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Gerardo Camillo. To date, he has documented 169 species of bees in St. Louis –the highest bee diversity of any city in North America. The science-based data collected will be used to guide the District’s efforts of creating pollinator habitat to increase biodiversity. You can watch the video of an interview with Dr. Camillo and the interns here.

Greenway Construction Update: August 2017

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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!

 

Project Update: Mississippi Greenway Expansion in Cliff Cave County Park Nears Halfway Point

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The Great Rivers Greenway and St. Louis County Parks project reached a significant milestone with the placement of two new pedestrian bridges. In late July, contractors placed a 70 foot bridge over the creek that flows from the mouth of Cliff Cave. A 210 foot bridge, one of the longest single span pedestrian bridges in the St. Louis region, was installed over Cliff Cave Road.

The bridges, along with the two miles of new paved trails currently in progress, will provide an ADA accessible connection between the upper portion of Cliff Cave County Park and the existing 4.6 miles of paved trails that run through the lower portion of the park. When complete, greenway visitors will also be able to access a new Mississippi River overlook which is now under construction.

“Thanks to the dry weather, our crews have made great progress in Cliff Cave Park. It’s exciting to know that people of all abilities will soon be able to experience the park’s unique geography and sweeping views,” says Great Rivers Greenway Project Manager Megan Riechmann.

The greenway project will also provide increased access to Cliff Cave County Park to people residing in surrounding neighborhoods. Following the review of a safety analysis, project partners are moving forward with a planned neighborhood connection into the park at Telegraph and Erb roads. This connection will allow people to walk, jog, push a stroller, ride a bike or use a wheelchair to access the park without driving a car.

 

Construction in Cliff Cave County Park is expected to last through the end of the year.

Mississippi Greenway: Cliff Cave County Park Update

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Cliff Cave Park Closed July 24 through August 3 to Place New Bridge

Thanks to the dry weather, construction crews are making progress on the greenway expansion in Cliff Cave Park! Work is underway on the new overlook and contractors are grading the route for the paved connection that will link the upper and lower sections of the park. The week of July 10, crews installed the first of two greenway bridges that will make the park more accessible for everyone.

A second bridge was installed over Cliff Cave Road on July 31.  At 210 feet, it is one of the the longest single span pedestrian bridges in the St. Louis region. Cliff Cave County Park will be closed through August 3 so crews can complete the installation of the new bridge. Beginning July 31, Cliff Cave Road near England Town Road will be reduced to one travel lane to allow for the completion of utility work beneath the roadway. A flagger will be stationed in the area to assist with traffic during active construction.

Both bridges are pivotal elements of the greenway expansion. The smaller bridge will safely take people on foot or bike over the creek that flows from the mouth of Cliff Cave. The longer span will connect both sides of the park to the new overlook atop the bluff. It will also offer sweeping views and a paved path for walking, jogging, pushing a stroller, riding a bike or using a wheelchair to explore the park.

Following the review of a safety analysis, project partners are moving forward with a planned neighborhood connection into the park at Telegraph and Erb roads. This connection will allow people to walk, jog, push a stroller, ride a bike or use a wheelchair to access the park without driving a car.

Construction is expected to last through the end of the year.

For more information about the Mississippi Greenway, click here.


 

Greenway Project Updates: May 2017

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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!

 

 

 

Update on the Mississippi Greenway: Cliff Cave County Park

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Project Overview:

Construction on the extension of the Mississippi Greenway in Cliff Cave County Park is underway!

Following meetings with the St. Louis County Executive’s office and Councilman Ernie Trakas, Great Rivers Greenway and St. Louis County Parks is proceeding with the  project!

Tree removal along the greenway path is complete. Following guidelines provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, all tree removal was conducted while the bats that roost in these trees – including the endangered Indiana Bat – were still hibernating in nearby Cliff Cave (You can learn more about the bats here: www.greatriversgreenway.org/bats). In addition to trees along the greenway path, contractors also removed  invasive plants—including harmful Bush Honeysuckle—that are choking out native plants and other trees within the park. When the project is complete there will be more than a thousand native trees, shrubs, sedges and flowers planted along the trail to restore and boost the native ecology of the greenway.

Following the review of a safety analysis, project partners are moving forward with a planned neighborhood connection into the park at Telegraph and Erb roads. This connection will allow people to walk, jog, push a stroller, ride a bike or use a wheelchair to access the park without driving a car.

Thanks to everyone who has voiced their support, concerns and perspectives regarding this project. We are grateful for your patience and input and we will continue to provide updates throughout construction. As always, contact us anytime with questions.

» Click here to view information on the Mississippi Greenway master plan

Current Status:

Removal of necessary trees  is complete.

Primary construction on the new trail is underway.

Two new bridges have been installed as part of the project, including a 210 foot bridge over Cliff Cave Road.

A neighborhood connection at Telegraph and Erb will be constructed as planned.

Project to Date:

Community open houses were held in January and October 2016 with our partners at St. Louis County Parks to share project details and gather input from area residents.

Plans were modified several times based on community feedback.

A bid for construction was awarded December 15th, and funding was approved by the Great Rivers Greenway Board of Directors in January 2017.

Project Map:

New Mississippi River Overlook:

cliff-cave-overlook-2

cliff-cave-overlook

Bridge Installations:


Protecting Endangered Bats:

Cliff Cave County Park is home to several species of bats, including the endangered Indiana Bat – which spends the summer months roosting in trees. To protect these bats, we need to remove any necessary trees prior to March 31st while these bats are still hibernating within the cave. When they come out of the cave, the bats will choose to roost in other trees and will not be disturbed by construction.

4 Greenway Construction Projects Break Ground in first quarter of 2017

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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)

All of these greenways provide new opportunities for you to explore new parts of your communities, get some exercise and fresh air, and even get around town. To see a list of all the greenways, click here.

Cliff Cave Open House Update

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On behalf of Great Rivers Greenway and St. Louis County Parks thank you to the 100+ people who came out to attend the Mississippi Greenway in Cliff Cave County Park Open House last month. Your input and guidance is invaluable as we move toward final designs and construction. Attendees were excited for this expanded greenway, and brought insight (both opportunities and concerns) about the project area that only community residents can – again, we thank you.

We are setting follow-up meetings, doing additional research and refining the details of the project. We want to provide an update for those unable to attend, and we will host another meeting with updated designs prior to beginning construction this fall.

This project takes place entirely within Cliff Cave County Park, building upon the 5+ miles of greenways already there, providing a safe, accessible (ADA) connection between the upper and lower parts of the park.

Area residents will have no need to get and their car and drive to the trail with two new pedestrian trailheads, one at Cliff Cave Road / New England Town Road and one at Telegraph Road / Erb Road, each connecting with the extensive sidewalk system in the neighborhoods. We’re updating these trailheads and signage to be more clear, and there will be a gate at the Telegraph entrance. A new 44+ car trailhead parking lot at Cliff Cave /New England Town is provided to complement the existing 90 car lot at the bottomland park location.  The project provides 2 additional miles of paved greenway, new restroom facilities, and including an improved scenic overlook.

As with any St. Louis County Park, there will be signs, amenities, and park rangers on patrol along the new greenway, where people can take a walk, go for a run or ride a bike. The project is carefully protecting the natural areas, too.

We will work with the residents of the Park Place Subdivision and the Monastery of St. Clare to discuss how natural berms and new trees and bushes will create screenings for their properties. On other greenways like Grant’s Trail, our neighbors have reported an increase in property values for the new amenity’s proximity, and no increase in criminal activity.

We’ve also been working closely with the Gateway Off-Road Cyclists group; they have advised us on how and when the greenway can safely intersect with their existing mountain biking trails in the park.

As with all projects, we will closely monitor this in the first year, to understand how people are using the greenway. We are grateful for your feedback and we look forward to the next meeting to share updated designs.

Click here to see the presentation boards from our January 13, 2016 Open House