GREAT PROGRESS CONTINUES TOWARD THE COMMUNITY’S VISION FOR A VIBRANT AND CONNECTED REGION.
COVID-19 has had an impact on all of us, and through the challenges our team found ways to connect and collaborate through engagement, virtual programs and working from home. What mattered most was what always fuels our work — you.
The greenways saw more visitors than ever before and proved to be a valuable resource and escape for residents of the St. Louis region. Our trail counters recorded a 72% increase in traffic from 2019 to 2020, and we estimate that more than 3 million trips were taken on the greenways last year.
Although sales tax revenue, which we rely on for our activities, was down, we continued to work on dozens of greenway projects. We leveraged your investment using federal grants and private funds to keep projects moving forward.
Thank you for your continued input, support, volunteering and visits to the greenways. We’re excited to be accessible to you (as things open up) in our new office in City Foundry STL, near transit, free parking and the future Brickline Greenway.
With sincere gratitude,
Connecting the Centennial Greenway
Planning is underway on multiple projects that will add more miles to the Centennial Greenway, and bring this 17 mile connection between Forest Park to St. Charles County closer to completion.
Conservation Highlights
Conservation is an essential part of the work that we do throughout the St. Louis region, and even with the pandemic we have been working to improve habitats along the greenways.
Brickline Greenway
Progress towards this new greenway continues, including work on a tribute to the Mill Creek Valley neighborhood.
Envisioning the Next 20 Years Together
As part of the strategic planning effort we undertake every five years, we conducted civic engagement activities to make sure we’re on track and looking forward to the next 5, 10 and 20 years. Thank you to the 6,600 people who gave us crucial input!
Greenway Impacts
Here are some other highlights from 2020
- A new bridge over the River des Peres completed the long-awaited connection between the Gravois Greenway: Grant’s Trail and the River des Peres Greenway.
- Great Rivers Greenway was selected as the recipient of LaunchCode’s Organizational Dreamer Moon Shot Award.
- Trojan Park, built as part of the St. Vincent Greenway, was recognized with a global Urban Open Space Award from the Urban Land Institute.
- With partners St. Louis County Parks, St. Louis Public Library and Perennial, new storybook walks were installed on Maline and St. Vincent Greenways.
Learn more about the impacts that our greenways have made throughout the St. Louis region in the print version of our Greenway Impacts report.
Greenway Project Updates
2020 Financial Statements
The Great Rivers Greenway Foundation works with individuals, other foundations and businesses to fund construction projects, conservation efforts and improvements along the greenways. The Foundation supports continuing prairie, woodland and wetland restoration efforts along the greenways that are returning areas to native habitats for humans and wildlife to enjoy. The Foundation also provides for new amenities such as bike repair stations, trash cans, benches and more to the greenways to enhance user experiences.
Learn more about the Great Rivers Greenway Foundation