The Great Rivers Greenway District is a public agency created in 2000 to develop a regional network of
greenways
Greenway or Greenways may refer to:
* Greenway (landscape), a linear park focused on a trail or bike path
* Another term for bicycle boulevards in some jurisdictions
People
* Greenway (surname)
Places
Australia
* Electoral Division of Greenway ...
.
Great Rivers Greenway engages citizens and community partners to plan, build and care for the greenways.
In its first 20 years the agency built more than 128 miles of greenways connecting parks, rivers, schools, neighborhoods, business districts and transit.
Origin
Great Rivers Greenway was established in November 2000 by the passage of Proposition C – The Clean Water, Safe Parks and Community Trails Initiative – in the
City of St. Louis,
St. Louis County and
St. Charles County
St. Charles County is in the central eastern part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 405,262, making it Missouri's third-most populous county. Its county seat is St. Charles. The county was organized Oct ...
,
Missouri
Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...
. Proposition C created a one tenth of one cent
sales tax
A sales tax is a tax paid to a governing body for the sales of certain goods and services. Usually laws allow the seller to collect funds for the tax from the consumer at the point of purchase. When a tax on goods or services is paid to a govern ...
devoted to the creation of an interconnected system of
greenways
Greenway or Greenways may refer to:
* Greenway (landscape), a linear park focused on a trail or bike path
* Another term for bicycle boulevards in some jurisdictions
People
* Greenway (surname)
Places
Australia
* Electoral Division of Greenway ...
, parks and trails. The initiative was one of 11 priorities formulated by St. Louis 2004, a nonprofit organization formed in 1996 with the mission of bringing about a renaissance in the region by 2004.
Governance
A twelve-member Board of Directors representing the three areas and appointed by the executive of the city or county they represent governs the distribution of funds for developing the River Ring, the system of interconnected greenways, parks and trails. A Chief Executive Officer and staff carry out the development of the River Ring, working with local, county and state agencies as well as private and non-profit agencies throughout the St. Louis region.
Plans
In 2003, Great Rivers Greenway developed "Building the River Ring: A Citizen- Driven Regional Plan" to establish a long-term vision for the St. Louis region. Developed with advice from citizens, local governments, private companies, non-profit organizations and advocacy groups, the Plan identified a system of 40+
greenways comprising over 600 miles of greenways and trails throughout the three counties. Named the River Ring, the concept is designed to raise awareness of the natural beauty found in the region's many rivers and streams and to reconnect residents to the primary natural feature resulting in the City's founding, the confluence of the
Mississippi
Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...
and
Missouri
Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...
rivers.
The River Ring system will connect parks, trails and greenways in
St. Louis City,
St. Louis County, and
St. Charles County
St. Charles County is in the central eastern part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 405,262, making it Missouri's third-most populous county. Its county seat is St. Charles. The county was organized Oct ...
. Each of these greenways will follow the natural paths of rivers and streams in the area. The system will connect with trails developed by the Metro East Park and Recreation District of St. Clair and Madison Counties in Illinois.
Every five years, Great Rivers Greenway engages citizens, civic leaders and partners to update the Citizen-Driven Regional Plan. Updates to the plan were published in 2011 and 2016. In 2020 the agency began surveying citizens about priorities to build and care for the greenways to inform the next update to the plan.
As recommended in the 2016 update to the Regional Plan, the Great Rivers Greenway Foundation was launched in 2016 to seek private funding for greenway projects.
Greenways
Greenways within the district:
*Boschert Greenway - The Boschert Greenway stretches from New Town in
St. Charles through Fox Hill Park to the Missouri River near Historic Downtown St. Charles and the
Katy Trail Katy Trail may refer to the following places in the United States:
* Katy Trail (Dallas) 3.5 mile trail in Dallas, Texas
* Katy Trail State Park
The Katy Trail State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Missouri that contains the Katy Tr ...
. A 30 foot flower sculpture entitled “Blomstre” – the Norwegian word for Bloom – stands at the intersection of Mel Wetter Parkway and the Little Hills Expressway. The sculpture was created by artist Andrew Andrasko from old bicycle parts.
*Brickline Greenway - The plan for the Brickline Greenway, formerly known as the Chouteau Greenway, calls for 20 miles of trails and green space connecting 17 neighborhoods across the City of
St. Louis
St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...
. It will connect
Fairground Park
Fairground Park is a municipal park that opened in 1908 in St. Louis, Missouri. It was originally a privately owned facility, first used by the St. Louis Agricultural and Mechanical Association for the St. Louis Exposition from 1856 through 1902 ...
in the north to
Tower Grove Park
Tower Grove Park is a municipal park in the city of St. Louis, Missouri. Most of its land was donated to the city by Henry Shaw in 1868. It is on 289 acres (1.17 km²) adjacent to the Missouri Botanical Garden, another of Shaw's legacies. I ...
in the south and
Forest Park
A forest park is a park whose main theme is its forest of trees. Forest parks are found both in the mountains and in the urban environment.
Examples Chile
* Forest Park, Santiago
China
*Gongqing Forest Park, Shanghai
* Mufushan National Fores ...
in the west to
Gateway Arch National Park
Gateway Arch National Park is an American national park located in St. Louis, Missouri, near the starting point of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
The memorial was established to commemorate:
*the Louisiana Purchase and subsequent westward mov ...
in the east. The project planners aim to knit together diverse communities through the greenway to overcome barriers that have fragmented the city over time. The plan incorporates input from citizens on strategies to promote economic growth and equitable outcomes.
*Busch Greenway - The Busch Greenway in
St. Charles County
St. Charles County is in the central eastern part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 405,262, making it Missouri's third-most populous county. Its county seat is St. Charles. The county was organized Oct ...
connects the
Katy Trail Katy Trail may refer to the following places in the United States:
* Katy Trail (Dallas) 3.5 mile trail in Dallas, Texas
* Katy Trail State Park
The Katy Trail State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Missouri that contains the Katy Tr ...
to Missouri Research Park and
August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area.
*Centennial Greenway - The Centennial Greenway will extend from
Forest Park
A forest park is a park whose main theme is its forest of trees. Forest parks are found both in the mountains and in the urban environment.
Examples Chile
* Forest Park, Santiago
China
*Gongqing Forest Park, Shanghai
* Mufushan National Fores ...
in the City of St. Louis to St. Charles County. Three sections have been completed. From Forest Park the trail runs through the Washington University campus to Delmar Boulevard and Vernon Avenue in University City. Another section extends from
Shaw Park in Clayton north to Olive Boulevard. A third section goes from the
Katy Trail Katy Trail may refer to the following places in the United States:
* Katy Trail (Dallas) 3.5 mile trail in Dallas, Texas
* Katy Trail State Park
The Katy Trail State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Missouri that contains the Katy Tr ...
to the St. Charles Heritage Museum and connects east across the Missouri River to
Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park
Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park (also called Creve Coeur County Park) is a St. Louis County park located in Maryland Heights, Missouri, United States. The park is the largest in the St. Louis County Parks system and includes Creve Coeur Lake, an o ...
via the Creve Coeur Connector Trail.
*Dardenne Greenway - The Dardenne Greenway follows Dardenne Creek across St. Charles County. One section loops through the BaratHaven community and a restored prairie landscape in
Dardenne Prairie
Dardenne Prairie is a city in St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,494 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Dardenne Prairie is located southwest of O'Fallon on Missouri Route N, just east of I-64. According to the Unite ...
. Another links Legacy Park in
Cottleville to
St. Charles Community College
St. Charles Community College (SCC) is a public community college in St. Charles, Missouri. Established in 1986, SCC's first fall semester in 1987 had an enrollment of 1,547 students. It offers associate degrees and certificate programs in the ...
and Dardenne Park in
St. Peters.
*Deer Creek Greenway - The Deer Creek Greenway extends from Deer Creek Park in
Maplewood to Lorraine Davis Park in
Webster Groves
Webster Groves is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 22,995 at the 2010 census.
The city is home to the main campus of Webster University.
Geography
Webster Groves is located at ( ...
.
*Fee Fee Greenway - The Fee Fee Greenway extends from the
Maryland Heights
Maryland Heights is a second-ring north suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 27,472 at the 2010 census. The city was incorporated in 1985. Edwin L. Dirck was appointed the city's first may ...
Recreation Complex to
Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park
Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park (also called Creve Coeur County Park) is a St. Louis County park located in Maryland Heights, Missouri, United States. The park is the largest in the St. Louis County Parks system and includes Creve Coeur Lake, an o ...
.
*Gravois Greenway:
Grant's Trail - Grant's Trail on the Gravois Greenway runs along Gravois Creek on the rail corridor of the former Kirkwood-Carondelet branch of the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Trailnet, a St. Louis-based organization that advocates for active communities and safe spaces for walking and bicycling, purchased the corridor in 1991 and built the first six miles of Grant's Trail which opened in 1994. Since 2006, Great Rivers Greenway has extended the trail to reach 10 miles from
Kirkwood to the River des Peres Greenway near Interstate 55 and added two miles of trail in Officer Blake C. Snyder Memorial Park, adjacent to Grant’s Trail. Points of interest on the greenway include the
Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site,
Grant's Farm
Grant's Farm is a historic farm, and long-standing landmark in Grantwood Village, Missouri, built by Ulysses S. Grant on land given to him and his wife by his father in law Frederick Fayette Dent shortly after they became married in 1848. It ...
and the Thomas Sappington House Museum.
*Maline Greenway - The Maline Greenway connects with other paved trails in Bella Fontaine County Park in north St. Louis County. It is the first segment of a planned seven mile, east-west link that will connect the Mississippi and St. Vincent Greenways.
*Meramec Greenway - The Meramec River Greenway Concept Plan calls for a greenway stretching 50 river miles from the City of
Pacific
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...
to the Meramec’s confluence with the Mississippi River. Five sections have been completed. The westernmost section connects Lions Park in
Eureka
Eureka (often abbreviated as E!, or Σ!) is an intergovernmental organisation for research and development funding and coordination. Eureka is an open platform for international cooperation in innovation. Organisations and companies applying th ...
to
Route 66 State Park
Route 66 State Park is a public recreation area located on the Meramec River at the site of the former town of Times Beach, Missouri. The state park encompasses east of Eureka.
History
Times Beach was bought, dismantled, and decontaminated by ...
. The next section runs along the river on the Al Foster Trail between
Glencoe and Sherman Beach County Park with a spur on the Rock Hollow Trail. A third section links Arnold’s Grove Park in
Valley Park to Simpson County Park and Greentree Park in
Kirkwood. In
Fenton the greenway connects Unger Park to Fenton City Park and George Winter Park. The fifth segment meanders through the river bottomland in Lower Meramec Park.
*Mississippi Greenway - The Mississippi Greenway, formerly known as the Confluence Greenway, is planned as a 32 mile corridor that will connect with the Missouri, Maline, River des Peres and Meramec Greenways. Three sections have been built. The Riverfront Trail runs from the downtown Mississippi riverfront north to the old Chain of Rocks Bridge. At 5,353 feet long, the old
Chain of Rocks Bridge
The old Chain of Rocks Bridge spans the Mississippi River on the north edge of St. Louis, Missouri. The eastern end of the bridge is on Chouteau Island (part of Madison, Illinois), while the western end is on the Missouri shoreline. Its most not ...
was part of Route 66 in 1936 and is one of the world’s longest bicycle and pedestrian bridges. Another segment connects Jefferson Barracks County Park with River City Casino near the River des Peres Greenway. A third section runs through
Cliff Cave County Park overlooking the Mississippi River.
*Missouri Greenway - The master plan for the Missouri Greenway is a 55 river mile corridor from the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers to
Chesterfield
Chesterfield may refer to:
Places Canada
* Rural Municipality of Chesterfield No. 261, Saskatchewan
* Chesterfield Inlet, Nunavut United Kingdom
* Chesterfield, Derbyshire, a market town in England
** Chesterfield (UK Parliament constitue ...
that will connect with the Mississippi, Sunset, Centennial, Fee Fee and Western Greenways. Three sections have been built. One runs from Riverwoods Park in
Bridgeton along the Earth City Levee to the
Discovery Bridge on Missouri Route 370 where a protected pedestrian and bike path connects with the
Katy Trail Katy Trail may refer to the following places in the United States:
* Katy Trail (Dallas) 3.5 mile trail in Dallas, Texas
* Katy Trail State Park
The Katy Trail State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Missouri that contains the Katy Tr ...
. In
Chesterfield
Chesterfield may refer to:
Places Canada
* Rural Municipality of Chesterfield No. 261, Saskatchewan
* Chesterfield Inlet, Nunavut United Kingdom
* Chesterfield, Derbyshire, a market town in England
** Chesterfield (UK Parliament constitue ...
, the greenway runs along the Monarch Chesterfield Levee Trail and connects to the
Katy Trail Katy Trail may refer to the following places in the United States:
* Katy Trail (Dallas) 3.5 mile trail in Dallas, Texas
* Katy Trail State Park
The Katy Trail State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Missouri that contains the Katy Tr ...
on a protected path on the
Daniel Boone Bridge
The Daniel Boone Bridge is the name for two bridges carrying Interstate 64, U.S. Route 40 and U.S. Route 61 across the Missouri River between St. Louis County and St. Charles County, Missouri. The older bridge, which carries westbound traffic, ...
. A third segment in
Hazelwood runs through Truman Park.
*River des Peres Greenway - The River des Peres Greenway plan calls for a 11-mile corridor from
Forest Park
A forest park is a park whose main theme is its forest of trees. Forest parks are found both in the mountains and in the urban environment.
Examples Chile
* Forest Park, Santiago
China
*Gongqing Forest Park, Shanghai
* Mufushan National Fores ...
to the Mississippi River. Currently it runs from Francis R. Slay Park in the City of
St. Louis
St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...
past the Shrewsbury/Lansdowne MetroLink station to
Carondelet Park
Carondelet Park, established in 1875, is the third largest park in the city of St. Louis, Missouri. The park contains nearly and is located in the southeastern portion of the city, just west of Interstate 55
Interstate 55 (I-55) is a ma ...
and Lemay Park and connects to the Gravois Greenway: Grant's Trail.
*St. Vincent Greenway - the St. Vincent Greenway will extend seven miles from the North Hanley MetroLink station through the
University of Missouri–St. Louis
The University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) is a public research university in St. Louis, Missouri. Established in 1963, it is one of four universities in the University of Missouri System and its newest. Located on the former grounds of Bel ...
(UMSL) campus to
Forest Park
A forest park is a park whose main theme is its forest of trees. Forest parks are found both in the mountains and in the urban environment.
Examples Chile
* Forest Park, Santiago
China
*Gongqing Forest Park, Shanghai
* Mufushan National Fores ...
. Two sections have been completed. The north section runs from the North Hanley station through the UMSL campus and St. Vincent County Park. The south section connects Trojan Park through Ruth Porter Mall Park to Forest Park.
*Sunset Greenway - The Sunset Greenway in north St. Louis County runs from the
Old St. Ferdinand Shrine
Old St. Ferdinand Shrine and Historic Site is located at no. 1 rue St. Francois, Florissant, Missouri, and is owned, preserved, maintained, and protected by the non-profit organization, Friends of Old St. Ferdinand, Inc. The Shrine and Historic Si ...
in the historic district of
Florissant through St. Ferdinand Park to Sunset Park on the Missouri River.
*Western Greenway - The Western Greenway runs from the Meramec Greenway at Glencoe to
Rockwoods Reservation
Rockwoods Reservation is a state forest and wildlife conservation area in St. Louis County, Missouri. It was established in 1938, making it one of the oldest Missouri Department of Conservation areas.
Being located close to a major urban area ...
. The master plan is to extend the greenway to connect with
Babler State Park
Babler State Park (formally, Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park) is a state-managed public recreation area located in the northwest section of the city of Wildwood, Missouri. A large bronze statue of Dr. Babler greets park visitors. The st ...
and the Missouri Greenway in west St. Louis County.
CityArchRiver Project
In 2007, four decades after completion of the
Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch is a monument in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Clad in stainless steel and built in the form of a weighted catenary arch, it is the world's tallest arch and Missouri's tallest accessible building. Some sources conside ...
, the site remained an island, severed from the rest of the city by busy highways and disconnected from the Mississippi River. Walter Metcalfe, an attorney and civic leader in St. Louis, led the formation of CityArchRiver2015 Foundation in 2009 to transform the St. Louis Riverfront and Arch grounds.
Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates of New York won an international competition to redesign the Arch grounds in 2010.
The project received $20 million in capital funding in 2011 from the U.S. Department of Transportation, a $25 million matching grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation and $10 million in private donations raised by CityArchRiver. With a total project cost of $380 million, more funding was needed.
Great Rivers Greenway joined the effort in 2012, becoming part of a public-private partnership with the CityArchRiver2015 Foundation, National Park Service, Missouri Department of Transportation, Bi-State Development, and Jefferson National Parks Association. The partners planned a ballot issue known as Proposition P to generate sales tax revenue for the CityArchRiver project and other park improvements.
In April 2013 voters in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County approved Proposition P: The Safe and Accessible Arch and Public Parks Initiative. The proposition authorized a 3/16th-cent sales tax to fund the CityArchRiver project and accelerate local park and greenway construction. The tax was projected to generate $780 million over the next 20 years, with 60 percent going to Great Rivers Greenway and 40 percent going to support local parks in St. Louis City and County. Half of the Great Rivers Greenway revenue supported the CityArchRiver project and the other half would be used to accelerate greenway construction.
Great Rivers Greenway stewarded $85 million in Proposition P funds to complete several major projects over the next five years:
*The Park Over the Highway, a land bridge over the I-44 and I-70 highways, connected downtown St. Louis from Luther Ely Smith Square to the Arch grounds and the riverfront, making it easy and safe for people to travel through the area on foot or by bike.
*
Luther Ely Smith
Luther Ely Smith (June 11, 1873 – April 2, 1951) was a St. Louis, Missouri lawyer and civic booster. He has been described by the National Park Service as the "father of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial," which was renamed as the Ga ...
Square, a green space leading to the Park Over the Highway was renovated.
*The Riverfront Trail on the Mississippi Greenway was extended 1.5 miles from Biddle Street south to Chouteau Avenue along Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard and the boulevard was raised by 2.5 feet to reduce flooding.
*The North Gateway, a new recreation and event space at the north entrance to the Arch grounds, opened with a natural amphitheater, a bike and pedestrian path to Laclede's Landing, shaded lawns, a children’s garden and an elevated walkway offering views of the Gateway Arch and the historic Eads Bridge.
*The Arch grounds were transformed with sustainable ponds, landscaping and accessible walkways connecting the Gateway Arch to the Mississippi River.
*
Kiener Plaza
Kiener Plaza is a municipal park in downtown St. Louis, Missouri.
Description
Originally developed in 1962, Kiener Plaza was given a major redesign and amenities update in 2017 as part of the CityArchRiver project. The park has a wide stone p ...
was redesigned to serve as a public gathering place with a playground, fountains, an interactive splash pad, a grassy concert area, shade gardens, landscaping, and bicycle parking.
*The
Gateway Arch National Park
Gateway Arch National Park is an American national park located in St. Louis, Missouri, near the starting point of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
The memorial was established to commemorate:
*the Louisiana Purchase and subsequent westward mov ...
Museum and Visitor Center was renovated and expanded.
*Renovation of the
Old Courthouse was planned to enhance the visitor experience and accessibility. Work was scheduled to begin in late 2021.
CityArchRiver Foundation changed its name to the Gateway Arch Park Foundation in 2017. The Foundation raised $250 million in private funds for the project.
External links
Great Rivers Greenway website
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Great Rivers Greenway District
Landscape architecture
Urban planning in the United States
Parks in St. Louis
Geography of Missouri
Organizations based in Missouri
Tourist attractions in St. Louis