St. Louis, Mo., June 12, 2012 … The Great Rivers Greenway District will present its conceptual plans for the latest segment of the South Mississippi River Greenway at a public open house event on Wednesday, June 20. Area residents will have the opportunity to view design plans for the planned 8-mile walking and biking trail, connecting Downtown St. Louis to the River des Peres along the Mississippi River. They’ll also be able to provide input on details of the project and speak directly with representatives from Great Rivers Greenway. The open house is being held the YMCA Recreation Complex in Carondelet Park, located at 930 Holly Hills Dr. in South St. Louis. Attendees can arrive anytime between the designated 4-7 p.m. timeframe.
Great Rivers Greenway has been working with partners from St. Louis City, Oates and Associates and various neighborhood and resident groups to develop the concept to be presented at the open house. This planned segment of the Mississippi River Greenway will connect numerous St. Louis City neighborhoods, including Soulard, Carondelet, South Broadway, Dutch Town and Cherokee Street. The greenway’s development will also incorporate Sugarloaf Mound, the last remaining Native American Mound in St. Louis City, and connect Bellerive Park with Sister Marie Charles Park in South St. Louis. Those attending the open house will get a first-hand glimpse at how each community will benefit from the new trail system, which will be an integral part of Great Rivers Greenway’s planned 600-mile interconnected system of trails and greenways known as the River Ring.
“Our plan for the South Mississippi River Greenway will connect downtown with a vibrant South St. Louis City,” saidSusan Trautman, Executive Director of Great Rivers Greenway. “The greenway will not only link many great neighborhoods, it will also connect residents to corporate campuses, numerous parks, various historical and cultural areas, multiple greenways and the Mississippi River. We are thrilled to share these conceptual plans with the public, and we encourage residents to join us on June 20 so we can hear further ideas on how we can improve this greenway.”
Once complete, the South Mississippi River Greenway segment will link the Arch Grounds and Chouteau Greenway with the River des Peres Greenway in South St. Louis City. It will also link to the existing North Riverfront Trail, which stretches north along the Mississippi River from near the Arch Grounds through Old North St. Louis and several North St. Louis communities to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. To the south, the segment will connect to an additional Mississippi River Greenway segment that runs from River City Casino to Jefferson Barracks in South St. Louis County. This segment is currently under construction but is expected to be completed this summer.
The greenways being developed in our region can take several years to build and are a collaborative effort between Great Rivers Greenway, neighborhood stakeholders and local municipalities. They connect people and communities, protect and preserve the environment, create access to natural places, promote good health, expand transportation options and transit connections and stimulate economic vitality in our region.
To learn more about the Mississippi River Greenway segment running from Downtown to the River des Peres, or the upcoming open house, visit www.grgstl.org or call 314.436.7009, ext. 107.
About Great Rivers Greenway:
Great Rivers Greenway is a public organization developing an interconnected system of trails and greenways to make the region a better place to live. These linear green spaces link neighborhoods and communities, increase the economic vitality of the region, preserve nature, provide transportation alternatives, and improve health. Great Rivers Greenway includes St. Louis City and County and St. Charles County. For more information, visit www.grgstl.org.
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For more information, contact:
Pamela Powell, The Hauser Group, 314.436.9090