Sept. 05, 2013 (St. Louis) – The Great Rivers Greenway District is pleased to announce the opening of the Meramec Greenway Trail Connection in Fenton. The connection links Olde Towne Plaza Park in Fenton to the Meramec Greenway Trail and four other parks, providing a healthy and safe way for people to move between communities in St. Louis County. The segment opened this week to pedestrians and bicyclists.
“Projects like this one improve the quality of life for the St. Louis region,” said Susan Trautman, Executive Director of Great Rivers Greenway.” The most exciting part of this project is that it makes so many parks available through one interconnected trail. Residents can travel safely from Olde Towne Plaza Park to the Meramec Greenway Trail, which connects George Winter County Park, Unger County Park, Fenton City Park, and Olde Towne Fenton.”
The new connection is located near the intersection of Gravois and Old Highway 141 in the city of Fenton and includes a crosswalk and pedestrian signal that help residents access the Meramec Greenway Trail safely. The trail connection is ten feet wide and 1,500 feet long and was one of three phases of a project that also included development of a parking area and construction of a multi-use pavilion inside Olde Towne Plaza Park.
The new pavilion is designed for use as an open-air market, meeting space, or location for events, and it is open as a shelter, picnic area, and rest station for people on the Meramec Greenway Trail. The 20,550-square-foot parking lot offers 48 parking spaces, two of which are handicap accessible. The lot is available for users of the park, the pavilion, and the trail system. It is located in the southwest corner of Gravois Road and South Old Highway 141, in the city of Fenton.
The new trail connection is the result of collaboration between the City of Fenton and Great Rivers Greenway.
“We’re always excited to work with great partners,” said Trautman. “Grants from the Department of Natural Resources’ Recreation Trail Program and the Municipal Park Grant Commission, and a strong partnership with the City of Fenton made this trail connection possible.”
About Great Rivers Greenway:
The Great Rivers Greenway District was created by a vote of the people in 2000 with the goal of making the St. Louis region a better place to live. The public organization is carrying this goal by creating community connections with the River Ring, an interconnected system of trails and greenways. The District also works to provide transportation alternatives, preserve nature, improve health and increase the economic vitality of the region. Great Rivers Greenway’s district includes St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County. For more information, visit www.greatriversgreenway.org.