Area residents are invited to learn the latest details about the Chouteau Greenway Project at a Community Update event on Tuesday, Feb. 5. The open house-style event, hosted by Great Rivers Greenway, will be held at the Local 36 Sheet Metal Workers Union Hall, located at 2319 Chouteau Ave, St. Louis, MO 63103. People are encouraged to stop by anytime between 4 and 8 p.m. to learn more about the Chouteau Greenway planning process, project area and the community members who make up the Steering Committee, Working Groups and Artists of Color Council. Attendees can also provide feedback on some of the plans and ideas shared to date.
Duplicate, 20-minute presentations will be held at 4:30, 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., and representatives from Great Rivers Greenway will be available between all presentations to answer questions. There will also be display boards with information about the timelines and planning process that the agency – along with the Stoss Team, selected through the project’s design competition – is undergoing. Attendees can learn more about the proposed project area at an on-site expo, featuring organizations from across the city, such as Venture Café St. Louis, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Saint Louis Zoo, Grand Center Inc, Paraquad, Kingsway Development and many more. These partners will be sharing and gathering information at their booths.
Those in attendance will be able to contribute to an interactive mapping activity to mark the places where they live, work, learn, play and gather within the project area. An online, interactive version of the map will also be available following the open house at ChouteauGreenway.org. This community feedback will not only help project planners “connect the dots” in shaping their planning efforts but will also help everyone get to know the project footprint and their neighbors’ stories and experiences.
“Building on the last year of engagement, we want to hear from the experts of this project area – the people who live, work and play there – to make sure we’re capturing everything,” said Shaughnessy H. Daniels, Community Engagement Manager for Great Rivers Greenway. “This event and online map are also the first of many opportunities for people who may be less familiar with the project area to explore it as it is now, so everyone can start to envision the possibilities together.”
Since the final phase of the International Design Competition for the Chouteau Greenway concluded in November 2018, the agency has been recruiting community members for the Working Groups and Steering Committees, ensuring representation from the 20 city neighborhoods that lie within the project area. The next step will be to create an overall framework plan, covering the four topics of alignments, look and feel of the greenway, economic growth and equity, before beginning design and engineering on specific segments. When the framework is complete in Summer 2019, pieces of geography will be studied in projects called “labs” to test the framework and further design specific greenway segments.
People who are unable to attend are encouraged to view the presentation and share feedback online at www.ChouteauGreenway.org.
About the Chouteau Greenway Project:
The Chouteau Greenway Project is a major public-private partnership to bring a long-time vision to life. The mission/vision statement explains, “Chouteau Greenway will transform St. Louis by connecting people and our City’s most treasured places, creating inspiring experiences and equitable opportunities for growth.” More than just a free, accessible trail where people can exercise, commute or explore, the project’s goals include offering an exceptional experience to residents and tourists alike. The greenway aims to create dynamic, active spaces and serve as a regional gathering place that encourages collaboration and boosts civic pride. The areas to be studied stretch from Washington University and Forest Park through our city to downtown and the Gateway Arch, with spurs north and south to Fairground Park and Tower Grove Park, connecting our city’s vibrant neighborhoods, parks, business and arts districts, employment centers, transit and dozens of cultural and educational institutions. The Chouteau Greenway is part of the overall network of greenways being built by Great Rivers Greenway and partners. For more information, visit www.ChouteauGreenway.org.
About Great Rivers Greenway:
Great Rivers Greenway is the public agency connecting the St. Louis region with greenways, with 123 miles built so far. St. Louisans decided to leave a legacy for future generations by investing in and connecting together some of our region’s best assets – rivers, parks and communities. A vote of the people in the year 2000 created a sales tax that allows us, with lots of partner and citizen input, to build, care for and bring to life the network of greenways, creating healthy habitats and watersheds along the way. Greenways help residents and visitors explore and enjoy the region and live life outside. For more information, visit www.GreatRiversGreenway.org.
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For more information, contact:
Pamela Powell
(314) 436-9090
pam@hausergrouppr.com