+ REVEALING HISTORY AND CULTURE
2
COMPTON INTERCHANGE
We propose integrating Market Street and Forest Park Boulevard as a continuous Great Street. Rather than treating these two streets as separate on and off ramps for I-64/Highway 40 we propose integrating them as a grand boulevard in the city. Connecting these two streets will have a profound affect on generating a culture of urban street life. Three of the on/ off ramps can be decommissioned with minimal impacts to traffic and converted into bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways that connect to the Greenways North and South. In the space between these pieces of infrastructure, we propose a one-of-a-kind Archeology and History Museum. There could not be a more powerful site to explore the deep history of St. Louis than at the Highway and the Mill Creek Valley Urban Removal Project. Artifacts and building remains could be collected, studied, and displayed together with work by contemporary artists and writers in St. Louis. Located adjacent to Saint Louis and Harris-Stowe Universities, we imagine temporary and permanent exhibitions. The work of Damon Davis, a black St. Louis based artist, is currently shown in one of the courtyards, and Hiwa K an Iraqi immigrant working in St. Louis is shown in the other. Rather than infrastructure that divides, we propose a space that brings people and ideas together for display and debate.
FAIRGROUND PARK
NORTH CITY FOOD HUB
15
+ ENHANCING CAMPUS LIFE
MCCB INC OASIS RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY
The Fairground Park area is a critical node in North City, an historic and contemporary nexus of several neighborhoods with active neighborhood associations. The park is an ideal anchor in creating a North to South, park to park loop to better equalize investment in public infrastructure. The proposal includes improvements to the basic necessities identified by the community, including reducing vacancies and improving infrastructure, such as repairing roads, better street lighting, and traffic calming along Natural Bridge and neighboring streets of Vandeventer and North Grand. Improving life in North St. Louis will improve life in the city and region as a whole.
EV AR UL BO D
MISSION: ST LOUIS
AN
E
GR
NU
THE GATEWAY MALL
RT H
+ CONNECTING THE MALL TO THE GATEWAY ARCH
10
6
CHESTNUT & MARKET STREETS
The Gateway Mall is the spine of Downtown St. Louis. Multifamily residential and retail development around an extension of the Gateway mall would promote 24 hour life in St. Louis. The sunken plaza would create a pedestrian friendly environment for downtown dining, retail, cultural, and arts events. Imagine a St. Louis version of Rockefeller Center Plaza that integrates pedestrian and bicycle paths from Downtown while connecting Downtown West with Midtown. The one-way bike lanes on either side of Chestnut and Market Streets seamlessly transition to a two-way bike lane on the South side of Market Street through midtown toward Spring Street and the Foundry while also connecting to a bicycle route coming from the Jefferson interchange and railyard in the South.
Laclede is ideally positioned both visually on axis with the Arch and is already pedestrianized or gated off along significant stretches of its length. The street is relatively quiet and well nearly a Greenway already. Improved paving, street furniture, food trucks, temporary installations, exhibitions and a two-way bike lane along the Southern side of Laclede through Saint Louis University and Harris Stowe would enhance campus life and increase their safety with greater pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Event programming and additional campus buildings would go even further to make Laclede a vibrant pedestrian street for showcasing the strengths of these two Universities.
D
16
+ CATALYZING DOWNTOWN
12
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY & HARRIS STOWE UNIVERSITY
NO
NATURAL BRIDGE AND FAIRGROUND PARK
To compliment the annual Summer Whitaker Concert Series at St. Louis Place and Ivory Perry parks we propose additional happenings, a Friday Food Truck event, street dinners and festivals. These events, concerts, and neighborhoods in the North would benefit from further investments in street infrastucture. Protected vegetated bike lanes, street lighting, sidewalk and road repairs would make a major difference in improving the quality of life in North St. Louis. Bike lanes would increase mobility of residents and accessibility to the various parts of the +StL Greenway and jobs in the central corridor. These improvements North and South of the central East West corridor will go a long way to making all people feel invited and welcome in the Greenway and have a powerful impact on the city and its accessibility.
15
AV E
Several safe pedestrian crossings separate from vehicular traffic are needed across Kingshighway Boulevard. Children’s place is a North South midpoint directly connected to our Greenway proposal at the MetroLink line. The Hospital density at this crossing requires a bridge with stairs and elevators. But a bridge doesn’t need to only be a bridge, in this case, the bridge is both a spectacular overlook for Forest Park and a Canopy walk through the trees. The bridge gradually ramps up to an L-shaped overlook while the lower part of the bridge crosses Kingshighway and then begins gradually ramping down and switching back and forth between the trees and woodland habitats of Forest Park until it lands near the ice rink.
VANDEVENTER & MAFFITT
+ GROWING THE NORTH
16
Chestnut Street could be repaved with traffic calming pedestrian friendly materials and repurposed in order to create a strong connection between the city and the Gateway Arch bridge. The street, together with improvements on Market Street, should serve as a primarily pedestrian and cycling pathway. Currently the street functions as little more than a linear parking lot with access to adjacent parking structures. Sidewalk area can be increased for streetside cafes and improved retail development with little impact on traffic or parking demand while enhancing the recently renovated Kiener Plaza. We propose a one-way East bound bicycle lane on Chestnut Street and one-way West bound lane on Market Street.
+StL: GROWING AN URBAN MOSAIC Infrastructure is a part of our new public realm. The challenges facing cities and urbanized regions in the twenty-first century are complex and contested, but far from abstract—impacting us as individuals, communities, and societies. Efforts to improve our urban environment, to build a more just and healthy city, to extend the public realm must be strategic but also tactical. The outcomes of these efforts must be multi-functional, inclusive, and resilient. A contradiction is facing the urban space situated between Forest Park and the Mississippi River at the proposed Greenway. Running East-West in a shallow valley at the center of the city, 20th century infrastructure connects people and goods locally, regionally, nationally, via I-64, freight rail and the MetroLink light rail. At the same time, this infrastructure serves as a physical and psychological barrier between the Central West End, Midtown, Downtown, and North City and neighborhoods to the South. This irregular condition - a thickened band of movement and industry - sliced into the gridiron of St. Louis can now only be crossed at major arteries.
VA N
Forest Park deserves a grand and dramatic entrance from the city, at the same time, the narrow bridge crossing I-64/Highway 40 to the growing Grove neighborhood should be replaced with a much more generous space for pedestrians and cyclists. As an underpass, the gateway can be a source of security and safety for the park and immediate vicinity. The underpass should cross beneath Kingshighway to allow for seamless gradual crossings safe for cyclists and wheelchair users alike. The underground spaces adjacent to the underpass are large enough to incorporate a visitor’s center, a ranger station, a first aid clinic, and a refreshment shop for use and public safety within the underpass and at the South East corner of the park and Clayton Avenue at all hours.
+ NORTHERN HAPPENINGS
TE R
CHILDREN’S PLACE BRIDGE
20
EN
CLAYTON AVENUE
+ FOREST PARK OVERLOOK
23
DIVERSE HEALTH SERVICES LLC
DE V
+ FOREST PARK GATEWAY
OASIS RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY
StL
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTION SERVICES
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
COMMUNITY HEALTH IN PARTNERSHIP
GRIOT MUSEUM OF BLACK HISTORY
NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL AGENCY
FOREST PARK DEBALIVIERE METROLINK STATION
GUARDIAN ANGEL SETTLEMENT ASSOCIATION
8 ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
MAT SOCIAL MINISTRY CENTER
+ CONNECTING ILLINOIS
SP
RI
EAST ST. LOUIS
RT NO
PULITZER ARTS FOUNDATION GRAND CENTER ARTS DISTRICT
5
22
PETER & PAUL COMMUNITY SERVICES
GR AN D N
R EN TE DE V VA N ING
IVAN ULL NOR
K. S
21 ST
COM P
TUC KER
TON
KET
RESPOND INC
LEO
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
COMMUNITY HEALTH IN PARTNERSHIP
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTION SERVICES
GUARDIAN ANGEL SETTLEMENT ASSOCIATION ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
MAT SOCIAL MINISTRY CENTER
GRAND CENTER ARTS DISTRICT
CHILDRENS ADVOCACY CENTER FOREST PARK (FOREST PARK FOREVER)
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
NGA
THE SPOT YOUTH CENTER
CORTEX
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY
HARRIS-STOWE STATE UNIVERSITY
FOUNDRY (LAWRENCE GROUP) ARMORY (GREEN STREET ST. LOUIS)
UNION STATION
YOUTH IN NEED VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
ST. LOUIS HUMAN SERVICES DEPT. CITY OF ST. LOUIS
CASA DE SALUD
JEFFERSON NATIONAL EXPANSION & GATEWAY ARCH
BUSCH STADIUM
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE NESTLE PURINA PET CARE
MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF EASTERN MISSOURI FOSTER FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN
THE SOCIAL AFFAIRS BLIND REHABILITATION SERVICES
TOWER GROVE PARK
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE PETER&PAUL COMMUNITY SERVICES
THE LUMINARY GRAVOIS PLAZA
GRAVOIS PARK
INTERSECT ARTS
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
ST ALEXIUS HOSPITAL
MARQUETTE PARK
EQUITABLE EXTENSIONS The second “E” expands the Ecological Loops with three primary “Equitable Extensions”. The +StL Greenway must bridge not only the NorthSouth Divide, but also make an effort to cross the river to East St. Louis. A city that works together and bridges its divisions will create a stronger more robust city that more and more people will believe in, invest in, and live in. The +StL Greenway extends into some of the most financially, infrastructurally, and socially challenged neighborhoods in St. Louis. In so doing, we create a Greenway that invites and welcomes a multitude of users to the city, its jobs, affordable housing, culture, and educational institutions - a new Greenway that not only provides safety and security, but accessibility and opportunity. The extensions to the North along Newstead and to the South along Compton will grow the neighborhoods such as The Ville, Penrose, and O’Fallon in the North and Gravois Park, Tower Grove South, and Dutchtown in the South. Improving bus transit frequency and reliability, sidewalks, roads, and street lighting, and introducing protected vegetated bike lanes will have a major impact on the quality of life and amplify ongoing efforts and investment in these neighborhoods.
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE
MAR
T
AMPLIFYING StL
Many plans have been made to connect across the Mississippi River. This project has the opportunity to finally bridge this long standing divide between Missouri and Illinois. Utilizing existing bridge infrastructure by building a lightweight bicycle pathway on the MacArthur Bridge and pedestrianizing the rarely used Eads Bridge would bring more equitable opportunities for East St. Louis and St. Louis residents alike.
Combined, the three “E’s” of the +StL Greenway will build from strength, diversify, and amplify existing assets with new experiences embedded in St. Louisian life. The +StL Greenway will be a Cultureway, where everything about the DNA of the Greenway relates to diverse and inclusive expressions of arts and culture, becoming a beloved place in the city for its many diverse arts and cultural groups, individuals, and the broader creative community to work, present, delight, and inspire all visitors to visit the Greenway.
M
LK
FORSYTH
WY D OWN
CLAYTON
MET
RO
LAC
LED
FOUNDRY
E
WAS HIN
CLAYTON CHO
GTON
UTE
AU
UN I ON P ACIFIC / TRRA / M ETRO
CHE
STN U
MAR
EADS BRIDGE
K. S ULL IVAN
Within the city, the +StL Greenway’s performative landscape systems continue with vegetated rain gardens located in protected bike lanes, in between sets of parallel parking spaces, or adjacent pocket parks. These passive water collection, retention, and treatment systems are all interconnected and where topography permits, deliver pretreated storm water to larger wetland treatment systems in along the Greenway at the central railyard. The rain gardens create micro habitats for native flora and amphibians while additional street trees create shade for hot summer days, improve air quality and environmental health, and habitats for birds and pollinating insects.
STN U
T
KET
NOR
THE GREENWAY IN THE CITY
CHE
MA CAR T
LEO
As cities throughout America realign themselves with their waterfronts, the Mississippi River continues to remain underutilized in St. Louis. By changing the flood wall into a terraced levee, the historic waterfront warehouse district at Chouteau’s Landing adjacent to the Gateway Arch could become a new live/work and affordable housing district in St. Louis. The result could stimulate a return to downtown living and grow the downtown economy. We imagine hidden kitchens, artist in residence housing, hotels, parks, gardens, barbecues, an urban beach, and eventually, a public swimming pool overlooking the river all connecting to Great Rivers Greenway’s new riverfront trail while encouraging new adventures in the Mississippi.
5
KER
9
DIVERSE HEALTH SERVICES LLC
OASIS RESIDENTIAL MCCB Inc CARE FACILITY OASIS RESIDENTIAL MISSION: CARE FACILITY ST LOUIS
Strategically building on proximity to transit, parks, and culture is a powerful and proven strategy for expanding economic opportunity. Enhancing access to these assets with a new, wellprogrammed greenway network can support the real estate market of their surrounding areas and attract new residents, companies, and investment as proven by research from around the country. This network can also help to fill voids in the existing fabric by creating a framework for where public and private investment should be directed.
TUC
N AVEN UE
TOWER GROVE PARK
COMPT O
A pedestrian and cycling bridge at 22nd Street facilitates an important North - South Greenway connection between the adjoining neighborhoods and Union Station.
BLIND REHABILITATION SERVICES
A prairie and wetland is located at the base of the local watershed on the site of a former parking lot between the MetroLink and Amtrak alignments. The large, low-lying landscape relieves loading on nearby storm-water infrastructure and offsets surges from adjacent parking areas by diverting water into a series of interconnected basins. The tall grass prairie habitat supports the biodiversity of local flora and fauna while providing a rich habitat for migrating birds. This biologically productive site anchors the southern end of the greenway and provides opportunities for environmental education, bird, frog, and bat watching, short nature hikes and prairie picnics-unique recreational programs for the emerging Ballpark and Chouteau’s Landing neighborhoods.
The MacArthur Bridge used to have an upper deck with a roadway. While most of this roadway structure has been removed, a significant amount still exists. The road gradually slopes up from 7th Street at Gratiot Street near the Wetland Bird Park and the Eastern end of the Southern East West Greenway along the railyard. The gradual slope is ideal for a bicycle and pedestrian pathway leading to a dramatic Mississippi River overlook. The existing warehouse buildings can be reused for housing and galleries as well as new residential buildings and development. The overlook can host festivals and events while providing access to a lightweight bicycle and pedestrian crossing over the Mississippi River to the Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park.
CHOUTEAU’S LANDING
UN I ON P ACIFIC / TRRA / M ETRO
21 ST
19
The +StL Greenway along the Union Pacific railyard is one of the most exciting opportunities in all of St. Louis. By utilizing adjacent right-ofways, parking lots, and underutilized or derelict warehouses the space along the railyard allows for two independent walking and cycling pathways between newly established natural systems and the industrial railyard. The benefits are multiple for the city: a completely new and exciting experience in the form of a linear park, passive air filtration through increased tree canopy around the railyard, hydrological water treatment and stormwater retention, and increased real estate values between the railyard and Chouteau Avenue all while celebrating the industry of the Railroad.
11
CLAYTON
D
THE SOCIAL AFFAIR
PRAIRIE WETLAND AND BIRD PARK
CHOUTEAU’S LANDING
+ PERFORMATIVE LANDSCAPE SYSTEMS
FOUNDRY
E
T
22ND STREET
SOUTH RAILYARD
13
+ ENGAGING THE MISSISSIPPI
LED
N SA IS
+ RAILYARD BRIDGE
14
+ MACARTHUR OVERLOOK
LAC
GR AN
Crossing improvements are made at Laclede and Kingshighway to facilitate access to Forest Park from the Central West End. Additional trails are added in Forest Park creating a North South bicycling route along Kingshighway.
+ DEVELOPING HABITATS & HYDROLOGY
GE
RO
N
18
+ PATHWAYS BETWEEN NATURE & INDUSTRY
RID
The East-West urban route from the Gateway Arch at Chestnut and Market aligns on axis with Laclede , a quiet and nearly pedestrianized street that runs through heart of St Louis’ premier educational institutions and districts. The WestEast route from Forest Park at Clayton Avenue and the MetroLink line along the Union Pacific Railyard to Chouteau’s Landing allows a new experience completely unique to St. Louis integrating ecology, woodlands, streams, and wetland ecologies with St. Louis’ industrial railroad. The North-South loops connect Fairground Park, Tower Grove Park, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and the neighborhoods in between them with the central East-West Greenway providing vital neighborhood access and habitat corridors for improved environmental health and biodiversity. All of the Ecological Loops bundle water infrastucture in the form of temporal rain gardens, streams, and wetlands while creating new and varied habitats for people, flora, and fauna.
MET
OR FL
As the counterpoint to Fairground Park in the North, we envision Marquette Park as an amplified asset for the surrounding neighborhoods, and greater St. Louis. The Compton Avenue loop extension will be a central feature to better reconnect the divided sides of Marquette park. In addition to a protected bike lane with vegetated raingarden buffer, additional traffic calming bump-out measures are made at the north and south ends of the park. A new outdoor picnic and performance landscape will better connect the street and two sides of the park to the recently renovated Field House on the west side, and to the already robust Thomas Dunn Learning Center and recently reopened swimming pool on the east side.
LACLEDE AT KINGSHIGHWAY
FOSTER FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER
RB
CLAYTON
NORTH CITY FOOD HUB
W
The Spring Street bridge and railyard overlook creates a vital connection between the EastWest Greenway adjacent to the MetroLink line between Cortex and Grand stations and the Greenway running adjacent to the Union Pacific Freight Rail line that ends at Chouteau’s Landing. Reconnecting Spring Street creates not only a pedestrian and bicycle route between St. Louis University’s North and South Campuses under and over I-64, but a spectacular overlook that celebrates the presence of the railyard with a view of the Gateway Arch beyond. The Spring Street bridge also allows the Greenway to extend South through the Shaw neighborhood to loop together all four parks with Tower Grove Park as its largest Southern anchor.
22
MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF EASTERN MISSOURI
SOUTH
SPRING STREET
MARQUETTE PARK DUTCHTOWN
+ FOREST PARK CROSSING
39TH STREE T
25
+ GROWING THE SOUTH
THU
GUSTINE AVENU E
+ PROSPECT YARDS BRIDGE & OVERLOOK
TOWER GROVE A VEN
MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN
MA CAR
11
WY D OWN
ER
UE
9
From Washington University and Forest Park, through Cortex, Grand Center, Saint Louis University and Harris-Stowe University, and Downtown, the Greenway will connect, strengthen, and build from St. Louis’ existing assets that are either strong or under-performing in their capacity to catalyze economic growth due an underwhelming public realm - and provide a framework to expand economic opportunities throughout the city. Despite some systemic challenges, connecting these assets with a network of high-quality Greenway infrastructure can leverage placemaking as a key component of an economic development strategy.
LK
FORSYTH
FAIRGROUND PARK
GREAT RIVERS GREENWAY
M
HUR
N
LAFAYETTE PARK
The third “E” builds on existing “Economic Assets.” Investment capital follows talent. And talent increasingly is following place - quality of life places - that embrace diversity and inclusion, a mix of uses, and offer places for connection and fun. Therefore, parks, institutions, cultural venues, social facilities, and small, medium, and large businesses are all considered “Economic Assets.”
COMPT O
13
The first “E” establishes a series of performative “Ecological Loops” that connects all four major parks in St. Louis. The loops allow +StL Greenway users to choose their own adventure. Following the lines on the loops, one can choose a fast commuter route, a leisurely stroll through nature, a quiet neighborhood walk, an encounter with art, industry, or cultural heritage, or a combination of all of the above experiences. The loops allow linear, circular, figure eight, or circuitous pathways that amplify and create new experiences in the city while constantly opening up to the greater urban fabric. While all loops are located primarily on quieter secondary routes for cyclists, various segments of the loops offer different experiences.
SPR
NESTLE PURINA PET CARE
ECONOMIC ASSETS
VE NT
PA CI FI
C
BUSCH STADIUM
Locating the +StL Greenway in right-of-ways and underutilized spaces adjacent to the railyard offers St. Louis the opportunity to build a Greenway totally unique to St. Louis. By building on the topography, celebrating the railroad, and the history of Mill Creek and Chouteau Lake a totally unique and performative landscape ecology is formed. Stormwater runoff from the railyard, adjacent parking lots, and rooftops is collected and treated in temporary wetlands and streams relieving St. Louis’ combined sewer system and dramatically reducing pollution levels in the Mississippi in peak storm and rainfall events. This hydro-ecological system drastically reduces the cases when MSD must pump untreated water into the river. New prairie, streamside woodland, and wetland habitats allow attract native Missouri flora and fauna to the Greenway and create a performative habitat conduit and trail system from Forest Park to the Mississippi.
ECOLOGICAL LOOPS
ING
19
THE GREENWAY AT THE RAILYARD
MALCOM W. MARTIN MEMORIAL PARK
ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
4
SPR
LINE
SOU
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
ST LOUIS AMTRAK STATION
+ PERFORMATIVE LANDSCAPE SYSTEMS
7
AD
E
CASA DE SALUD
RAIL
ST. LOUIS HUMAN SERVICES DEPT.
VA ND E
N PA CIFIC
GATEWAY ARCH NATIONAL PARK
39TH ST REET
UNIO
STADIUM METROLINK STATION
5TH & MISSOURI METROLINK STATION
W ST E
CIVIC CENTER METROLINK STATION
CITY OF ST. LOUIS
NE
4 14
EAST RIVERFRONT METROLINK STATION
WAINWRIGHT BUILDING
SCOTT TRADE CENTER
UNION STATION
6
N
ET
IDGE
39TH ST REET
STR E
EADS BR
BRI
DG
E
The Greenway will serve to support the critical value of inclusive growth. Enhancing connections throughout the city can create new access to economic opportunities by creating safe routes to tens of thousands of jobs from neighborhoods with limited auto ownership and transit access. The most successful, dynamic urban districts have an eclectic mix of businesses, residents, and institutions that promote vibrancy at multiple times of day. Greenway networks and adjacent spaces can provide spaces for intentionally curated programming that supports a greater diversity of uses and activities — increasing safety, supporting businesses, and attracting new investment in a reinforcing cycle.
FAIRGROUND PARK
NORTH CITY FOOD HUB
DIVERSE HEALTH SERVICES LLC
OASIS RESIDENTIAL MCCB Inc CARE FACILITY OASIS RESIDENTIAL MISSION: CARE FACILITY ST LOUIS
RESPOND INC GREAT RIVERS GREENWAY WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
COMMUNITY HEALTH IN PARTNERSHIP
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTION SERVICES
GUARDIAN ANGEL SETTLEMENT ASSOCIATION ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
MAT SOCIAL MINISTRY CENTER
GRAND CENTER ARTS DISTRICT
CHILDRENS ADVOCACY CENTER FOREST PARK (FOREST PARK FOREVER)
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
NGA
THE SPOT YOUTH CENTER
CORTEX
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY
HARRIS-STOWE STATE UNIVERSITY
FOUNDRY (LAWRENCE GROUP) ARMORY (GREEN STREET ST. LOUIS)
YOUTH IN NEED
The +StL Greenway will create a framework for focusing efforts to build on St. Louis’ existing strengths through high quality placemaking, complete streets, ecological growth, infrastructural integration, cultural experience and improved quality of life.
ME
RA
ME
C
UNION STATION
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
ST. LOUIS HUMAN SERVICES DEPT. CITY OF ST. LOUIS
CASA DE SALUD SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE NESTLE PURINA PET CARE
MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF EASTERN MISSOURI FOSTER FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN
THE SOCIAL AFFAIRS BLIND REHABILITATION SERVICES
TOWER GROVE PARK
PETER&PAUL COMMUNITY SERVICES
THE LUMINARY GRAVOIS PLAZA
GRAVOIS PARK
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
INTERSECT ARTS
ST ALEXIUS HOSPITAL
MARQUETTE PARK
JEFFERSON NATIONAL EXPANSION & GATEWAY ARCH
BUSCH STADIUM
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE
INE
KET
STR E 21ST
PROSPECT YARDS
MAR
8TH & PINE METROLINK STATION
D
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
COM PTO N AV E
GRAND METROLINK STATION
T
BLV
E
REE
KER
ENU
T ST
ARCH LACLEDES LANDING METROLINK STATION
TLS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE - OBJECT TERRITORIES - [dhd] DEREK HOEFERLIN DESIGN KRISTIN FLEISCHMANN BREWER - BRYAN CAVE LLP - AMANDA COLON-SMITH - ECONSULT SOLUTIONS - eDESIGN DYNAMICS - EDSI - JEREMEY GOSS LANGAN – JAMES LIMA PLANNING + DEVELOPMENT - SAL MARTINEZ - PRESERVATION RESEARCH OFFICE - PROJECT CONTROLS GROUP - PROSPERITY LABS JASON PURNELL - RAMBOLL - LINDA SAMUELS - PAOLA AGUIRRE SERRANO – SILMAN - TERRA TECHNOLOGIES
GUST
YOUTH IN NEED
The +StL Greenway is a primary armature for future growth and future Greenways in St. Louis. A number of future projects by Great Rivers Greenway, Trailnet, and others should stem from the +StL Greenway in the future. The future Greenways shown here align with pre-existing studies and are not exhaustive.
OVE
STN U
ET
AU A V
CHE
TH C OMP TON AVE NU
UTE
AVE
To compliment the Grand Arts District a number of informal art installations and happenings are proposed within and around the Greenway. Highway underpasses can be exciting and unconventional spaces to create in situ art and culture projects transforming what might otherwise be a derelict space into an exciting a creative one. With the new development coming to Cortex and Midtown, it is important that the Greenway underpasses are activated and utilized. Local and International artists can be commissioned for temporary work in these spaces to create spaces of continuous renewal, surprise, delight, and activity.
3 25
RING
Forest Park and Washington University need a safer crossing for pedestrians and cyclists due to the width of Skinker Boulevard and the speed of vehicles. An underpass between Forest Park and the Centennial Greenway would create a grade separated crossing segregating automobiles from bicycles and pedestrians. Three ramps are graded from different directions to allow continuous travel on a bicycle. Adjacent to Bixby Hall, a series of terraced steps form a gathering space while spaces under the road are activated by a visitor center, security booth, and café. Given the proximity to the School of Art, sculpture installations are proposed, such as the Mary Miss sculpture in the foreground below.
Cortex is the Midwest’s premier innovation hub of bioscience and technology research, development, and commercialization, serving as the anchor of St. Louis’ growing ecosystem for innovative startup programs and established companies. The future labs, offices, and residential developments need their own community spaces. A park with an amphitheater and short underpasses for bicycle paths connected to underground parking would create a venue for open air product launches and casual outdoor lunches with cafes and communal open space. Outdoor innovation fairs could occur during the week and local residents could picnic or use playground spaces. Of course the silos should project art, such as the Jenny Holzer pictured.
CHO
21
H SP
FORSYTH BOULEVARD
17
ARMORY (GREEN STREET ST. LOUIS)
SOU T
CORTEX & GRAIN SILO PARK
I-64/HWY 40 UNDERPASS AT VANDEVENTER
E
21
+ INFORMAL ART & CULTURE
U AVEN
24
+ AMPLIFYING COMMUNITY & CULTURE
E GROV R E W TO
+ FOREST PARK / WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY GATEWAY
2
8
ST. LOUIS
The trestle and rail tracks leading to the Foundry provide not only an exciting means for crossing Vandeventer and connecting to the Cortex MetroLink Station, but it is also an opportunity to show how industrial infrastructure can be reappropriated with environmental performance. The green areas surrounding the pathways are permeable surfaces meant to absorb storm water runoff and treat pollutants with biofilitration. Given the site’s iconic visual appeal we also think it can be the perfect signboard for Great Rivers Greenway’s environmental, adaptive reuse, and ecological initiatives. The existing billboard on the site can be “recycled” as a habitat for high flying birds of prey. The billboard’s high visibility will project the environmental mission of the project on a monumental scale - without a single word. Historic photos of the site could be studied and rail tracks could be restored as partial cast in place sculptures. A stair to ground level is integrated with a bridge over the trestle leading to a stair that climbs the billboard to scenic overlook at the new + StL Greenway.
TOWE R GR
23
CONVENTION CENTER METROLINK STATION
St. Louis was built on industry, much of which is still operating today. Rather than relocating or removing this industrial heritage, we propose embracing it and integrating ecological habitats, pathways, and recreational experiences with artifacts of industry. Not only is this pragmatic and cost effective, it is also healthier for the surrounding city. Increased tree canopy will buffer the diesel emissions from train engines, improve air quality, and create shaded environments for recreation. Activating and illuminating these spaces at night will create safe routes for walking, cycling, commuting, community groups, and local neighborhood residents. Rather than treating the railyard valley as “back” of St. Louis, we propose making it a new “front” for engagement and experience. In this space, recently named “Prospect Yards”, a new pedestrian bridge overlooks the railyard at Spring Street and connects St. Louis University’s North and South Campuses, the Foundry, Armory, and the Greenway from the Cortex MetroLink Station to the Grand MetroLink Station.
OVE
10
+ FUTURE GREENWAYS
L
SPRI
CLAYTON AVENUE
HARRIS-STOWE STATE UNIVERSITY
E
RA I
CORTEX
ENU
FOUNDRY TRESTLE
TOWE R GR
FOUNDRY (LAWRENCE GROUP)
E AV
1
D
17
N
1
UN IO
INK
12
I RIVER GRE
ROL
LED
+ TRANSFORMING INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE & INFRASTRUCTURE
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GREENWAY AT THE RAILYARD
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CWE METROLINK STATION
CORTEX METROLINK STATION
ENWAY
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY
+ INTEGRATING INFRASTRUCTURE & ECOLOGY
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CHILDRENS PLACE
TUC
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FOREST PARK
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
The +StL Greenway project is designed to amplify the existing assets of St. Louis while taking powerful measures to address the multitude of challenges the city is facing. To do this, we propose a layered strategy with three primary components: Economic Assets, Ecological Loops, and Equitable Extensions : we call them the three E’s. Combined, these 3 E’s address opportunities for economic development and access, performative landscape ecology, and equitable access to jobs, institutions, education, and public space. The overall project seeks to reinforce what is already strong in St. Louis while bridging divisions and stimulating new seeds of growth in areas that need further investment. The resultant + figure boldly joins North and South at the central East West corridor - we firmly believe that the greenway must extend at least as far North and South as it does East and West while providing an armature for future projects by Great Rivers Greenway, Trailnet, and others to plug into to further connect the project to the communities of St. Louis and beyond. Through this armature we intend to grow a new urban mosaic for St. Louis, built on unique cultural identities, histories revealed, shared ambitions, and a new connective and productive Greenway for St. Louis.
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THE SPOT LAC LED YOUTH E AV ENU E CENTER
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CONCEPT: 3 E’s
It is well known that Eero Saarinen’s original 1947 vision for the Gateway Arch National Park was intended to encompass both sides of the river. The Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park remains disconnected and so do the neighborhoods of East St. Louis. Utilizing existing infrastructure at the MacArthur and Eads Bridges will create a bicycle and pedestrian route connecting the two sides of the river and the two parks. Doing so would give residents in both states access to the +StL Greenway and the jobs and recreational opportunities it amplifies. Marathons, bike races, and other events could loop across the bridges, capitalizing on what is one of the most spectacular views in America.
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CHILDRENS ADVOCACY CENTER
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BIG BE N
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The aspiration of Greenways exists in the idea of creating a network of public routes through the city in a landscaped system both distinct from and cohabit-able with the existing street network. Only a radical re-conception of this infrastructural band can bridge the north-south divide and become the primary artery of the Greenways system. A bold investment in public space is required to unite divisions, remediate industry, add new amenities, incentivize development, and provide alternate means of movement in a multi-modal city.
THE TRESTLE