Residents can weigh in on Chouteau Greenway Design Competition
Residents of the bistate area can provide feedback on the concepts that are being considered to bring the Chouteau Greenway to life.
After reviewing initial submissions from 19 design teams from throughout the world, the Chouteau Greenway Design Competition jury selected four teams in December to each develop conceptual plans. The public will be able to view those concepts either online at www.ChouteauGreenway.org or in person at exhibits around town and provide input through a survey through April 22.
Great Rivers Greenway is joined by seven partners in a public-private partnership to transform the city of St. Louis with a greenway that connects Washington University and Forest Park through the city to downtown and the Gateway Arch. The greenway will feature spurs north and south to connect the city’s vibrant neighborhoods, parks, business and cultural districts, employment centers, transit and dozens of cultural and educational institutions. Community members’ responses will be collected until April 22 and will be provided to the competition jury, which will select the winning concept and team at the end of April.
“It is very important to the jury to hear the voices of St. Louisans,” said Don Stastny, competition manager. “We hope people will take the opportunity to share how they think the teams responded to the Design and Community Goals, which serve as the foundation of the competition.”
As part of the competition, each team developed a set of display boards, highlighting their overall concepts. The boards will be on display at locations throughout the City of St. Louis through 22, including the Central and Schlafly branches of the St. Louis Public Library, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, the Forest Park Visitor and Education Center, Missouri History Museum, The Luminary, Covo STL, KAMP, Great Rivers Greenway, Venture Café, Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club, St. Louis College of Pharmacy and Saint Louis University.
Community members are also invited to see the teams present their plans to the jury Wednesday, April 25. The event at Harris-Stowe State University from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., will be streamed on Great Rivers Greenway’s Facebook page.
The full schedule and details for all of these events are available at www.ChouteauGreenway.org.
The four design teams chosen to compete have been working on their concepts since January and have met with technical and community advisers several times throughout the three-month planning process. Once the jury selects the winning concept and team, the chosen team will have two months to refine its design before presenting a final concept in June 2018. The project partners then take on the task of determining how to bring the project to life, addressing funding and governance options for the project’s construction, activation and maintenance. From the overall concept plan, specific segments will undergo further engagement, design and engineering before construction can begin.
“We are working with our partners to transform the city of St. Louis and ensure that the Chouteau Greenway creates opportunities for economic and community benefits, especially within the context of our region’s racial inequities,” said Susan Trautman, chief executive officer of Great Rivers Greenway. “Let’s create a dynamic, world-class and uniquely St. Louis experience that engages our community, addresses equity and creates common ground.”
About the Chouteau Greenway Design Competition Project:
The Chouteau Greenway Design Competition is a major public-private partnership to bring a long-time vision to life. The 10-month process is a transformational project to connect Washington University and Forest Park through our city to Downtown and the Gateway Arch, with spurs north and south to connect the city’s 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. The competition is privately funded by Arch to Park Collaborative, Forest Park Forever, Grand Center Inc., Great Rivers Greenway Foundation, Green Street St. Louis, Lawrence Group, Saint Louis University, Washington University in St. Louis and Washington University Medical Center, with the City of St. Louis as a major partner. 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 117 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.
