KUDOS TO CITYGARDEN: St. Louis' Citygarden is among five finalists selected for this year's Urban Land Institute Amanda Burden Urban Open Space Award, which is accompanied by a $10,000 cash prize.

The competition is intended to recognize an outstanding example of a public open space that has enriched and revitalized its surrounding community.

The other finalists are Director Park and Jamison Square, both in Portland, Oregon; and Discovery Green and the Raymond and Susan Brochstein Pavilion, both in Houston, Texas.

In the description of the finalists, the group said Citygarden's design "draws on St. Louis' chief natural feature -- its rivers -- the 2.9-acre Citygarden has attracted diverse users, catalyzed nearby development, and changed perceptions of downtown. Situated on two blocks of the underutilized Gateway Mall, the active sculpture garden has drawn an estimated one million visitors since its opening."

The winner will be announced at the Urban Land Institute's Real Estate Summit, set for May 18-20 in Phoenix. The award was created by Burden, a New York City Planning Commissioner and 2009 recipient of the land institute's J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development.