Plans to extend the Gravois Greenway (Grant’s Trail) from Orlando Gardens to the River des Peres Greenway are moving forward with construction slated to begin in 2017!

When complete, it will be a continuous 17 mile route linking cities, neighborhoods and portions of unincorporated St. Louis County from Kirkwood to the St. Louis City limits near River City Casino. It will also tie together three greenways (Gravois, River des Peres and the Mississippi) that cross a large swath of south St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis. Construction is already underway on the extension of the River des Peres Greenway from Alabama to the Mississippi Greenway at River City Casino and should be complete in early 2017.

While the Gravois Greenway extension is one of the most eagerly anticipated connections for people across the region, and a high priority for our staff and partners, we’ve had to overcome a number of challenges to keep the project moving forward.

The original route proposed in 2013 was ultimately deemed unbuildable due to private property that was unavailable for greenway development. Our team “took it back to the drawing board” and determined the most direct and safest

route for people using the greenway requires two bridges and an underpass. These changes increased the estimated cost to $10.2 million and required that we leverage grants and private donations to fund the project. We have already been approved for $2.6 million in Transportation Alternative Program funding from East West Gateway and a $1 million private grant from the Mysun Foundation. We are continuing to seek additional funding opportunities as we work towards final construction documents.

Multiple partners including St. Louis County Parks, the Missouri Department of Transportation, the City of St. Louis, Ameren Missouri and the St. Louis Metropolitan Sewer District are actively involved and working together to extend the greenway. The next steps include focus groups with adjacent businesses, property owners and community leaders along with a public open house. Stay tuned for project updates and details on upcoming meetings.

Where will these three greenways take you? From the City of Kirkwood to Carondelet Park in St. Louis and all of these places along the way!

Jefferson Barracks Park

Sappington House in Crestwood

River City Casino

Grant’s Farm

Clydesdale Park

Lansdowne Shrewsbury Metrolink Station

Loughborough Commons

Grant’s View Library

YMCA of Greater Saint Louis: Carondelet Park Rec Complex

Fultz Field in St. Louis

Affton Athletic Complex

Lemay Park

Whitecliff Park in Crestwood

Pavilion at Lemay

US Grant Historic Site

Oak Bend Library