Area Residents Invited to Come out and Walk or Bike New Extension of Meramec Greenway on June 10

Area residents are invited to bring their bikes or walking shoes and travel the newest segment of the planned Meramec Greenway trail on Friday, June 10. Great Rivers Greenway is hosting an event to celebrate the opening of the new half-mile section, which completes a 3.3-mile continuous paved connection between Arnold’s Grove Park at Highway 141 and Greentree Park. Parking will be available at three featured trailheads found along the completed segment, including Greentree Park in Kirkwood and Arnold’s Grove and Simpson County Parks, both of which are in Valley Park.

Staff from the City of Kirkwood and St. Louis County Parks will be available to answer questions at their respective parks from 1- 4 p.m. Representatives from Great Rivers Greenway will be on hand at all three parks. City Cycling will have bicycles available for rent at Greentree Park, but those wishing to rent bicycles should reserve them in advance by calling 314-616-5724 and giving the rider’s first name and height. Individuals who visit the stations in all three parks will be eligible to enter a drawing for a $200 gift certificate for REI, an outdoor gear supplier in Brentwood. The event precedes the annual Valley Park Days event, which kicks off at 5 p.m. that evening at Meramec Levee Recreation Park.

The new trail segment is evidence of the continuing progress on the planned Meramec Greenway, which was established in 1975 with the goal of coordinating the recovery of 108 miles of the degraded lower Meramec River, and connecting people to nature by interconnecting greenways, parks and open space. In St. Louis County, the trail will ultimately consist of more than 60 miles of multipurpose paths along the Meramec River, from the confluence of the Meramec and Mississippi Rivers to Pacific Palisades Conservation Area in St. Louis and Jefferson Counties.  To date, Great Rivers Greenway has helped to complete more than 15 miles of trail, with additional sections in development.

“The completion of this new half-mile segment is an important step in the overall plan for the Meramec Greenway trail,” said Susan Trautman, Executive Director of Great Rivers Greenway. “We are thrilled that residents of Kirkwood and Valley Park can now enjoy an extended paved trail linking these great parks, and we invite them to come out and experience this enhanced section of the Meramec Greenway.”

Greenways, which can take several years to build, are a collaborative effort between Great Rivers Greenway, neighborhood stakeholders and local municipalities. They connect people and communities, protect and preserve the environment, create access to natural places, promote good health, expand transportation options and transit connections and stimulate economic vitality in our region.