WHEELS AND HEELS
A Brief History of the Forest Park Path System
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One hundred and thirty-five years ago today, June 24, 1876, the citizens of St. Louis dedicated a vast expanse of 1,300 acres of rolling landscape known as Forest Park. The park was envisioned as a place for the average man and his family to relax and breathe clean air, away from the smoke, grime and crowds of the city. Even though the founding founders knew that the park had tremendous potential, they could not have dreamt what the future of Forest Park would hold.
Even though the original park plan included an extensive network of walkways, the roads and carriageways received most of the attention. By 1879, pedestrians began arriving at the edge of the park on the Wabash Railroad. Six years later, the first streetcars reached the park. Pedestrians became a recognized element to contend with and conflicts soon were arising among horses and people. At this same time, the problem was exasperated by the influx of a new novelty, the bicycle. By the late 1890s, there was a clear need to separate these various modes of transportation by providing bicycle paths and pedestrian walkways. The walkways were the first to receive increased attention. Over the next few years, walkways and pedestrian bridges were continually added. In 1898, the cyclists, or “wheelmen” as they were then known, received their own cinder bike path. While roadways were distributed throughout the park, walkways were found predominantly in the eastern half and bicycle pathways occupied the western portion. By the turn of the century, the first indications of a system of dedicated paths had been born.
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, better known as the 1904 World’s Fair, utilized the western half of Forest Park and as a result, many roads and bikeways were severely affected. When the Fair concluded, the ravaged land was required to be restored to a park like setting. Even though many of the roads and bikeways were replaced, the park had changed. One of the most dramatic things to impact Forest Park was the introduction of the automobile in the early 1900s making separation of use even more important. The cinder bicycle path, which was now seldom used, was converted to a bridle trail. And, by 1912, the trail had been updated and expanded from a scattered network to one that encircled the park. The dedicated paths were revised for the new needs.
Shortly after Forest Park was returned to the people of St. Louis following the World’s Fair, a major building program occurred in the park. The Zoo, Art Museum, Muny, World’s Fair Pavilion, Missouri History Museum and even the golf course were added. This renewed park drew large numbers of people. They arrived by car, streetcar, bicycle and on-foot. Ease of access to the park and its new attractions became a priority. Additional walkways were added to help separate the pedestrians from the traffic on the roads. The dedicated walkways saw a resurgence of attention and helped to make the walks more pleasurable. People rediscovered the joy of walking.
The path system would continue to evolve and by 1919, the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch would highlight the fact that horses were seldom seen outside of Forest Park’s bridle path. Stables off the south side of the park had provided the needs of the equestrians, both seasoned and novice and yet they would meet their end in late 1968.
In 1969, the City paved a small portion of the now vacant bridle trail for the use of the bicyclists. This was the beginnings of a recreational “bicycle” path in Forest Park and in 1973 a true perimeter bicycle path would become a reality. This path combined the portion paved by the City, some of the remaining old bridle trail and some new extensions. Henry Stolar, an alderman from 1969 to 1973, with collaboration from Edward Ruessing, provided the leadership to see the fulfillment of this facility. It signaled one of the first efforts to rejuvenate Forest Park. The original dedicated paths that had evolved from the late 1800s would have a rebirth and returned to bicycle usage.
Another decade would pass before the original Forest Park Master Plan was presented in 1983. It had been commissioned by the Community Development Agency (CDA) of St. Louis and prepared by Team Four, CHNMB Associates, Fleming Corporation and Leisch and Associates. It recognized the need for a new “path” system in Forest Park. As the years passed following the paving and extension of the old bridle path, the user-needs had changed dramatically. Bicyclists, now joined by walkers, joggers, rollerbladers, strollers, and wheelchairs, tried to coexist on a singular facility and competition for the path was climbing. Fitness, through a host of different means, became the norm not the exception. As with the carriages and the bicycles of old, a new solution needed to be found. The 1983 Forest Park Master Plan recognized that specific need. Their solution was a new DUAL PATH. Their recommendation was:
“One of the most successful and well-used recent improvements to the park is the bicycle path which circles the park near its edges. . . . conflicts with other types of recreation on the . . . path should be remedied by creating parallel paths. A new path possibly composed of a material more resilient than asphalt . . . for jogging and running. . .”
Unfortunately, the 1983 Master Plan sat dormant until a new group, formed in 1986, called “Forest Park Forever” (FPF) emerged. The talents of Bruce Kelley / David Varnell, landscape architects from New York were enlisted to revisit and update the 1983 Master Plan. Kelley/Varnell submitted, in September 1993, a study entitled The Master Plan for the Rehabilitation of Forest Park for Forest Park Forever. They confirmed the findings of the prior study as to the need for a dual path. They reported:
“. . . there is virtually no pedestrian circulation system in the park; pedestrians wander undirected through the landscape. The existing bicycle path is well used but not comprehensive
. . . .In general, the Plan will seek to incorporate a dual path system, with parallel hard and soft surface paths.
. . . . The Dual Path System’s soft surface component is meant to accommodate lower velocity fitness users. The soft surface is primarily meant for use by walkers, joggers, par course exercise station users, and people watchers. Generally, higher velocity and physically intense recreational activities will be restricted to the hard surface component of the Dual Path System. This soft surface pathway may split from the hard surface path in restrictive topographical areas in the park. However, the intervals of separation are brief and provide park enthusiasts with another park experience.”
After extensive review, a revised Forest Park Master Plan, Saint Louis (MP) was delivered on December 5, 1995 and, with revision, subsequently adopted by the CDA. On July 18, 1997, the City entered into a funding agreement with FPF that would authorize FPF to raise and make funds available to the City for the implementation of the Forest Park Master Plan. Forest Park Forever and the City of St. Louis had began to “Restore the Glory” of Forest Park.
The needs of the park were estimated in 1997 to be $86,000,000 and the City and FPF achieved that goal before the 100th anniversary celebration of the 1904 World’s Fair. For the dual path in particular, the AT&T Foundation (as it is known today) made an initial gift of $50,000 in 1998. However, additional funding was needed in order to complete all the projects. The dual path was no different.
The first segment of the dual path selected for construction was from the Steinberg Rink northward to Union Blvd. David Mason and Associates prepared the plans for this area and suggested a new product for the ”soft” surface. To evaluate it, a test section was chosen along Clayton Rd. east of Faulkner Dr. The Bernoudy Foundation, in the spring of 1999, generously provided their first of many dual path gifts necessary to make it a reality. Once passing this hurdle, this new product was employed for the first segment, beginning in 2001, from Steinberg to Union. Also around this time, the name of the path took on a new flavor: it became known as the WHEELS and HEELS dual recreational path system.
In March of 2002, the City transferred to FPF the direct management of the construction of projects financed with private donation within Forest Park, including the dual path. Under the design guidance of URS Corp., the cost of the initial “soft” surface was a concern. It was finally recommended that a fine limestone aggregate be utilized instead for this surface. The next portion of the dual path slated for construction occurred in the summer of 2003 and was rather extensive. It ran nearly half the way around the park, heading east from Union Blvd. to Skinker Blvd., then south along Skinker Blvd. to Wells Dr. and then east to Tamm Ave. A significant portion of the WHEELS path used the existing bicycle path while the HEELS path was completely new. The steeper portions of the HEELS path received a light asphalt treatment for stability. The two paths were separated throughout most of their lengths.
To prepare for the anticipated construction in summer of 2003, additional funds needed to be raised. The Bernoudy Foundation, in 2001, again stepped forward with a pledge of $1,000,000 toward the dual path. This nearly three mile long segment was completed in the fall of 2004.
The impending reconstruction of I-64 along the southern flank of Forest Park curtailed any further dual path construction at this time. The remaining three portions needed to wait until the completion of this highway work. The wait would be worth it since the park would receive a new pedestrian underpass at Hampton Ave. for the dual path and a pedestrian tunnel under I-64 opposite the Science Center.
As the work on I-64 was winding down, the work on the dual path resumed. The segment along the Zoo parking began in the summer of 2009 as part of the Zoo’s South Entry Project.
The pause in construction allowed Forest Park Forever to seek additional contributions to see a successful completion of the dual path. Significant contributions made in 2009 and 2010 totaling $3,000,000 from Mary Ann Lee and The Crawford Taylor Foundation financed both the construction and future maintenance of final segments connecting the dual path loop around Forest Park.
The construction work on the final segments of the path from Tamm Ave. to Hampton Ave., east to the Science Center and then north to Steinberg Rink were completed spring of 2011. The nearly $4,000,000, 5.6 mile long circumferential dual path system is now complete and open for all.
Twenty-eight years have passed since the first mention in the 1983 Master Plan and the dual path we enjoy today.
The park is ever evolving and the task is not finished. As the predecessors experienced, construction is only half of the task. Maintaining the dual path, one of the jewels of the park, takes a long term commitment. Gifts made to the Henry S. Stolar Wheels and Heels Path Maintenance Fund are always welcome.
The keepers of Forest Park have preserved the “Park” and tended to its needs. As the needs changed, the keepers have made necessary revisions. The paths of Forest Park have evolved from walkers, to bicycles to horses, back to bicycles and walkers, and now for everyone on either “Wheels” or “Heels”.
As we cut the ribbon today we officially dedicate the Dual Path Loop to the patrons of Forest Park, knowing that the vision of its creators will again be realized. In the words of the Presiding Judge of St. Louis County at the opening of Forest in Park in 1876:
“I present to you, the people of . . . St. Louis, your own, this large and beautiful Forest Park for the enjoyment of yourselves, your children, and your children’s children forever . “
– Chauncy F. Shultz, June 24, 1876.
Written by: Richard Johnson & Henry Stolar - 2011
