Project Updates: Constructing the Glade

Check this page for progress on the reconstruction of Steinberg Rink and the Glade, a 20-month construction project that will reimagine this 22.5-acre site from the Taylor Kindle River to Kingshighway.

The Glade is made possible by Forest Park Forever donors who are making gifts for this capital project and its vision for welcoming, all-season activity in eastern Forest Park.

Signage is posted at several points to indicate trail closures or detours. For the safety of all, do not travel into the construction zone. 

2025 Construction-in-Progress Updates

Foundational work continues through August. The main pipe for the Steinberg ice system was recently delivered and unloaded. Crews installed a large cooler unit for the ice on the Glade’s east hillside, near Kingshighway.

Early in the restoration process, teams salvaged the limestone veneer from the Steinberg building. Restoration on the existing concrete walls is progressing as we establish the new eastern wall. Once stable and strong, these surfaces will hold the iconic building’s veneer for many more generations. 

Over a third of the award-winning geothermal well points were drilled, and work continues. 

The Glade construction area was not impacted on May 16, but as tornado recovery continues, we remember the trees lost throughout the Park. Our experts are working with local furniture maker Mwanzi Co. to repurpose trees into tables and other furniture at the Glade.

August 2025 images above highlight the large cooler unit, the Glade hillside near Kingshighway and restoration work on Steinbergs existing concrete walls.

  • Summer has been all about laying the foundations for the many amenities in this space:

    • The site's geothermal system won a 2025 Technology Award from the St. Louis Chapter of ASHRAE. Our conservancy will rely on this new system to recapture heat and reduce environmental impact season after season.

    • Our experts are working with local furniture maker Mwanzi Co. to repurpose trees into tables and other furniture at the Glade.

    • Excavation and forming for the vault that will power the splash pad and cascade;

    • Drilling deep into the earth for the geo-thermal wells;

    • Pouring concrete for the hillside chiller unit and for the grade beams under the building.

  • NOTE: Fortunately, the Glade construction area was not impacted by the May 16 tornado that damaged other areas in the Park)

    • Demolition and removal of parking lot pavement in prep for geothermal well field installation

    • Demolition of old rink material and excavation of subgrade for new rink

    • Installation of micro-piers in the building floor area and footings for the rink-side shade structure

    • Preparation of hillside for chiller unit concrete pad

    • Excavation of the hillside to the east of the Steinberg building

    • Continued removal and crating of the limestone veneer, which will be refurbished and reinstalled

    • Beginning of demolition of the roof slab and demolition of the east wall and ceiling of the building

    • Closing the site to the public and installing construction fencing

    • Toppling the large masts that supported the stadium-style lights on the west side of the rink

    • Demolition inside the building

    • Removal of pavement and relocation and storage of the Zamboni ice resurfacing vehicle

    • Pruning and/or removal of trees that are not part of the finished project. (Overall, 150 new trees will be added during the project.)

    • Decommissioning of the building and rink, including removal of salvage items from the building and removing refrigerant from the existing ice refrigeration system

    • Removal and preservation of Steinberg Rink lettering and limestone veneer from the building and site walls

Progressive Image gallery

July-August 2025 images above highlight the deep-earth drill for geo-thermal wells, and pouring concrete for the hillside chiller unit and for the beams under the building.

Spring 2025 images above highlight the demolition and removal of parking lot pavement and old rink material, and excavation of subgrade for new ice rink.

Early spring 2025 images above highlight the removal and crating of the limestone veneer, excavation of the hillside to the east of the Steinberg building

Project Renderings