Public Invited to Celebration of Waterways in Forest Park Aug. 6
Water at Wise Falls cascades into Jefferson Lake on Clayton Avenue, one of the new features of the East Waterways project in Forest Park.
It’s the completion of a vision three decades in the making, with roots that trace back to the 1904 World’s Fair.
On Wednesday, Aug. 6, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Forest Park Forever and the City of St. Louis invite the public to celebrate the completion of the East Waterways project, the final phase of a vision that returned a 2.5-mile interconnected waterway to one of the best urban park’s in the nation.
Families, bikers, joggers, birdwatchers — every one who uses this 1,300-acre treasure — are invited to bring a picnic, enjoy live music, purchase from food trucks and participate in activities with some of the community partners who make this part of eastern Forest Park special:
Forest Park Forever Education team: learn about the Park’s wildlife and help catalog the Park’s immense insect diversity
Forest Park Forever Land Management team: learn about Forest Park’s green spaces — ask us about the trees, the flowers, the landscapes and more
Great Rivers Greenway: Talk to members of the organization that has built 135 miles (and counting!) of pathways across our region, including two that already intersect with Forest Park, plus the Brickline Greenway that will connect the Park to the Arch, Tower Grove Park, Fairground Park and points in between.
Metropolitan Sewer District Project Clear and Missouri Botanical Garden Earthways Center
Missouri Department of Conservation: Learn from the organization behind the longest-running urban fishing program in the country, which stocks Forest Park’s Jefferson Lake each year.
St. Louis Audubon Society: If you’re not a birdwatcher, it’s only a matter of time! This group leads monthly bird walks in Forest Park and other locales.
SWT Design : This St. Louis-based design firm can tell you all about the newest features that are part of the East Waterways project.
Enjoy live music from Delicious Fishes and food* trucks like:
*All food trucks are able to accommodate gluten free, dairy free and vegetarian dietary needs.
About Forest Park’s Waterways
In the 1990s, the Forest Park Master Plan envisioned a connected linear waterway that would call to mind the section of River Des Peres that used to run through Forest Park before it was temporarily buried for the 1904 World’s Fair, then permanently placed underground in the 1930s. At the turn of the 21st century and in partnership with the City of St. Louis, Forest Park Forever raised private funds to create what became the Taylor Kindle River, but at the time it stopped just west of Steinberg Rink. The East Waterways project, constructed with the City of St. Louis and funded by the nonprofit conservancy’s Forever campaign, completes the original vision by connecting the river to Jefferson Lake and adding several awe-inspiring enhancements to the waterways in eastern Forest Park.
Event Details & Location
Time: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 6
Location: Clayton Avenue (which will be closed to vehicle traffic) and the new Forever campaign donor plaza overlooking Jefferson Lake. Activities will also be held at the lake’s surrounding new features including Wise Falls, Bayer Boardwalk, the restored Seven Pools and Bowl Lake and more.
Admission: Free! (Food & beverage available for purchase from food trucks)