DG2 Design led the landscape architecture and planning efforts for the expansion of the Gravois Greenway, a high-priority project for Great Rivers Greenway (GRG). This expansion extends Grant’s Trail from its previous endpoint at Orlando’s to the River des Peres Greenway, creating a critical connection across six densely populated municipalities and portions of unincorporated St. Louis County, from Kirkwood to the St. Louis City limits near River City Casino.

The landscape architecture approach focused on integrating the greenway with its natural surroundings, ensuring that native landscapes were incorporated throughout the corridor. This decision reduced long-term maintenance while providing essential ecosystem benefits such as shade, stormwater filtration, and habitat creation. The ten-mile Gravois Greenway now seamlessly connects with the eleven-mile River des Peres Greenway, forming a 21-mile paved pathway for walking, running, biking, and accessibility, linking parks, historic sites, and community amenities.

Key design features of the expansion include two bridges, a boardwalk through wetlands, a tunnel, and over 45,000 square feet of retaining walls, all of which required careful geotechnical considerations and water quality improvements. Extensive coordination with MoDOT was necessary to manage utility relocations, licensing, and approvals, as much of the alignment was within the MoDOT right-of-way.

Phased construction spanned several years, with the landscape architects beginning the planning process in 2012 and Phases 2 and 3 completing in 2020. These phases added neighborhood connections, a bridge across Bayless Avenue, an underpass under Weber Road, and new connections into the River des Peres Greenway. The newly completed Mysun Charitable Foundation Trailhead replaces the old southern trailhead, featuring amenities like restrooms, seating walls, a bike fix-it station, and native landscaping to manage stormwater and support wildlife.

This greenway expansion is more than just a recreational path; it links six towns, passes historic sites like Grant’s Farm, connects parks and community resources, and provides a sustainable, well-designed space for residents to enjoy for years to come.