Upper Muny Festival & Parking Plaza

DG2 Design, in collaboration with Horner Shifrin Engineers, led the renovation of the historic 11-acre Festival & Parking Plaza in Forest Park. Used more than 30 weekends a year for special events, this plaza also serves as the primary parking lot for over 350,000 Muny patrons annually.

The new design for the 75-year-old lot incorporates raised islands and curbed sidewalks, enhancing traffic flow and pedestrian safety. High-efficiency LED light poles now include water hookups and extra outlets, meeting the needs of various events. Stormwater management is achieved through bioretention basins, while extensive landscaping brings a natural, welcoming aesthetic that integrates seamlessly with the surrounding park.

An extensive palette of native plants—including 100 trees, 850 shrubs, and over 4,300 perennials—was thoughtfully selected to absorb stormwater, improve biodiversity, and enrich the visitor experience. Designs were finalized in 2014, and construction was completed on schedule in May 2015, ensuring uninterrupted enjoyment of The Muny’s musical season and popular events like The Great Forest Park Balloon Race & Glow and Loufest.

Client Feedback
“DG2’s work on the new and improved Festival & Parking Plaza in Forest Park was high-quality and completed on time, within a schedule that kept the Muny season uninterrupted. It’s been great to see visitors use and enjoy this greatly improved space in recent years.”
— David Lenczycki, Director of Planning & Projects