BaratHaven Park in Dardenne Prairie, Missouri, is an 80-acre community park and the inaugural project of the Dardenne Greenway in St. Charles County. Designed to bring natural beauty and active recreation to the surrounding neighborhood, the park centers on a 15-acre lake enhanced with wetlands to support native wildlife and plant habitats. Three scenic lake overlooks invite visitors to pause and connect with the landscape throughout their visit.

A Three-Mile Greenway Loop

The three-mile BaratHaven loop winds through residential areas of the BaratHaven community, forming the heart of the larger 80-acre park. To the east, the greenway extends into Bluebird Meadow Park, where a restored wetland and prairie landscape create a seamless ecological transition. This extension lays the groundwork for future connections to Busch Wildlife, protecting an oxbow and associated wetland while establishing additional prairie acreage for native habitat.

Restoration Along Dardenne Creek

Creating BaratHaven Park required stabilizing and restoring scenic stretches along Dardenne Creek and Old Dardenne Creek. Natural vegetation was established along these corridors to protect adjacent land, preserve the riparian habitat for wildlife, and prevent soil erosion. New wetlands constructed along the creeks further enrich the ecological value of the park, providing habitat for native flora and fauna throughout the seasons.

A Native Plant Palette Rooted in Missouri

The Dardenne Greenway’s plant palette draws on a diverse selection of native Missouri species chosen for their hardiness, disease and insect resistance, and compatibility with local soils. Beyond their ecological value, these plants serve multiple design purposes: providing privacy for adjacent residential areas without limiting access, defining spaces, framing views, offering shade along the trail system, and enriching the habitat for local wildlife.

*Completed prior to establishing DG2 Design