DG2 Design led the landscape architecture and planning for the expansion of the Gravois Greenway, a high-priority project for Great Rivers Greenway (GRG). This expansion extends the beloved Grant’s Trail from its former southern endpoint at Orlando’s to the River des Peres Greenway — creating a critical active transportation 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.

A 21-Mile Paved Corridor

The ten-mile Gravois Greenway now connects seamlessly with the eleven-mile River des Peres Greenway, forming a continuous 21-mile paved pathway for walking, running, cycling, and wheelchair use. The corridor links parks, historic sites, including Grant’s Farm, and community amenities across some of the region’s most densely populated communities. The landscape architecture approach prioritized integrating the greenway with its natural surroundings through native plantings — reducing long-term maintenance while providing essential ecosystem services, including shade, stormwater filtration, and habitat creation.

Engineering Complexity at Scale

Key design features include two bridges, a boardwalk through wetlands, a tunnel, and more than 45,000 square feet of retaining walls — all requiring careful geotechnical analysis and water-quality planning. Much of the alignment runs within MoDOT right-of-way, necessitating extensive coordination with the department on utility relocations, licensing, and approvals. Phased construction spanned several years, with planning beginning in 2012 and Phases 2 and 3 completing in 2020. Those phases added neighborhood connections, a bridge across Bayless Avenue, an underpass beneath Weber Road, and new connections into the River des Peres Greenway.

The Mysun Charitable Foundation Trailhead

The newly completed Mysun Charitable Foundation Trailhead replaces the old southern terminus with a welcoming gateway featuring restrooms, seating walls, a bike fix-it station, and native landscaping designed to manage stormwater and support local wildlife. It serves as a fitting anchor for a greenway that has become far more than a recreational path — linking six towns, passing historic landmarks, and providing a sustainable, well-designed outdoor resource for the entire region.