This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

North St. Louis County Residents Invited to View Improvement Plans that Would Connect Bella Fontaine County Park to the Maline Greenway

Great Rivers Greenway, in conjunction with St. Louis County Parks, is inviting area residents to an interactive open house on Thursday, March 27, to view and discuss proposed improvements to Bella Fontaine Park, which is located in Bellefontaine Neighbors and Moline Acres. The improvements are part of the planned 7.5-mile Maline Greenway, which, once complete, will run through Bella Fontaine Park, connecting 10 North County communities and providing residents with direct access to the Mississippi riverfront. The open house will take place at Bellefontaine Neighbors Recreation Center, Room 101, located at 9669 Bellefontaine Road. Residents are welcome to stop by anytime between 5 and 6:30 p.m.

 The proposed improvements would enhance safety and connectivity within Bella Fontaine Park.  The plans include constructing a crosswalk that will allow residents to safely connect to trails in the adjacent Bella Fontaine County Park West and replacing three existing pedestrian trail bridges that have deteriorated. One of the three bridges will be relocated in an effort to link the existing Cardinal Trail and Maple Trail, while also allowing for direct access to the new Maline Greenway trail that will be constructed near the main shelter of the park.  The new greenway and connections will create 3.5 miles of connected trails between the two parks. Improvements are also proposed to the existing trails to ensure ADA compliance.  In addition, plans call for the removal of invasive plants, a new storm water management system and the restoration of Maline Creek, which has suffered severe erosion.

 Those attending the open house will be able to provide feedback on those improvements and also view finalized plans for the Maline Greenway, which serves as an important connector in Great Rivers Greenway’s planned 600-mile interconnected web of greenways, parks and trails known as the River Ring. The Maline Greenway will eventually form an east-west link between the Confluence Greenway and the St. Vincent Greenway near the University of Missouri – St. Louis campus, traveling east along the Maline Creek and connecting six parks, including Bella Fontaine and Bella Fontaine West. Once complete, Maline Greenway will end at the North Riverfront Trail, which, situated near the 112-acre North Riverfront Park in St. Louis City, links residents to a vast network of trails in Madison and St. Clair County, Ill., via the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge.

Find out what's happening in Florissantwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 “We are thrilled to be moving forward with plans for the Maline Greenway, and we encourage residents to come out to the open house and provide feedback on the proposed connections and improvements in Bella Fontaine Park,” said Susan Trautman, executive director of Great Rivers Greenway. “These proposed improvements will not only increase the safety for the many residents who visit Bella Fontaine Park, but will also serve as the first step in creating numerous connections through the Maline Greenway as we continue to work to improve the quality of life in North St. Louis.”

 For more information regarding the open house or Maline Greenway project, please call 314-436-7009 or visit www.greatriversgreenway.org.

Find out what's happening in Florissantwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 About Great Rivers Greenway:

The Great Rivers Greenway District was created by a vote of the people in 2000 with the goal of making the St. Louis region a better place to live. The public organization is carrying out this goal by creating community connections with the River Ring, an interconnected system of trails and greenways. The District also works to provide transportation alternatives, preserve nature, improve health and increase the economic vitality of the region. Great Rivers Greenway’s district includes St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County. For more information, visit www.greatriversgreenway.org.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Florissant