urbanSTL

pattimagee wrote: ↑

Apr 28, 2025

^I've always thought about this as an idea for the Rams money. It would be nice to build something lasting from that money that people can enjoy/use/etc. I had thought it should be something like a outdoor summer oasis water park (Barton Springs like) since it gets so damn hot... but an observatory would be pretty damn cool too (and cheaper, lol).

Not to knock something like an observatory tower for Forest Park but feel it is really a Forest Park Forever pursuit just as I advocate that FPP fund a loop trolley extension to the zoo.    

Just fell the city would get more out of the long term if Rams funds were for basic infrastructure say sidewalks, reducing street lanes & trees or say housing such as securing/stability the Railway Exchange or even making sure convention expansion phase II happens.  

Yes, I expect this is something that would need to be proposed by Forest Park Forever + a private (naming rights) donor.

I think the best locations are:
- Wells Drive next to the parks maintenance grounds just north of 64.
- Round Lake Fountain.

It should include a restaurant, a cafe and museum on first floor, and multiple nightly glimmering light show.

dredger wrote: ↑

Apr 28, 2025

pattimagee wrote: ↑

Apr 28, 2025

^I've always thought about this as an idea for the Rams money. It would be nice to build something lasting from that money that people can enjoy/use/etc. I had thought it should be something like a outdoor summer oasis water park (Barton Springs like) since it gets so damn hot... but an observatory would be pretty damn cool too (and cheaper, lol).

Not to knock something like an observatory tower for Forest Park but feel it is really a Forest Park Forever pursuit just as I advocate that FPP fund a loop trolley extension to the zoo.    

Just fell the city would get more out of the long term if Rams funds were for basic infrastructure say sidewalks, reducing street lanes & trees or say housing such as securing/stability the Railway Exchange or even making sure convention expansion phase II happens.  

Tend to agree here. I think an observation tower of some kind would be very cool and a great new tourist attraction for Forest Park, but I don't really think Rams money should be used to build it.

I don't know where the best place for this is, feel free to move if it fits better else where.  Another site shared this tool, I am guessing because of our urban, small footprint, but this says 98% of St. Louis is withing 10 minute walk of a park.  Kansas City is 69% (driven by the sprawling city limits, I guess).

https://parkserve.tpl.org/mapping/#/?CityID=2965000

STLCityMike wrote: ↑

May 24, 2025

I don't know where the best place for this is, feel free to move if it fits better else where.  Another site shared this tool, I am guessing because of our urban, small footprint, but this says 98% of St. Louis is withing 10 minute walk of a park.  Kansas City is 69% (driven by the sprawling city limits, I guess).

https://parkserve.tpl.org/mapping/#/?CityID=2965000

This is another case where people will say "well that's not really fair because St. Louis is so small and compact" but when it comes to crime it's a warzone.

Stl PR - St. Louis tornado left Forest Park with 3,000 downed trees and an unfamiliar landscape


https://www.stlpr.org/health-science-en ... ees-damage

quincunx wrote: ↑

Jul 19, 2025

$8M building permit application submitted for INT/EXT ALTERATIONS PR PLNS of the Boathouse

Very cool. Anyone have renderings? 

I really hate to criticize Forest Park Forever, because they've done a fantastic job overall, but jeez; this new water feature just looks so artificial. 



https://www.forestparkforever.org/eastw ... -390809325

I don't much care about that, if there is a criticism I would make its that the "Education Pavillion" on bowl lake does not offer any meaningful shade. What is the point of building a honeycomb roof above a resting place? We all know how hot it is in the summer here. 

PeterXCV wrote: ↑

Aug 15, 2025

I don't much care about that, if there is a criticism I would make its that the "Education Pavillion" on bowl lake does not offer any meaningful shade. What is the point of building a honeycomb roof above a resting place? We all know how hot it is in the summer here. 

I agree with that. I'm glad they made improvements there - and renovated the seven pools! But I'd like to see more to actually do - even if that's just to get out of the sun for a bit.

-RBB

I think somebody has suggested it many times before but creating some recreational parts of the water in Forest Park with beaches, swimming, paddleboarding conducive areas would be a big draw and go towards putting Forest Park and StL more on the younger generations radar. There’s no reason they can’t create some “shore” along some water features

I’d also like to see them introduce rentals of row boats and gondolas you see in pictures of old Forest Park in the streams. They have these in Seville, Spain’s Worlds Fair site and it really creates old world beauty. With each project, just introduce an element or feature from the Worlds Fair and make many parts of the park basically an exhibition of St. Louis in 1904 when it was at the top of the Western Hemisphere’s greatest cities

yes^^ to that. a big opportunity for a water feature if they do decide to close the west pine elbow through the park. 

dylank wrote: ↑

Aug 19, 2025

yes^^ to that. a big opportunity for a water feature if they do decide to close the west pine elbow through the park. 

Is there discussion about closing the road there? 

You can rent paddle boards at the boathouse today for use in Post Dispatch Lake and the Emerson Basin alongside the blue paddleboats. I'd love to see some bigger paddle boats. I'm 6'2" and I can barely fit my legs in those blue boats - my knees end up in my face which makes paddling uncomfortable. something like the swan boats on the Canal Walk in Indianapolis would be great. 

Re: swimming - they'd need to build a pool - or at least maybe to modify the Kerth Fountain to be sanitary for swimming since people are doing it anyway. I don't know that it's wise to allow swimming in the current lakes and rivers, not just for the health of swimmers but also for for the health of the abundant wildlife in them. 

I know it's not the same as swimming, but there are currently places to splash in the water in the Nature Playscape, at the visitor's center, and a new one is under construction at The Glade at the Steinberg Ice Rink:



-RBB

Did I read somewhere that the Boat House is supposed to be renovated?  If yes, are there any renderings? 

courtland wrote: ↑

Aug 19, 2025

Did I read somewhere that the Boat House is supposed to be renovated?  If yes, are there any renderings? 

FPF put out a SurveyMonkey survey on a future renovation - it's referenced here as if it's still open, but the survey has closed: https://www.forestparkforever.org/boathouse.  There's more info from KSDK here.


I believe it'll be a while before any renderings are available.

-RBB

Water quality is definitely an issue, even though the majority of the water in the lakes is potable water from the city. River des Peres does not drain INTO any of the lakes, per my understanding. However, water from the park does drain OUT to River des Peres. I'm sure the geese don't help, as well as whatever runoff comes from within the park. The new waterway connections are supposed to help with water quality. 

They don't even want you in the fountain or the renovated  "seven pools" area, which is surely also drinking water (before it enters these water features), so it could be a hard sell. A city beach would be hugely popular though.

Regarding The Boathouse, I just saw a post on Facebook saying that they will be closing 9/30/2025, and will be closed until Spring 2027 for renovations (yikes). Has anyone seen plans for the renovation work? According the post, they are still looking into whether they will be able to offer boat rentals next year.

Most of the lakes in Minneapolis are swimmable and have multiple beaches. Most don't have lifeguards outside of peak times. It's definitely possible with some engineering + political will + money. It's an amenity the city simply doesn't have at this time, one that would legitimately bring STL to the next level when it comes to recruiting new people to the region and retaining current residents.

The last thing I would say is that STL can't half ass this either, one or two beaches on one lake won't cut it as it would likely become VERY popular. The majority of the system would have to be brought up to swimming quality. Would also be highly in favor of removing the golf course in the NW of the park and massively expanding Lake Eisenhower (it's pretty flat over there so it wouldn't be totally crazy to dig it out 3-4 feet deep)

I will also keep yelling this into the void

As I understand RDP is used for stormwater runoff mostly, yes?  There was (or still is) a major MSD project mean to ensure that sewer runoff doesn't enter? Make RDP hold water year-round (with the ability to still absorb storm water) and some designated beach stretches, beer gardens, splash-pad areas.  Throw in an area for urban kayaking & some sort of tubing activity. 

Bart Harley Jarvis wrote: ↑

Aug 20, 2025

As I understand RDP is used for stormwater runoff mostly, yes?  There was (or still is) a major MSD project mean to ensure that sewer runoff doesn't enter? Make RDP hold water year-round (with the ability to still absorb storm water) and some designated beach stretches, beer gardens, splash-pad areas.  Throw in an area for urban kayaking & some sort of tubing activity. 

This would be actually very cool.  Instagram/tik tok-able.