Historical February–March 2007 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The Skinker-DeBaliviere Greenways committee held a meeting in November, 2006, to discuss developments concerning Greenways development through our areas, particularly those of the St. Vincent’s Greenway and the Centennial Greenway crossing our neighborhood via Des Peres.
The committee and others present were: Joe Gudiswitz, Cochairperson, Skinker-DeBaliviere Greenways Committee, Paul Hohmann, Member, Skinker-DeBaliviere Greenways Committee, Dan Schesch, SDCC President, Steve Lorbert, Resident, Catlin Tract, Germaine Lorbert, Resident, Catlin Tract, Sean Gannon, Trustee and Resident, Catlin Tract, and Norb Hart, SDCC Transportation Committee Chairperson. Particularly of concern for this meeting is the discussion of the Des Peres portion of the Greenway, between, Forest Park Parkway and Lindell Blvd.
This portion has been abandoned for through-vehicle traffic and would serve as a final link to Forest Park for the Centennial Greenway (the Greenway proposed to connect Forest Park to Creve Coeur Lake). Steve Lorbert who resides in Catlin Tract, the neighborhood adjacent to Des Peres, commented that he wished to investigate what the Green Trails within St. Louis could possibly look like. Steve and Germain bicycled through the completed River Des Peres Trail and they were very impressed.
A similar Greenway path would be a welcome addition to Catlin Tract and a property which is adjacent to theirs. Catlin tract would desire the Greenway Linear Park as an amenity to the Subdivision, particularly if the amount of pavement in the area could be reduced (probably only an 18′-wide alley service strip, and the 12′ pedestrian path with some separation would be necessary) and their needs and desires could be addressed. Norb Hart, having returned from a Washington University Neighborhood meeting, stated that Washington University was committed – in both intention and an undetermined amount of funding for the trail – to realizing the trail for the loop that would adjoin their Main Campus via Mehlville, Ackert Parkway, Vernon through to the planned North Campus Facility, southeast to the Delmar MetroLink Station and south along Des Peres Avenue to Forest Park Parkway. Of primary concern for the residents of Catlin Tract was the continuous maintenance of the facility and the desire to have a well-designed facility. Great dismay was expressed in regard to the current pedestrian bridge at the Metro Link tract and Forest Park Blvd in regard to wheelchair accessibility and sight lines at Forest Park Parkway. Dan Schesch re-iterated the emphasis Great Rivers placed upon maintenance agreements and Joe Gudiswitz commented that trails were to accommodate wheelchair accessibility.
It was hoped that the new project discussed between Forest Park and North Campus could remedy some of these problems.
The possibility of a continuation of the pedestrian bridge across Forest Park Parkway was also discussed.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February–March 2007.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2007_02.pdf, printed page(s) 3; PDF page(s) 3.
