With your contribution to the Forever campaign, Forest Park Forever and the City of St. Louis are making $30 million of improvements to solve pressing challenges across the Park. Here is a comprehensive view of campaign projects that have been completed, are underway and still to come:

While many of Forest Park's iconic locations like the Boathouse and the Emerson Grand Basin were restored in recent decades, a number of urgent improvement projects remain. Here is just some of what the Forever campaign is helping deliver to visitors:

Park Way-Finding System

PARK CHALLENGE
For years, a top Forest Park visitor request had been better orientation and way-finding. The existing brown signs (visible at left), intended to be temporary when they were installed years ago, were unattractive, vehicle-centric, incomplete and confusing to visitors.

FOREVER SOLUTION
An intuitive and visitor-friendly Park-wide way-finding system, consisting of 239 new directional signs, Park maps, informational kiosks and banners that has greatly improved the experience of visitors using all modes of transportation.

STATUS
Completed! ✔

The Festival & Parking Plaza

PARK CHALLENGE
The crumbling sea of asphalt above the Muny offered poor experience for theatre- and festival-goers.

FOREVER SOLUTION
In 2015 we transformed the old Upper Muny Lot into the new Festival & Parking Plaza, a space that is more vibrant, sustainable and welcoming. Among the gains: 25,000 SQF of new green space, 5,000 new plantings, sustainable rain gardens, new pedestrian walkways, additional ADA parking and access and 751 smooth parking spots.

STATUS
Completed! ✔

Restrooms & Drinking Fountains

CHALLENGE
Restrooms and drinking fountains are antiquated for 13 million annual visitors.

FOREVER SOLUTION
Adding drinking fountains and improving restroom access across the Park.

STATUS
In the fall of 2015, Forest Park Forever and the City of St. Louis completed upgrades to four restrooms across Forest Park. One had been closed for over two decades (just north of Steinberg Skating Rink), two had historically shut down in the winter (at Wells Drive and the Hampton roundabout) and the fourth was made more accessible with improved sidewalks (at the Parks Administration building). These comfort stations also received new visitor amenities, including water fountains with bottle fillers (social media loved this one!), improved landscaping and bike racks. A larger transformation will be coming in 2018-19 to the restroom near the Hampton Avenue roundabout, creating a more holistic comfort station and gathering plaza.

Government & Wells Drives

PARK CHALLENGE
Roads around the Zoo and Art Museum are crumbling and not pedestrian-friendly.

FOREVER SOLUTION
Rebuilding the roads, adding 2 miles of sidewalks, safe crossings, LED lighting and more. 

STATUS
Completed! ✔

Liberal Arts Bridge & Muny Tributary

CHALLENGE
The bridge between The Muny and Boathouse has been in need of renovation for nearly a decade. The site is lacking adequate sidewalks and the waterway that runs through this area is overridden with invasive species and offers little in the way of visitor approachability or enjoyment.

FOREVER SOLUTION
After a conservation effort to remove and relocate the site's wildlife (especially the turtles that call the waterway home), the bridge will be completely rebuilt, sidewalks will be installed and the waterway and surrounding green space will be transformed into a healthier natural ecosystem and meadow that can be used for passive recreation.

STATUS
The Wildlife Impact Mitigation and Inventory Plan was completed and the new bridge was reopened to traffic in January 2018. Landscaping and other waterway work will continue into spring and summer 2018.

Central Fields

CHALLENGE
Sites like Central Fields are in great demand for sports and events, and are in need of an overhaul.

FOREVER SOLUTION
Adding new drainage, reorienting field use, adding restrooms and concession areas (project renderings shown above).

STATUS
Substantial construction is complete, with the new fields in a 'grow in' phase. 

Nature Playscape

CHALLENGE
Studies show that today’s kids and students have limited opportunities for engagement with nature.

FOREVER SOLUTION
Developing a new ‘nature playscape’ for outdoor play and learning that will be a national model. 

STATUS
In design now. This project moved through step three of the Forest Park Advisory Board's nine-step review process in summer 2017.

The Park's Waterway System

CHALLENGE
The Park’s waterway system is still not fully connected, limiting efforts to conserve water and improve its quality for wildlife.

FOREVER SOLUTION
Connecting more bodies of water, reducing City water use, improving water quality, extending the Park’s natural prairie areas and making an attractive visitor destination on the Park’s east side (rendering shown above).

STATUS
In design