A Park to Fit the Arch

The new design, by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, seeks to realize the long-held dream of creating a vibrant and environmentally conscious park around the Arch.

"Among much else, the MVVA proposal will create park-like greenways over and under the expressway separating the Arch grounds from downtown St. Louis. An existing parking garage to the north will be replaced with smaller parking scattered within a five-minute walk. The grounds sloping to the Mississippi will be redone as a cobblestone beach to create a more accessible gathering spot for visitors. And elevated walkways will be built in an avian sanctuary across the river, in Illinois, as part of an extensive park there."