The 39 North Greenway

The 39 North Greenway Plan is now available for the public to review. 

The 39 North Greenway is a portion of the Centennial Greenway and is vital to its completion. The Centennial is one of the priorities of the regional greenway system administered by Great Rivers Greenways. Ultimately, the Centennial will connect St. Charles to Forest Park, the hub from which all greenways connect in the St. Louis region.

The plan’s open space and alignment, which comprises the 39 North Greenway, is a cohesive vision for the connectivity within 39 North that redefines the way people travel, gather and interact within the district.  As part of the public engagement for both the master plan and greenway, residents, current employees and visitors to the district almost unanimously requested improved connectivity for people, bikes, and cars.  The high priority projects that have been identified in the 39 North master plan all address the connectivity challenge.

“The 39 North Greenway is a vital bike and pedestrian link for workers and residents to move more freely around the new innovation district and all of the beautiful local parks and community assets of Creve Coeur and Olivette,” Janet Wilding, Vice President of Major Projects and 39 North at the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, said. “Additionally, the 39 North Greenway is a portion of the Centennial Greenway (linking the Brickline Greenway, formerly the Chouteau Greenway and Forest Park to Creve Couer Park) which will link the innovation district to the central corridor and assets such as Washington University and downtown Clayton.”

Connectivity between the office, retail and commercial areas of the 39 North district is almost non-existent.  Access by vehicle between areas is not intuitive and is inconvenient.  In many instances, access is impossible on foot or by bicycle between major anchors such as the retail area to the west and the Danforth Center, Bayer, BRDG Park, and the Helix Center to the east.  Access to regional assets including the Jewish Community Center, Warson and Stacy Parks and residential neighborhoods in Creve Coeur and Olivette is also challenging.

The master plan measures and projects the future sustainability of the open space and greenway infrastructure once it is built.  The goals of the open space plan are to create 11 miles of new walk-able and bike-able greenway paths throughout the district, plant 13+ acres of tree canopy throughout the district and create 1.5 million gross square feet of re-adapted office space.

The Planning and Zoning Commission is now considering the plan for adoption as a component of the comprehensive plan and in support of the continued development of the 39 North Innovation District in the same manner as the 39 North Master Plan and the Old Olive Great Street Plan.  The public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission is currently scheduled for Tuesday, January 21 at 6:30 PM.