The master plan by GRGD incorporates several progressive and comprehensive ideas and processes in regards to economic, social, environmental and physical planning.The most prominant is the physical planning of the areawhic in turn is also comprehensive in approach. The overall plan responds to several scales that, in turn, respond to different opportunities and existing conditions in varied areas. The following is a detailed description on how this system functions.
The River Ring:
The River Ring is a loop of interconnected resources that encircles the Great Rivers Greenway Region. The heart of the region's rich natural, cultural, and national heritage is its great rivers-the Missouri and Mississippi . The Mississippi along with the Meramec and Cuivre rivers, form a three quarter ring around the Great Rivers Greenway's 1,216 square mile planning area. With the Missouri River bisecting the region, the river will serve to unite communities of St. Louis and St. Charles counties and the entire region. The result is an interconnected system of greenways, parks and trails linked to existing bicycle trails, state parks and nature areas. The connectedness of the River Ring is its greatest strength. With a regional, interconnected system, the linked areas operate as one entire system, instead of disconnected, stand alone facilities.
Interconnected System of greenways
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The River Ring consists of two key components, Greenways and confluences:
• Greenways:
The GRGD is in the process of developing a system of greenways designed and built on a variety of scales from major, regional, local and neighborhood. Each one will vary in size, activity and resources, depending on the location of the greenway and the existing conditions.
By using parks and trails and open spaces to improve life in the region means treating land, water and people as a system-celebrating natural, cultural, recreational and community amenities- and providing opportunities for human access and use between and among communities of various scales.
The connectivity principal that is directing the project is intended to function within the St. Louis region as well as connecting the Metro East Park in Illinois , thus transcending political boundaries.
• Confluences:
A confluence is the point where two or more greenways converge or intersect and identified as opportunities for facilities to develop. The confluences, similar to greenways, are organized depending on the hierarchy of the intersecting greenways and defined in the following order: major, regional, local and neighborhood levels. The facilities or activities that will be developed for confluence areas will depend on the size of the intersecting greenways, existing conditions and opportunities.
The following section describes in detail the hierarchy system of the greenways and confluences and the possible opportunities of connectivity within the four system scales.
Major Systems
• Major Greenways
Existing parks, publicly owned open space, existing and planned trails provide part of the framework for the River Ring. Other parts are the major greenways along the region's defined rivers, the Mississippi and Missouri , with the Meramecriver on the south. Many public and private agencies have been working on projects along these rivers and Great Rivers Greenway has partnered with them to implement and build greenways, parks and trails. The attached table details the intended projects along these major water ways.
• Major Confluences
Major confluences are identified where the Missouri and Meramec rivers converge with the Mississippi River . Also, with the Gateway Arch and the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, a major confluence is noted at the Mississippi Riverfront. A Major Confluence could include one or several of the following facilities.
Major Greenway Systems
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Regional Systems
• Regional Greenways
The 13 identified regional greenways traverse the Great Rivers Greenway Planning area and connect to the major greenways located along the Missouri , Mississippi and Meramec Rivers . The major and regional greenways form the skeleton of the "green infrastructure" of the region.
These corridors of green space act like non-motorized highways by serving the vast portions of the region and create a spine for smaller greenways and trails. They should be as wide as practical and connect civic and community areas, forested areas, nature reserves, parkways, parks and conservation areas, public open space, trails and wetlands.
• Regional Confluences
Regional confluences are identified where regional greenways intersect with each other or major greenways at the Missouri , Mississippi and Meramec rivers. Numerous regional confluences are identified throughout the Great Rivers Greenway planning area. A regional confluence could include the following elements.
Regional Systems
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Local Systems
• Local Greenways
The 32 identified regional greenways traverse the Great Rivers Greenway planning area and connect to major and regional greenways.Local greenways feed into the larger system and generally follow large streams and their tributaries or other corridors and connect community parks, schools and other natural, cultural, historic and community resources. They cans serve as bicycle, hiking or pedestrian trails both on street and off road depending on their location and existing conditions. Likewise, they can protect wildlife habitats, forests and wetlands, scenic views, or conserve open space. At the local level, these greenways should be as wide as practically possible and connect civic and community areas, forested areas, nature reserves, parkways, parks and conservation areas, public open space, trails and wetlands.
• Local Confluences
Local confluences are identified where local greenways intersect with regional or major greenways at the Missouri , Mississippi and the Meramec rivers. Local confluences are identified throughout the Great Rivers planning area. A local confluence could include all the elements listed in the attached table.
Local Confluences
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Neighborhood Systems
• Neighborhood Greenways
Neighborhood systems are comprised of short greenways or connectors that extend or connect existing bicycle facilities and trails to the regional network of greenways, parks and trails. Many municipal and county park departments have planned or built nature trails, bicycle lanes, recreational trails and pedestrian paths within their local jurisdictions. These connections are very important to link neighborhoods and communities into the River Ring. Great Rivers Greenway will need to work with local municipalities and public entities to connect existing and proposed connections to the regional system.
The connections identified on the map represent opportunities for connections to existing or planned trails and bicycle facilities. As The River Ring is developed, additional local connections from residential, commercial, civic and recreational areas will be identified to provide access for citizens at home, work or play.
• Neighborhood Confluences
The neighborhood confluences occur at the intersection of neighborhood connectors and local greenways. This is the place where recreational, pedestrian and bicycle trails come together. A typical neighborhood confluence could include the elements listed in the attached table.
Neighborhood Systems
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Examples:
The 35 projects that are being currently carried out within the region function within the guidelines of the master plan. The intent here is to demonstrate how the principles of the physical planning tools are applied.
Current and existing Projects
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The following list includes projects that are in the planning phase and could be ready for implementation. Please refer to the links for information.
• Chouteau Greenway - Regional scale
• Centennial Greenway - Regional scale
• Confluence Greenway - Major scale
• St. Vincent Greenway - Local scale
