Chouteau Park Just Getting Started
Chouteau Park is the newest city park, created by ordinance in 2008, as compensation for the future loss of Hudlin Park to BJC. The fate of Hudlin Park was a hot issue in the Spring of 2006. This new 2.8 acre park is intended to replace the 12 acre Hudlin Park.
Chouteau Park is just largely a graded empty lot right now, awaiting funds to become a fully realized park space. The design was done by H3 studios in 2009.
Revised renderings from the H3 2009 design include a shaded promenade, adventure playground, spray fountain and park cafe.
Update January 1, 2014: the classic St. Louis park sign has been added and trees are being planted. (St. Louis w/design & revised design)
As you might expect, parks don’t happen overnight. Every park in the city was once newly created and not looking like much. Citygarden, opened in 2009, is a rare exception because it was privately funded. Construction on Chouteau Park began in the fall of 2011.
One sidewalk going up the hill just ended, I’m not sure of the future intent. A number of sewer inlets handle water runoff, hopefully in the future this water can be captured and refined onsite.
It’ll be fun to see this new park develop and mature over the years.
— Steve Patterson
Kids need shade. Parents need shade (and benches to sit on). I never understand why so many St. Louis playgrounds don’t consider this. Even in Chicago and in Madison, WI there is more awareness about planting trees where they’ll cover the equipment, and their summers aren’t nearly as long or as hot as ours.
I’ll have to go check it out in person, but the pictures look garish and unappetizing. I’d rather that neighborhood had a decent spot for kicking a soccer ball.
Trees have been planted, though I think the play area will remain sunny. It would be nice to have shade where needed, not just where it makes a stammer in plan view.
The center is a field.
Such a diverse approach to parks in the STL region. Willmore and O’Fallon Park were nice private/public partnerships that enhanced existing parks through a non profit creating accessible playgrounds. This project has a long way to go.