1112 Olive St, St Louis
Gateway Arch Grounds
The Gateway Arch was build in 1965 and since its completion has become an internationally recognized symbol for Saint Louis. It is the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere and is the worlds tallest arch. The park surrounding the Gateway Arch is called the Gateway Arch Grounds and has gone through numerous renovations/redesigns since 1965.
The most recent redesign has made the most notable changes to this tourist destination so far. Before the recent redevelopment, the Saint Louis Arch Grounds had once seemed designed more for cars than for people. The large parking garage expanding the entire north edge, roaring freeway to the west, and the four lane road in between the arch and the river made visiting the Arch Grounds more of a hassle than enjoyment.
Since early 2016, the Saint Louis Arch Grounds have been under construction, creating a more welcoming and enjoyable environment, not only to attract more tourists visiting Saint Louis, but in hopes to attract more locals to the most notable monument in Saint Louis, the Arch. The most drastic and noticeable update made by the design crew and architects was the removal of the large 1,200 car garage located on the north edge of the arch grounds. By removing the garage, the team was able to improve the connection to Laclede's Landing, public transit, and added a nice view of Eads Bridge, the oldest bridge over the Mississippi River. Walking paths and a large area for concerts and events have replaced the large garage, making for a much more enjoyable atmosphere.
For the longest time, the Saint Louis Arch Grounds were isolated and hard to get to because of the freeway and busy road between the arch and river. With the new Saint Louis Arch Grounds this hassle is no more. Now you are able to walk across Interstate 70 on a brand new walking overpass connecting Saint Louis Downtown to the Arch Grounds. Making exploring of Saint Louis Downtown much more enjoyable. The busy road in between the arch and the Mississippi has been replaced with brand new Riverview Pathways, lined with trees, plants, and ponds throughout the grounds making for the perfect picnic location. So whether you have lived in Saint Louis all your life or are visiting for the first time, some of the awesome updates made to the Saint Louis Arch Grounds will definitely make you want to come back.
