Great Rivers Greenway: Celebrating 25 Years of Impact

By Jackson Hotaling

August 26, 2025

Great Rivers Greenway has been building active transportation infrastructure in Greater St. Louis for 25 years: learn more about their impact

Great Rivers Greenway 25th Anniversary Celebrations

With advocacy efforts spurred in part by our MRT partner Trailnet, Great Rivers Greenway [GRG] was voted on by the public in 2000 and established as a visionary tax district to develop a network of trails for St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County.

Over 25 years, GRG has developed 135+ miles and counting of trails and green spaces for the St. Louis region's walkers, bikers, wheelchair users, and more.

Join GRG this fall to celebrate their current and future success, and find info for 'The Great Gather Round' 25th Anniversary Celebration:

GRG's 25th Anniversary Celebrations

GRG's Big Plans for the Next 25 Years

Great Rivers Greenway has built an extensive trail network, and they have many more major trail projects underway. They are playing a big role in improving transportation options for Greater St. Louis, and are hard at work building a region connecting active transportation access to transit, schools, jobs, housing, businesses, and more.

While GRG's trails span three counties, they are currently embarking on their largest project yet with a completion date of 2030. The Brickline Greenway will connect Forest Park to Gateway Arch National Park, with northern and south spurs to reach more neighborhoods.

*This is GRG's 2025 official map. GRG has an interactive map here.*

*This connection to the Meramec Greenway, opened in 2022, provides a safe alternative to Interstate-44 and links Sunset Hills with Fenton over the Meramec River.*

*This connection in Crestwood, opened in 2024, links housing and businesses to the Gravois Greenway: Grants Trail.*

GRG inspires and works alongside many collaborators, including city and county governments, business development organizations, and even the Missouri Department of Transportation to expand the network of protected active transportation infrastructure to on-street facilities:

*Municipalities: Local governments including the City of St. Louis are building their own connections to the GRG network, such as with the Tower Grove Connector.*

Private Developers: Recognized as a boon for the economy, the St. Louis Development Corporation partnered to fund this protected bicycle lane on 7th Street to connect key activity centers in downtown St. Louis.

*MoDOT: In a historic move for Missouri, MoDOT is building the first protected bicycle lane and protected intersection on a MoDOT route along Chouteau (MO-100).*

GRG's Impact Close to Home

With all of the excitement for trail development happening across the region, it is truly special when a trail development comes close to home.

MRT's Community Engagement Director Jackson Hotaling moved to his first home in Missouri in Autumn 2000, the same season that Great Rivers Greenway [GRG] was voted into existence in the St. Louis region. He grew up in Webster Groves at a time when greenway trails were not yet developed. Year after year, however, more connections were made, and a connection is starting to form closer to home.

On May 10, 2025, GRG celebrated the opening of the latest Deer Creek Greenway extension--forming a connection to adjacent greenways and even MetroLink stations. Future connections are also planned (shown on this map).

In 2025, for the first time, it is possible to take a trail a majority of the way between Webster Groves and St. Louis Metro's MetroLink light rail system. This is no small feat: the trail crosses three municipalities, multiple road owners (including MoDOT, St. Louis County, and local jurisdictions), and a railroad. What was once a criss-crossing of major roads, industrial areas, and other barriers is now a safe and popular option to access transit, businesses, residences, and green spaces.

MRT is excited for the next 25 years of Great Rivers Greenway!