Tower Grove Park East Stream Restoration

Project Description

In 1868, a retired merchant donated a 285-acre tract of land to the City of St. Louis for the purpose of creating a permanent public park. Now a National Historic Landmark, Tower Grove park includes winding paths, Gardenesque-style plantings and features, and elaborate, Victorian structures. Originally, the park also featured the East Stream, a tributary to River des Peres and ultimately, the Missouri River. Sometime before 1913, however, the stream was piped underground.

As a subconsultant to the Lamar Johnson Collaborative, Biohabitats helped daylight the long-buried stream and restore not only its historic alignment but also its ecological function. Biohabitats began by assessing the site’s drainage patterns, hydrology, land use, vegetation, and wildlife. The team also researched and determined the stream’s historic, pre-channelization alignment within the park. To help develop a vision for the restored stream, Biohabitats and the project team interviewed a variety of park stakeholders and participated in a public visioning session. This included engagement with members of the Osage Nation, the site’s original inhabitants.

Biohabitats then developed an integrated restoration approach, which features daylighting a 1,370 LF baseflow stream channel coupled with a flood-prone bench and bioretention areas for additional water quality benefits. The restoration enhances park beauty, biodiversity, and ecological function while preserving its historic character. It also includes integrated natural play areas for children and a dedicated space to honor the Osage Nation.