By Pauline Masson –
As it meanders along the eastern boundary of Pacific the Meramec River is no more than 150 feet wide when not flooded. It might as well be the Amazon sweeping through a dense jungle for how hard it is to get to the river bank at Pacific on foot.
But the Park Board says it may be time to rethink that.
Speaking at its April 14 meeting, Pacific Park Board members aired renewed interest in developing river access at Pacific by building a bridge across Brush Creek at Liberty Field Park.
This is not the first time city leaders have eyed a public access to the river bank.
Former Mayor Steve Myers began lobbying for a river walk trail in the early 2000s.
He took his idea to Jim McHugh, downtown development guru, who introduced Mr. Myers to a host of green space organizations – the Ozark Trail Association, Great Rivers Greenway and Open Space Council. And he invited Mr. Myers to join his Magi Foundation.
Initially Mr. Myers focused on a hiking/biking trail in Pacific that would connect the Great Rivers Greenway in St. Louis County with the Ozark Trail to the south. This collaboration identified an undeveloped, privately owned, walkable strip of land along the Meramec River in Pacific.
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Mr. Myers formed the Pacific Riverwalk Association. And in 2011 Cochran Engineering was hired to prepare a site master plan for the Pacific Riverwalk Project – a trail system to connect St. Louis County with Shaw Nature Reserve in Franklin County.
Mr. Myers lobbied other officials and civic groups to support the project, including a group of Boy Scouts who formed the Pacific Riverwalk Youth Advisory Committee to educate their friends and parents about the project.
In 2013 the City applied for a grant to purchase property for a hiking/biking trail along the river that would enhance the city park system. That application was not successful
In 2015 the Magi Foundation used funds from its Bluegrass Bash, to purchase a 2.5-acre parcel of Meramec riverfront property beneath the Highway O bridge. So . . . there could be easy access to the river bank if we could get to the city-owned trail site.
Now the Pacific Park Board is pondering how to create an upswell of interest in river access that could gain a life, and, with the help of a Municipal Parks grant, develop a river access point by building a bridge over Brush creek at Liberty Field.
Initial estimates for cost of a bridge was expected to be in the neighborhood of $750,000.
Speaking April 14, Park Board member Joe Klatt said he I wanted to start looking more at the river access.
“I know it will be a very long process,” he said.
Chairman. Ryan Schaecter agreed. He said it would be “phenomenal,”
“One of the things that’s been discussed in the past is to apply for a grant for a bridge over Brush Creek,” Mr. Schaecter said. “I don’t know if there’s any way to get back there that doesn’t use a bridge. To me there are some great spots over there.”
Mr. Schaecter cited Minnie Ha Ha State Park on Old Gravois Road in Sunset Hills as a good example of the benefits of river access.
The site has numerous river access amenities, including trails, children’s playgrounds, covered pavilions, boat launches and public benches.
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“They have some pavilions that are right on the waters’ edge that are phenomenal.“ Mr. Schaecter said. “We have opportunities with different groups, the American Legion, Lions Club, VFW, groups like the Eagles, who could sponsor and/or build a pavilion. Two or three different groups could set up reservable pavilions for special events,”.
“I believe you could have a lot of really great events out there,” he said.
The Tri-County Senior Center, Jensen’s Point park, and the upcoming Jeffrey White Skate Park are examples of amenities developed by a collaboration of private individuals, the City of Pacific and grants.
Mr. Klatt hopes to see individuals and civic groups help promote the idea of a bridge to the river front.
“I just think we are surrounded by the river, and we don’t have any real river access. It would be a great thing to work toward. I mean, at least start planning that process,” he said.
