Central Fields at Forest Park Getting $5.8M Makeover
Date Posted: June 9, 2017
Posted In: Projects,
From St. Louis Post-Dispatch: The barren fields that have served as home to LouFest and the Great Forest Park Balloon Race are getting much-needed improvements as part of ongoing renovations to Forest Park.
A ceremonial groundbreaking for the $5.8 million project at Central Fields took place Tuesday (June 6), marking a more than yearlong process to improve the area east of the Muny. The project will level the 30 acres of uneven fields, install irrigation and drainage, build new visitor facilities and lay new trails connecting the area to other park attractions.
“It’s a blank canvas,” Forest Park Forever President and Executive Director Lesley Hoffarth said. “It’s just grass that hasn’t gotten that extra care like other parts of the park.”
St. Louis Director of Parks, Recreation and Forestry Greg Hayes said the addition of irrigation and drainage will make the turf more durable during heavy foot traffic or after torrential downpours.
The Great Forest Park Balloon Race, which takes off from the fields annually, was canceled last September in part due to the poor conditions of the fields after heavy rain.
“It’s not ideal,” Hayes said.
The new-look fields will include four soccer pitches, three rugby fields, new restrooms and a concession stand. New trails will connect the Central Fields to Steinberg Rink and the Jewel Box, and new trees and landscaping will be installed.