Dardenne Prairie plans building near BaratHaven
December 29, 2007
Officials in Dardenne Prairie have announced the planned construction of a building for the city’s Parks Department.
The planned building will be on a small piece of land located near the BaratHaven development. Dardenne Prairie maintains and operates the Dardenne Greenway at BaratHaven and will use part of a 3.7 acre piece of land acquired from Great Rivers Greenway District.
Estimates for the land purchase and construction of the building are around $300,000 with $40,000 budgeted for the purchase of the land from the Greenway District.
Construction on the metal and brick building is scheduled to begin in 2008. According to Mayor Pam Fogarty, besides being used for storage, the building will house several pieces of city equipment, including a tractor and a dump truck.
Fogarty said while bigger than currently needed, the size would allow for future growth for the department. That growth would follow the continued development of the greenway.
Dardenne Greenway at Barat Haven is the first portion built in the planned Dardenne Greenway. This area is being called a SEED area. Including Dardenne Prairie, upcoming greenway projects would be in Cottleville and Rabbit Run Park.
The Dardenne Greenway is part of a region-wide interconnected system of trails, greenways and parks known as the River Ring, encircling the entire St. Louis region and into Illinois.
Part of the plan for the Dardenne Prairie land will include the restoration of prairie. The city has also expressed some interest in an athletic field on the land as well
The current plans are for a trail to run from the BaratHaven land across Dardenne Creek to the Renaud Spirit Center in O'Fallon.
Formerly known as the Metropolitan Park and Recreation District, The Great Rivers Greenway District was created 2000 following the passage of the Clean Water, Safe Parks and Community Trails Initiative in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County, Missouri. Great Rivers Greenway is funded by a 1/10th of 1 cent sales tax.
Copyright 2007 Neighbors About Town