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Grand opening day photo of arch and people at opening
Construction at the Arch the Arch

The CityArchRiver Project: Reimagining the Arch Experience

The CityArchRiver project made St. Louis’ beloved Gateway Arch National Park, the Mississippi Riverfront and Kiener Plaza easier and safer for everyone to experience by connecting, invigorating and expanding the park’s grounds and museums.

The CityArchRiver project was a monumental undertaking from the beginning. As one of the lead designers of the redesign said, “it was about finishing the park in the spirit in which it was intended.”

The $380 million renovation of Gateway Arch National Park and its surrounding areas in Downtown St. Louis was a historic partnership between the private sector and federal, state, and local government agencies. Core partners include the National Park Service, Missouri Department of Transportation, Great Rivers Greenway, Bi-State Development, Gateway Arch Park Foundation, and Jefferson National Parks Association. Through a unique partnership of public and private funding, many agencies and the St. Louis community came together to completely change how visitors and the region experienced the Gateway City’s defining calling card to the world: the Gateway Arch.

New Visitor Services Building Opens in Kiener Plaza

Offering seasonal hospitality services, St. Louis-themed retail, a year-round workspace for on-site security, and storage/support space for events and maintenance, this vibrant green building is the final component of Kiener Plaza's renovation as part of the CityArchRiver transformation.

The building's construction was a joint effort of Great Rivers Greenway, the City of St. Louis and Gateway Arch Park Foundation. Partners at Explore St. Louis and Jefferson National Parks Association will provide hospitality staffing and merchandise, respectively. Gateway Arch Park Foundation and Great Rivers Greenway also funded newly improved, free public Wi-Fi available to park visitors.

New Visitor Services Building in Kiener Plaza

Old Courthouse Renovations Announced

Gateway Arch Park Foundation in partnership with the National Park Service announce that The Old Courthouse will undergo renovations beginning late 2021.

Old Court House with the Gateway Arch in the background

The Mission Continues

Gateway Arch Park Foundation launches new ways to access Gateway Arch National Park with Wi-Fi and webcam view from the top of the arch.

Gateway Arch West Camera View

Museum at the Gateway Arch Awarded Prestigious LEED Green Building Certification

The newly renovated Visitor Center and Museum at the Gateway Arch were awarded LEED Gold in recognition of the building’s sustainable site development, water savings, and building materials selection. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the nation’s most widely recognized and accepted green building rating system. The Visitor Center and Museum join the exclusive ranks of only 10 other LEED certified sites in the National Park Service and 185 LEED projects in St. Louis.  

CityArchRiver Project Realized

The grand opening of the new Gateway Arch National Park was on July 3, 2018 coinciding with the return of Fair Saint Louis on July 4, 2018. 

Introducing Gateway Arch Park Foundation

The CityArchRiver Foundation, tasked with oversight of the construction and renovation projects, transitions to its stewardship role as Gateway Arch Park Foundation.

New Kiener Plaza Unveiled

The community celebrated the completion of the new Kiener Plaza in the heart of Downtown Saint Louis.

Kiener Plaza Opening - May, 2017

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Landscapes completed

As the National Park landscaping was completed, Go! Saint Louis Marathon moved to the riverfront for the first time in its history to celebrate the newly improved park.

the Go! Saint Louis Marathon

North Gateway Construction Completed

The project tranformed a three-story parking garage into a welcoming greenspace that connected neighborhoods to the park.

Before After

Riverfront Construction Completed

St. Louis' central riverfront is raised to reduce flooding closures and provide biking and walking connections. Project partners host "Picnic on the Riverfront" to celebrate.

Welcoming the Captains' Return

After a year-long restoration process to address the impact of flooding, the Captains' Return statue was installed in its new home, situated on higher ground along Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd. 

Captains Return Statue

CityArchRiver Foundation Reaches Fundraising Campaign Goals

CityArchRiver Foundation announced the realization of the $250 million capital fundraising campaign goal for the Arch park renovation project, the largest private investment in a National Park project in United States history. 

Donor Recognition

Opening Luther Ely Smith Park and the Park Over the Highway to the Public

With the opening of these components, CityArchRiver partners connected the Old Courthouse and Downtown Saint Louis to the Arch park grounds with a beautified greenspace. 

Before After

Celebrating the Gateway Arch’s 50th Anniversary

This month, CityArchRiver partners celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Gateway Arch’s completion with ceremonies and celebrations worthy of the city’s most iconic monument.

Fireworks at the Arch

Breaking ground on the Arch Visitor Center/Museum Expansion

To mark the beginning of this historic undertaking, project parnters held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Arch Visitor Center expansion and Museum renovations.

Beginning of the North Gateway Park Project

The North Gateway begins its transformation with the demolition of the old Arch parking garage.

Vice President Joe Biden visits project

Then Vice President Joe Biden toured the CityArchRiver Project and learned about what was in store for Saint Louis’ historic riverfront. 

Joe Biden visits the CityArchRiver project

Riverfront Construction Begins

The Riverfront component of the CityArchRiver project becomes the second project to break ground.

People gather to commemorate the moment
Inauguration of the event
Speakers present in front of an audience
Commemorating the CityArchRiver construction project

Park Over the Highway Groundbreaking Ceremony

MoDOT begins work on the Park Over the Highway, a green space that will finally physically connect the Arch grounds to Downtown Saint Louis over I-44 (then I-70).  This is the first landbridge of its kind in Missouri. Click here for the full groundbreaking video.

Commemorating the CityArchRiver construction project

St. Louis Region Voters Approve Proposition P

The approval of Proposition P by Saint Louis County and City voters created revenue that would fund regional parks and trails, including $90 million in funding for the CityArchRiver project. 

St. Louis Post Dispatch

Continuing to Refine the CityArchRiver Project

Throughout 2012, CityArchRiver works with partners to continue development of the park's design. The Universal Design Group consisting of 25 individuals representing the disability community, is formed to advise CityArchRiver Project Partners on creating a space that is accessible to the largest amount of residents and visitors possible.

First Capital Funding for Project is Awarded

The US Department of Transportation awarded a $20 million TIGER Grant for the construction of the project, which was matched with $25 million in funding from MoDOT and $10 million raised privately by the CityArchRiver 2015 Foundation. Click here for the full story.

Selecting the Final Design

The Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates team won the CityArchRiver International Design Competition with their comprehensive plan for transforming the Saint Louis Riverfront and Arch grounds.

Completed General Management Plan

The plan created the International Design Competition to inspire a comprehensive redesign of the Arch grounds and connected Downtown St. Louis public spaces. The City + The Arch + The River 2015: Framing a Modern Masterpiece International Design Competition began.

CityArchRiver 2015 Foundation is Formed

Foundation is formed to sponsor and coordinate the Framing a Modern Masterpiece International Design Competition.

Committee Returns Recommendations

The committee delivered its recommendations for changes to the Arch grounds inspired by the best designers. The recommendation called for an update of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial’s General Management Plan and the potential of an international design competition.

Introducing the New Arch Experience

Then-Saint Louis Mayor Francis Slay tapped civic leaders Walter Metcalfe, Peter Raven, and Bob Archibald to develop a plan that addressed the unique challenges facing the Gateway Arch grounds and its surroundings, including a lack of connectivity, activity and accessibility.