Master Plan
Tower Grove Park debuted its new master plan to a large crowd at the Piper Palm House on August 30. More than 200 people attended the public open house.
You spoke, Tower Grove Park listened...
The final period of public commentary of this nine-month public process has now ended. Thank you to everyone who submitted comments. The new Tower Grove Park master plan seeks to enhance the Park for the 21st century while preserving the Park’s historic landmark status. Check out the highlights or download the complete plan here.
In the fall of 2016, Tower Grove Park began a new master planning process, the Park’s first since 1985. Following a national request for proposals, the Park commissioned Rhodeside & Harwell of Washington D.C. The firm has extensive experience with high-profile historic properties, including the U.S. National Arboretum and Olmsted’s Branch Brook Park in Newark, New Jersey.
The first public open house on January 18, 2017 was attended by more than 250 people who posted hundreds of notes and comments. Another 1,280 people completed an online survey seeking input. The level of participation was more than double what was expected, suggesting a high level of enthusiasm and engagement among stakeholders. The Park formed a Community Advisory Committee, composed of local religious, education, business, and community leaders, who also participated in the planning.
“We are very gratified by the passionate engagement of Park supporters,” said executive director Bill Reininger. “As we approach the Park’s 150th anniversary in 2022, this plan will help Tower Grove Park maintain its vibrancy for the next century and a half.”
Funding for the Master Plan was provided through grants from the William T. Kemper Foundation, Commerce Bank Trustee, and by the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Tree Restoration Master Plan
The development of a tree master plan was recommended in the Park's 2017 Master Plan.
When the Park received a generous donation from the Mysun Charitable Foundation in 2020 to plant 1,000 new trees over five years, Park leadership saw the perfect opportunity to pursue the plan to address the current state of the Park’s canopy, and thoughtfully consider what trees should be planted and where.
The Park worked with a local landscape architecture firm, SWT Design, to create the Tree Restoration Plan. Read more about this process on our blog.
Funding for the Tree Restoration Master Plan was provided from a Missouri Department of Conservation Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) Grant and additional funding from a private donor.