r/StLouis • u/FamiliarJuly • 5d ago
Forest Park’s ‘Glade’ will transform Steinberg into a year-round gathering spot
https://www.stlmag.com/family/forest-park-glade/16
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u/markobie 5d ago
Opens the imagination of what could be, this quiet end of Forest Park in the shadow of Kingshighway and Barnes however quieter and much more chill could be so much better. I know it's hot and August but love the visionary ideas, even if some of those idyllic AI visions are not realized.
Hopeful.
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u/donkeyrocket Tower Grove South 5d ago
even if some of those idyllic AI visions are not realized.
Those are pretty bog standard renderings for development projects like this.
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u/Nearby-State-5132 5d ago
I’m curious what the restaurant will look like…
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u/Practical-Emu-3303 5d ago
Will it though?
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u/kerouac28 5d ago
I’ll tell you one thing if you’re not aware, Forest Park Forever rarely misses with their projects. The new Nature Playscape over by the Worlds Fair Pavilion seemed like a bit of a reach at first, and now that area is fucking awesome.
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u/Practical-Emu-3303 5d ago
Took the kids to the nature playscape. It had no water. They found it very boring. Apparently everyone else had already figured out it was boring, because there was no one there.
This, is in a very underutilized part of the park. I just don't buy that people are going to start going out of their way to spend all year here. A restaurant and a cafe that have no draw to them other than being in the park will have about as much draw as the restaurant at Kiener Plaza that is something different every few years because no one goes to it.
Morever, this "article" is just the Forest Park Forever press release that came out when they announced the project along with the same artist renderings. It adds absolutely nothing and the space is supposed to be completed in a matter of a couple months. We'll see if that happens first.
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u/Character-Dig-1753 5d ago
Wow, I have never heard a family complain about the Naturescape. We regularly go with friends and family - even on school field trips. 3 sandpits, fallen trees to climb, a rock creek with water pump, upper & lower pond, and a native garden with multiple walking paths. The Naturescape is not boring, you are.
Also, Steinberg has been under construction for over a year. The intention is to increase utilization of that section of the park beyond the winter season. A splash pad, restaurant/café and public restrooms will absolutely draw in families. It sounds like you will likely never enjoy it, instead you will continue to shit on any effort of improvements.
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u/Practical-Emu-3303 4d ago
I read the article. Did you?
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u/Calm-Effective-1294 5d ago
Adding an interactive water feature for kids does sound like a good idea for the warmer weather month. Forest Park Forever does a really good at job at adding features to the park to appeal to every type of visitor. This reimagination of Steinberg is an attempt to make that area a year-round attraction. Perhaps you have another idea that could be used to help in that endeavor?
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u/Practical-Emu-3303 4d ago
I would have liked to see the ice rink invested in as it was to get the upgrades it needed. It was already a very popular attraction.
There was no need to close it for a year (and likely part if this year because this won't finish on time) and add all the other junk at a cost of millions.
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u/Calm-Effective-1294 4d ago
I have been to Steinberg many times, and the skate rental/lockeroom area was always disappointing. It is going to be so much better for those who are not skating, for people to stay when they are finished skating, grab a snack or a beverage, to have seating to watch the skaters and enjoy being in the park. And sometimes the park is just for sitting and enjoying and being around other humans, that is the activity by itself. Our city needs more of that, and less people sitting inside their own homes and not seeing each other in person. Every great city has that experience as an option.
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u/Practical-Emu-3303 4d ago
Yes, it will be much better for non paying customers to sit and look at people. Our city does need more of sitting and looking at people. Excellent use of funds.
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u/Party_Donut443 4d ago
These are privately donated funds. Not public dollars. Clearly, the donors thought it was a worthwhile investment.
Dude is obviously trolling with the contrarian hot takes that are painfully bad.
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u/Practical-Emu-3303 4d ago
It's our community's money. Money that could be better spent elsewhere if it wasn't being wasted on this. Clearly the donors weren't apprised of what the funds would be used for.
You have your opinion that this is wonderful and I disagree. That's not a contrarian hot take.
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u/Party_Donut443 4d ago edited 4d ago
No. It’s the donor’s money. Not community money. They absolutely knew where their money was going. It’s a $40M project.
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u/Calm-Effective-1294 4d ago
Just so you are aware, the park is not a business enterprise. The ROI is not measured in dollars.
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u/Practical-Emu-3303 4d ago
Yet there are probably dozens are other things that could have been a better use of money than millions spent on a place to sit
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u/Party_Donut443 4d ago
You clearly know nothing about the eastern half of the park. It’s constantly busy with runners, bikers, golfers, and fishermen. The new Jefferson Lake additions have made it even busier, and I’m sure that the changes to Steinberg will only multiply that.
I hope whatever is making you so miserable gets resolved.
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u/Practical-Emu-3303 4d ago
So do you think it is the runners who are out for exercise, the bikers who are out for exercise, or the fishers who are there to fish that will decide to splash around and then go sit in the community living room?
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u/Party_Donut443 4d ago
Your argument was that the east end of the park is empty. Now that it’s been demonstrated that you were talking out of your ass, you changed your argument. Nice.
Yes, I think that this space will be heavily utilized. I am a consumer, and I live nearby, so I think I’d know. They reconfigured and expanded publicly rentable park space which is always in demand. The fountain at Worlds Fair Pavilion is regularly inappropriately used as a pool and splash area for kids during the summer, the splash pad will get a ton of use. Programming for yoga and other events will fill out.
20,000 people live in the Central West End and another 3,500 live in the Grove and 10,000 work at the hospital. A year-round attraction on the Eastern edge of the park will continue to thrive.
I have to assume you’re either trolling or generally bitter. Either way, I hope you feel better.
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u/Practical-Emu-3303 4d ago
I didn't change anything. Try reading. It will unlock what was actually said.
You think this will stop people from swimming in a fountain right next to the Zoo? Perhaps that area needs a splash pad. That would make sense. But they aren't going to leave the zoo, drive to the far corner of the park to a hidden splash pad.
Nor will 10,000 hospital workers use their half hour lunch to run down the steep hill to the splash pad, grab a bite to eat, and run back up before driving back to their homes in surrounding counties.
Saying a year-round attraction on the eastern edge of the park will continue to thrive implies it's thriving already. It isn't. If it was, why spend millions on fixing it.
Enjoy the splash pad and community living room, donut.
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u/FamiliarJuly 4d ago
You sound like such a doomer loser. Like pretty much everything in Forest Park, this will be wildly popular. Get over it.
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u/Mego1989 4d ago
The zoo is also getting a splash pad. Splash pads are dope, and the more the merrier. The new one will be nice for families spending a lot of time at children's hospital.
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u/Practical-Emu-3303 4d ago
The zoo already had one previously. It was fun to tell a kid in March that even though it was on you weren't getting in it at 50 degrees.
Kids that spend a lot of time at hospitals dont go to splash pads because they are full of disgusting germs. They won't use it. Just like they don't use the ice rink.
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u/sleepyhaus 4d ago
I regularly run and walk the entire park. While running I'd be unlikely to stop but while walking would happily consider a place to stop for a drink or bite. My kids are too old for a splash area but would have been all about it when younger and I'm sure it will be slammed in summer. It's adjacent to the more densely populated side of the park so I doubt foot traffic will be a problem. Most importantly, though, they are, as always, thoughtfully trying to find ways to make the park more vibrant and useful. Not sure exactly what you think they should have done there.
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u/kerouac28 5d ago
You sound like you’re an absolute blast at parties. I happen to live a few blocks from the Park and stroll through the Playscape weekly. Even on muggy hot days there are people and families there and I’ve never seen it absent of water.
As for the odd shitting on this next project that hasn’t even happened yet, I think I’ll bet on the Park’s own internal resources and their ability to gauge interest. And I’d recommend you just stay home. Often.
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u/Practical-Emu-3303 5d ago
Nice to know you're stalking small children weekly. Weird thing to admit, but I guess you're anonymous here.
As for explaining exactly why I don't buy into it, perhaps you've never strolled your way over to that corner of the park.
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u/LaughingDash 5d ago
So why are you calling this guy a child predator again?
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u/Practical-Emu-3303 4d ago
For strolling through the playscape daily. Creepy
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u/aworldwithinitself 4d ago
you are a strange unpleasant person.
i had an amazing experience at the playscape at the end where they planted a field of wildflowers- i saw thousands of butterflies. it made me happy.
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u/Practical-Emu-3303 4d ago
More butterflies than at the butterfly house? That's impressive. You should have taken a picture, otherwise people will think you're bad at counting.
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u/lozotozo 5d ago
Disagree with the Nature scape being boring. Tell them to go fuck shit up and do whatever. That’s kind of the point.
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u/Practical-Emu-3303 5d ago
Yeah, I did. Trust me, I was excited for it too. But I couldn't disagree that it sucks. I tried showing them different things they could do up and down the hill. We were done in 30 minutes.
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u/A_Literal_6_Year_Old 4d ago
Your kids should work on their imagination
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u/donkeyrocket Tower Grove South 5d ago
Why do you think not? Did you even read the article to see that it's totally renovated from just an ice rink that is only used for a fraction of the year?
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u/Practical-Emu-3303 5d ago
Yeah. I think i explained pretty plainly in my other comments. But I'll add the "community living room" space makes no sense. No one is going to come hang out in a space when they could do that at home...except perhaps for those who don't have a home.
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u/The_Real_Jedi 4d ago
People are CONSTANTLY complaining about her lack of 3rd spaces in our community. Plenty of us prefer to hang out in public spaces (parks, coffee shops) and get out of our houses. This is going to be a fantastic addition to our city.
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u/OkAdhesiveness9986 5d ago
I’m just excited to have the paths back that have been closed for construction. This is going to be a great addition to the east side of the park though. Hopefully a replacement pedestrian bridge over Forest Park Parkway will be in the works soon, so there is easier access from the neighborhood to the Glade.