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In July, 1974, Congress authorized the Department of Interior to study the lower Meramec River in cooperation with state and local governments and area citizens.
Early in the twentieth century the Meramec enjoyed its “golden years” of providing recreation to valley residents and especially citizens of St. Louis, offering such activities as swimming, picnicking, hiking canoeing and fishing. By train and later by automobile thousands of people would summer on the Meramec.
But as the century progressed the resource declined, as described in the Federal study’s report, The Meramec Concept:
“Through the years parts of the Meramec have been severely abused and misused. Each year the deterioration of the riverscape becomes more acute, and indications are that without proper action this process will result in even more serious impacts on the river environment.”
The study was completed in 1975 and recommended a “…unique opportunity to pioneer a different approach which relies on all levels of government and the private sector”. It called for a partnership of all governments with jurisdictions along 108 miles of the lower Meramec to cooperate in the restoration of the river resource. These governments would own or manage public lands within their jurisdictions, but by means of a coordinating committee would jointly plan and manage the entire river corridor. The coordinating committee would also include citizen membership. On September 8, 1975, Missouri Governor Kit Bond designated 108 miles of the river as the Meramec River Recreation Area, now known as the Meramec Greenway.
The partnership governments of the Meramec Greenway are:
Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Franklin County
Jefferson County
St. Louis County
City of Arnold
City of Eureka
City of Fenton
City of Kirkwood
City of Pacific
City of Sunset Hills
City of Valley Park
City of Wildwood
In addition, in 2001 the Great Rivers Greenway District joined the partnership. This Greenway District was established in November 2000 by the successful passage of the Clean Water, Safe Parks and Community Trails Initiative in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County in Missouri, and provides planning and financial assistance to the Meramec Greenway.
In the more than thirty years since its establishment, the renaissance of the Meramec River has been significant. Over 28,000 acres of parklands and conservation areas are open to public use, featuring picnicking and camping areas, boater and fishermen access, sports fields and playgrounds, forests and wetlands and over eighty miles of trails.
This site is to acquaint you with this exciting Greenway, to update you on new lands and features and invite you to visit and explore.
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