New Meramec Greenway Trailhead Coming to Fenton

Construction on a new trailhead and trailhead connection for the Meramec Greenway Trail in Fenton could begin in the coming months.

The Fenton Board of Aldermen voted 6-0, with two absences, July 28 to approve an agreement with the Metropolitan Park and Recreation District, also known as Great Rivers Greenway District, to build the trailhead. Financing for the project comes courtesy of an $83,059 Missouri Department of Natural Resources Recreation Trail Program (RTP) grant for which the city is eligible.

The trailhead will be located near Old Highway 141 and Old Gravois Road, which is now a gravel lot. Once completed the city hopes to create a farmer's market at the location in the future, Ward 3 Alderman Chris Clauss, sponsor of the enabling legislation, said.

Phase 1 of the project will built by city workers on two acres of undeveloped land within the Fenton Olde Towne Plaza Park in the 300 block of Center Street. The traihead will consist of a 20,500 square-foot parking lot for 40 to 50 vehicles. It will also have a 10-foot wide trail connection from the parking lot to an existing ADA accessible curb, crosswalk and pedestrian signal, which the city says will allow for safe access for pedestrians using the Meramec Greenway Trail.

Phase 2 will be built by Great Rivers Greenway and feature a 1,500-foot trail connection from the existing Meramec Greenway Trail to the trailhead.

The city's share of the project is $31,538 in in-kind contributions, with the remaining $51,521 reimbursed by the RTP grant.

Separate bids for excavation and gravel work have already been advertised and a required pre-bid meeting at the project site for the excavation work is scheduled for August 2. Bids for both the excavation and gravel work will be opened Aug. 8 with construction expected to to start soon after.