By Bill Raack, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Designers have been chosen for the proposed Arch Grounds connector and Memorial Drive streetscape.
The Danforth Foundation selected Thomas Balsley as the lead designer and Leni Schwendinger to design illumination for the project.
The Foundation is paying for the project's design and engineering work. The connector will be a passageway over Interstate 70, linking downtown with the Arch and the riverfront. The two designers will develop three alternatives and work will be completed in January.
Mayor Francis Slay says the project would encourage the three million people who visit the Arch each year to also visit other attractions downtown.
Balsley has worked on projects ranging from Skyline Park in Denver to a vision plan for Detroit's riverfront. In New York City alone, he has designed more than 100 public spaces.