Tower Grove Park in St. Louis, MO, has long been an urban park where history, nature, culture, and community converge. And now, with an innovative stream restoration project, it is a model of how green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) can make public spaces more vibrant, sustainable, and equitable. More than just a physical upgrade, the East Stream Renovation project is a prime example of the power of partnerships to integrate green stormwater infrastructure and also honor culture and community.
Unearthing History, New Possibilities
Tower Grove Park’s East Stream Renovation project began back in 2019, as part of its 2017 Master Plan, as a conversation among community members prompted by park leadership about the park’s statue of Christopher Columbus. Originally installed in 1890 as a gesture of goodwill toward Italian immigrants, the statue had taken on a far more complex meaning in the 21st century, symbolizing, for many, the painful legacy of colonialism and its destructive impact on the Indigenous peoples who were cast out of the city and their original land.
To navigate this contentious issue, Tower Grove Park convened a multicultural commission of local civic leaders, including members of the Osage and Cherokee Nations, the Italian-American community, the National Park Service, Black Lives Matter, and the local art museum. The park engaged a facilitator, invited outside speakers, including a landscape architect and an Early-American historian who specialized in Christopher Columbus, and held an open discussion in which all viewpoints were heard and weighed equally. Tower Grove Park’s Executive Director Bill Reininger knew that “creating a space where all voices could be heard was key.”
After careful consideration, the commission recommended that the statue be kept on park property while also unveiling the East Stream as a symbolic counterbalance meant to honor Indigenous heritage. However, after nationwide protests in the summer of 2020 reignited conversations about racial justice, Tower Grove Park leaders ultimately removed the statue and reinforced the park as a welcoming place in the neighborhood while moving forward with the restoration of the stream.
While the other two historic streams in the park were kept in place throughout the years, the East Stream was buried before 1913, likely to solve sanitation issues. This “daylighting” project restored the waterway to its original above-ground alignment, combining ecological restoration with modern green stormwater infrastructure and cultural remembrance.
A series of bioretention areas and rain gardens hold up to 1.14 inches of rainwater at a time and 3.8 million gallons of water annually, helping to replenish the water table rather than clogging up storm sewers. The naturalized system not only reduces flood risks but also helps to purify the water, create vital wildlife habitats, and enhance the park’s beauty. Designed to integrate into the park’s existing bridges, pathways, and mature trees, the stream seamlessly becomes a part of the landscape while presenting new opportunities for exploration and learning.
The park’s new stream features five rain gardens that catch, filter, and absorb rainwater, reducing the risk of flooding and water pollution in the surrounding area. Native plants were carefully chosen based on their ecological benefits and cultural importance, integrating species that were traditionally used by the Osage people. In addition to mitigating stormwater, these gardens provide habitats for local wildlife, enhance biodiversity, and create a visually stunning landscape that reflects both nature and heritage. Thoughtfully designed play areas, outdoor “rooms” for structured learning, and hands-on nature experiences will connect children and visitors with the environment in meaningful ways. Rooted in both innovation and local history, the East Stream Renovation in Tower Grove Park is a framework for sustainable, ecological, resilient, and community-centric urban park design.
Partnerships in Restoration and Renewal
The project’s environmental impact is magnified by the partnership with the Metropolitan Sewer District, which provided a $1.4 million grant. They provided an approved list of plants for the rain gardens and allowed the park to enhance it with additional species specific to the Osage. The Missouri Botanical Garden, which shares a historical connection with Tower Grove Park through the same founder Henry Shaw, was also an important partnership. Tower Grove Park leaders were invited to the Shaw Nature Reserve, a 2,400-acre private non-profit nature reserve operated as an extension of the Missouri Botanical Garden, to personally collect and harvest seeds from a wide selection of native plants that were later grown and planted around the stream.
The Osage Nation’s partnership and input were essential to guarantee the cultural legacy of the design. Collaboration with tribal members ensured that features like water elements symbolizing migration routes, trees tied to the Osage origin story, depictions of animals native to Missouri, rings of stones representing traditional Osage lodges and villages, and plants with historical uses for medicine and weapon-making were integrated into the design and detailed with signage. Throughout the course of the project, park leadership learned that each design element carried a deeper significance, though some of the meanings have been kept within just the Osage tribe.
The project was further enriched by a partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation, with offices in the park itself, whose early involvement helped identify opportunities for educational programming and tours, creating a space for visitors to learn about both the ecological and cultural stories woven into the park.
What started as a stormwater management initiative became a multi-dimensional project that merged environmental, cultural, and educational goals, setting a new standard for how green stormwater infrastructure can enhance urban parks and communities. Reininger “refer[s] to the project as an onion—lovingly—because it does stormwater mitigation, tells a hydrology story, restores native plants, and incorporates cultural symbolism. Each layer adds depth to its impact.”
Navigating Challenges and Best Practices
The East Stream Renovation wasn’t just a feat of design and engineering—it was a masterclass in strong partnerships, adaptability, and early engagement with local stakeholders. Tower Grove Park’s Executive Director, Bill Reininger, credits much of the project’s success to having conversations early and providing partners with ample information from the outset. Additionally, the project began in 2020, which meant that it was almost entirely virtual, posing an additional layer of challenges. But to Bill, “having strong communication early on made all the difference.”
Reiniger also laid the groundwork with potential partners before formal plans were submitted, which he credits to making the approval process significantly smoother. “The key to [his] success was what [he’d] call ‘oversharing’—giving tons of information super early in the process so that when it came time for approvals, nothing was a surprise.” By the time key stakeholders were reviewing final designs, they had already engaged multiple times, making approvals and grant reimbursements far more efficient. The park also benefited from having experienced facilitators who understood the Osage Nation’s culture, ensuring that discussions were productive, respectful, and informed. When the project kicked off, park leaders “ knew [they’d] make mistakes in language or approach, but having an experienced facilitator helped [them] navigate those conversations with humility and respect.”
Reininger also emphasizes the long-term benefits of relationship-building. Tower Grove Park’s ongoing partnership with the Osage Nation is still in place today and includes educational exchanges and site visits. The park has also since secured additional grants from the Metropolitan Sewer District, thanks to the collaboration and trust built through this project. Developing partnerships in the early hours and days meant that all parties felt a sense of ownership of the outcome. Reiniger reflected that “every partner brought something unique—whether it was knowledge, funding, or cultural insight. The end result is a project that feels truly shared.”
Perhaps the greatest lesson from the East Stream Renovation is the power of open, honest dialogue: listening to all perspectives, acknowledging the emotions involved, and finding ways to honor diverse voices while working within the constraints of a National Historic Landmark. By embracing this approach, Tower Grove Park not only navigated a complex restoration but also set the stage for future projects that balance history, ecology, and community needs.
Flowing Toward a Greener Future
The East Stream Renovation project exemplifies how urban parks can successfully integrate green stormwater infrastructure by fostering strong partnerships, honoring cultural heritage, and engaging the community. For urban park professionals hoping to launch similar projects, City Parks Alliance’s new Parks and Green Stormwater Infrastructure resources provide essential tools to navigate planning, funding, and implementation. With case studies, policy recommendations, and advocacy strategies, these resources equip park agencies and community groups with the knowledge to leverage GSI for climate resilience, community connection, biodiversity, and equitable access to nature.
Explore how your city can implement GSI solutions in parks and public spaces in a way that enhances the environment, communities, and local culture at cityparksalliance.org/parks-and-green-stormwater-infrastructure.
Support for this blog is provided by the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
