City Garden Sculpture Park Tour

Monday, May 10, 2010

Continuing Education Class for Master Gardeners, Tour of the New City Garden Sculpture Park in Downtown St. Louis. Tour will be led by Sue Chaires, Master Gardener, professional horticulturist and arborist.

Additional Information

Two vacant blocks in downtown St. Louis have been transformed into Citygarden. A vibrant and serene blending of lush plantings and internationally renowned sculpture with delights of water, stone, architecture and design.
Surrounded by no fences or gates, and with no admission fee, Citygarden is completely open and accessible to the public 365 days a year. There is nothing quite like it in the downtown of any American city.
Citygarden, which opened July 1,2009 features two dozen works of modern and contemporary sculpture by some of the world's most highly regarded artists. The sculptures have been sited in a gorgeously landscaped space.
The landscaping features uses of water and stone that play off of the region's chief natural feature, its great rivers; Citygarden is in the shadow of the Gateway Arch and within walking distance of the Mississippi River. The landscaping also features diverse, lush plantings, selected and arranged both to complement the sculpture and to provide a beauty and power of their own. A emphasis on native plants and six rain gardens, among other features, locate the garden in the horticultural vanguard.
The garden represents a partnership between the City of St. Louis, which owns the land, and the non-profit, St. Louis-based Gateway Foundation, which had provided the funding; including an estimated $25-$30 million for design and construction and "soft" costs like insurance and maintenance. The cost of the sculpture, which is and will remain owned by the Foundation, is separate.

In addition to its sculpture and magnificent plantings, the garden features remarkable hardscape, including a 550-foot long arcing limestone wall enclosing a large video wall for video art and movies; a glass-walled café; and a stunning, serpentine "meander wall" capped in polished granite. Its water features include a six-foot waterfall and a spray plaza, where 102 nozzles will shoot water as much as six feet into the air in thousands of patterns and colors; and where children can play.
(Overview from the City Garden Website)


Event Location

The Park is located in Downtown St. Louis between Market St. and Chestnut at 9th St.
Metered parking is available on city streets near Citygarden. In addition, several parking garages are conveniently located within walking distance of Citygarden,

Contact:

Nathan Brandt
brandtn@missouri.edu

Date and Time

Tour begins at 10:00 a.m.

Instructor Information

Sue Chaires

Master Gardener and professional horticulturist and arborist who is the current City Garden caretaker and has been involved with the project from its beginning.