By KERRY SMITH, ST. LOUIS CONSTRUCTION NEWS AND REVIEW MAGAZINE
Tower Grove Park in South St. Louis City is gaining two basketball courts.
Earlier this month, city officials and community members celebrated the project with a groundbreaking. The two new courts will be installed by October, replacing others that had been removed back in the 1980s.
The courts are being installed near the intersection of Arsenal Street and Bent Avenue.
“The courts were among the top-requested additions to our master plan,” said Bill Reininger, executive director at Tower Grove Park, noting that the park’s 7,000 annual visitors are also noticing more than $14 million in improvements to the park over the past several years. The work is in line with the evolving master plan, which has been taking place since 2017.
Tower Grove Park, which celebrated 100 years in 2022, has National Historic Landmark status. It is one of 108 parks across the city of St. Louis.
“These courts will give our youth more opportunities to spend time together in a safe environment while enjoying everything the park has to offer,” said St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones. “Tower Grove is a crown jewel in our park system.”
Tower Grove Park is the latest city park to sport public basketball opportunities. Earlier this month, a new court opened in the Fairground Neighborhood in North St. Louis.