ST. LOUIS - The Missouri History Museum hosted Great Rivers Greenways' 25th Anniversary celebration Monday night to honor the spaces that are bringing more residents in St. Louis and St. Charles counties outside to live, work and play.

The Greenways comprise 140 miles of space across the St. Louis region. In early 2000, residents voted to put tax dollars toward these spaces to enrich the area and those living near it.

“You can walk, ride a bike, push a stroller, roll a wheelchair, go for a run and we really want people to know that they are for them,” said Emma Klues with Great River Greenways.

Klues said spaces have been used in more ways than one, not just physically but mentally and emotionally as well.

“They're slowly being connected to all the different parks and downtown municipalities –

We especially heard that during the height of the pandemic, when people were like, ‘This is what's keeping me sane,’” Klues said.

Klues said the return on the investment continued through the last 25 years, with little loss and lots of gain.

“The average Saint Louisian has spent just under six bucks a year, which is about less than $0.50 a month, to be able to create this 140-mile-and-counting network of greenways,” Klues said.​

Green River's greenways are expanding with even more spaces in the process.

“Each of us can kind of carry a puzzle piece of, you know, what these greenways are to us,” said regular visitor and STL Skates owner, Augie Bindbeutel.

Klues said they have two segments of the Brickline Greenway built, two more are under construction, Market Street and North Grand, and others will start soon. 

All projects currently in progress should be completed by 2030.