Hidden gems: Bellerive and Sister Marie Charles Parks

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Compared to riverfronts in other cities, the St. Louis riverfront is often criticized for not living up to its potential. Million-dollar consulting projects have examined, with little success, how to better merge the locations where the city meets the Mississippi River.
Tucked away in a small strip of south St. Louis, however, are two parks that provide excellent vistas of the Illinois flood plain and enable the listener to hear the constant flow of the river and the traffic rolling on it. Bellerive Park and Sister Marie Charles Park measure 5.67 acres and 3 acres, respectively.

Bellerive Park sits atop a 70-foot bluff, contains a modern playground, and provides an elevated view across the river unlike any other city park. One entrance to the park is via the Bellerive Avenue bridge that spans South Broadway. This beautiful bridge was built in 1918 and is featured on bridgehunter.com, a Web site for aficionados of such structures.
Sister Marie Charles Park lies south of and below the bluff. It sits along the water just a few feet from tied-up barges. There is a lengthy paved walkway parallel to the river that features ornately designed street lamps and overlooks with benches. Looking upriver, one sees the Arch and downtown; in the other direction, the JB Bridge carrying I-255 is visible in the distance.

The historical marker in Bellerive Park notes that Clement Delor de Treget (the namesake of Delor Street) landed at this location in 1767 and founded a settlement, originally called Louisbourg, which became Carondelet in 1794. Bellerive Park, originally known as Riverside Park, was named in honor of a French governor of St. Louis. Sister Marie Charles Park has a more contemporary history, and is named after Sister Marie Charles Buford, the long-time executive director of the Carondelet Community Betterment Federation (CCBF).

In the mid-1980s, Sister Marie Charles park was a garbage dump. “It is unbelievable to have a dump along a river,” notes Matt Villa, alderman for the 11th Ward, which includes both parks. He explains that Buford possessed the vision to clean up the area in hopes of joining it with Bellerive Park. She worked closely with Villa’s grandfather (the then-Alderman) to raise the funds to secure the land. In gratitude for her service, the city named the park after her. Her retirement party from the CCBF last fall featured many city politicians and community leaders honoring her legacy.

The flood of 1993 put Sister Marie Charles Park entirely under water. When the water receded, the decorative lamps no longer worked, the poles corroded, and vandals damaged the light fixtures. The more modern (and less attractive) “cobra head” lights were later installed along the walkway. Most recently, access to the park was severely hampered by a year-long Metropolitan Sewer District project, but when that was finally completed, a more colorful problem emerged.

The park named after the tireless Sister Marie Charles developed a reputation as a place rife with prostitution and cruising. Area residents complained frequently, and the local press raised this issue in recent months.

“We stepped up the patrols in the parks, especially on the lower level,” indicates Dan Skillman, Commissioner of the City’s Parks Division. He refers both to the Park Rangers and to the police out of the 1st District. My calls to the South Patrol Public Relations officers were not returned, but during several visits to the parks in recent weeks, the police presence was noticeable. Says Skillman, “I hope that more people use [the parks]. That would be even more reason for the undesirable elements to go away.”

If Alderman Villa’s plans are successful, the parks might indeed find themselves with more residents enjoying them. Villa has applied for several grants, including the Metro Parks Funds, overseen by Commissioner Skillman. This $1 million pool comes from the one-tenth-cent city sales tax, part of which goes to neighborhood parks. Aldermen applying for this funding provide a 25 percent match from their ward, but there are always more requests than funding available.

Metro Parks Funds could bring electricity back to the decorative lights in Sister Marie Charles Park, although the prospect is expensive. Skillman estimates the cost at $100,000. Other improvements could include repairing the benches and overlooks in this park, as well as purchasing new benches in Bellerive Park. Villa also mentions safety-related additions under consideration: security cameras and gates that would limit the times of vehicle access into Sister Marie Charles Park. Further, the CCBF is interested in having the industrial property at 5800 S. Broadway either donated to or purchased by the city. This property sits roughly between the two parks and also creates a visual barrier to the lower park from Broadway.

In a few months, when the cold weather breaks and you’re looking for things to do outside, make a visit to these two gems sitting along the river Stroll close to the banks, and take in the view. Close your eyes and listen to the water and the barges. Take the time to enjoy St. Louis’ riverfront like you can’t do in any other city neighborhood.

You can email John Ginsburg at ginsbujo@alumni.cmu.edu.