Major Construction at Atkins wrapping up

The major construction at the Atkins ballfield complex is wrapping up. The third filed is in play now. The concession stand exterior is complete. There's just some interior items, the sewer line and some stormwater controls to be completed.

There's a lot of finishing touches like landscape, some more walks and removal of excess materials to be done. But the big items are just about complete.

Atkins overflow parking area ready for use

With the third field almost ready for use it was apparent there was need for additional parking at the Atkins Ballfield Complex. There's a new graveled area that can be used for parking if the asphalt lots fill up.

By a lucky coincidence, this gravel area in is the spot were there was a top soil stockpile. Since the topsoil needed to be moved it was placed where the two remaining fields will be eventually built. They'll be getting a temporary seeding to prevent erosion but the fields will be seeded with the outfield grass in the fall.Until their final construction these areas could become warm up fields.

Wrapping up at the Maplewood Barn site

The good weather has allowed a lot of exterior work to be completed at the Maplewood Barn project. The poles for the light and sound equipment have been installed. These poles were originally at the Rapp Tennis Complex in Cosmo Park. They were salvaged when new lights were installed. The Maplewood Community Theater group sanded them and they will be painting and installing the theater lights. The wiring will also be completed by the group.

There's been a lot of new walks added as well. These walks, build to ADA standards, provide access to the barn, stage, audience area and the restrooms in the park. There's still a bit to go but it could be wrapped up by next week.

Lastly there's brand new sod installed in the audience area. Most of the rest of the disturbed area will be seeded and strawed.

The dedication is less than a week away and the first performance the week after. But it looks like the site will be pretty much done.

Maplewood Barn Update

The heavy rains over the weekend have put a temporary stop to the exterior work at the Barn. But the stage is done, all the subsurface drainage is installed, most of the conduit for the stage lights is installed, the light pole piers are installed and a lot of the sidewalks are in. Final painting (anything white will be painted to match the barn) and the installation of the window should happen this week.

Once the walks are complete, the conduit is finished and the poles installed, the sodding of the area immediately in front of the stage and seeding/strawing of the other areas can happen. 

Inside there's HVAC work going on. The Maplewood Community Theater has contracted with a plumber to do the fixture and finish plumbing work. And the group has started to load their theater materials in.

Dedication is in 16 days. But with a little luck and some dry weather it should be looking pretty good.

There are more photos of the construction at minus.com.

MKT Stadium Tunnel closed for construction

Contact: Public Works Department (573) 874-7250

Construction of Stadium MKT Trail Connector

COLUMBIA, MO (March 22, 2012) -
The City of Columbia Public Works Department announces that beginning Monday, March 26, at 7 a.m., Grun-D Construction of Tipton, Mo., will begin construction of the Stadium MKT Trail Connector.

This work will result in a temporary closure of the pedestrian tunnel under Stadium Boulevard, between West Boulevard and Carrie Francke Drive. Pedestrians are urged to use alternative trails until the project is completed. Motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution when traveling on Stadium Boulevard between West Boulevard and Carrie Francke Drive for the possibility of pedestrians crossing.

This project is funded by the GetAbout Columbia Non Motorized Transportation Pilot Program and should be completed by the end of April 2012, weather permitting.

Why Trails Benefit Our Community StL Post-Dispatch article

Why Trails Benefit our Community--5 Questions for Susan Trautman, Executive Director, St. Louis Great Rivers Greenway District.

Here's a great article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch discussing issues such as economic development benefits of trails and the value of a connected network. Several great examples are included.

3M Wetlands Restoration Project - Treekeepers CARP project

With spring in the air it is time for another round of planting at the 3M wetlands site. We still have roughly 600 shrubs and trees to plant throughout the site, so with any luck we will have the same if not more volunteers for this next round of volunteering.

The event is scheduled for Saturday March 24th at 8:00a.m. meeting again at the site end nearest to the Forum Nature Area parking lot.

More details on how to sign up go here. to the TreeKeepers website or here to the Volunteer Services main website. Both CARP and TreeKeepers will be involved in the project and anyone who has an interest in the environment is more than welcome.

Look forward to seeing you there!

3M Wetlands Restoration Project - treating stormwater

Today's rain is the first event that will start the filling of the wetlands project. Full pool will be attained in the first cell with the rains projected through tomorrow afternoon and the filling of the second pool will begin with subsequent rains.

Winter Wheat and Annual Rye were sown as the first rain fell this morning and hopefully will sprout with through the rest of the winter season.

With all the final stage of the grading operations, funded by the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation's Five Star Grant, native planting will resume over the next few months. There will be some 500 + additional native trees and shrubs planted by TreeKeepers & CARP volunteers, provided by Missouri Forest ReLeaf. Several thousand native wetland plants will be installed in the new wetlands by the same volunteers, funding provided by National Fish & Wildlife Foundation's Five Star Grant for $25,000.

Work on the on covered observation structure continues with new and innovative ideas being considered each day, more to come on that as funding allows!!

Work has begun on the $20,000 Missouri State Parks RTP Grant for an accessible interpretive sign system for the wetlands that will include interpretive information about the site and its functions and purposes...more information to come on that too as progress is made!!

Barn siding is up at the Maplewwod Barn

The barn is looking a lot more like a barn with the installation of most of the siding. There's still some exterior trim and much interior work to do but the project is mmaking great time with the mild winter.

3M Wetlands Restoration Project open for business

Today saw the last of the grading work and reconnection of the temporarily diverted flow. Rain is in the forecast, so this will be the first test of the completed graded pools!

3M Urban Ecology Restoration Project - observation deck work

The non-load bearing walls have been removed from the structure in preparation for the conversion into a covered observation area. The weather has been unbelievably kind and the majority of the remaining site grading will be completed this week.


The preceding image is looking down the wetland system with the graded wetland 'riverbed' water will flow along this flat alignment as it is introduced into the wetlands. Native wetland plants will be installed with Parks staff and volunteer events.

We hope to allow the permanent source of water to flow back into the site very soon.

3M Urban Ecology Restoration Grant structure backfill

This week, until today, saw the grading contractor back on site. The remainder of the 'riverbed' channel and splash pool are in the first stages of being formed. The abandoned pump house structure is being back-filled with the excavated materials from the riverbed. This will make a manageable slope running from the riverbed up to what will be the green-roofed structure.

The non load-bearing masonry walls (seen here in tan) will be removed and the structure will have four open sides. It will house some of the interpretive sign system that is in the process of being designed. From the structure you will be able to view the M-K-T trail and look across the wetlands cells, due south. This will be an exciting addition to an already valuable project.

The Maplewood Barn building is under roof

The good weather over the last week has really let Sircal Construction get a lot of progress on the Maplewood Barn.


The exterior walls and roof have been erected. The building will be wrapped in Tyvek (a water protection material that also helps stop drafts) next week. The siding may get started as well. The metal roofing will then get going.

Here's hoping the "winter" weather continues.