Southwest Garden Neighborhood

Please help support our neighborhood by joining the Schnucks Escrip program. 1 – 3% of every purchase you make at Schnucks is donated to our organization. You can pick up an Escrip card at Schnucks’ customer service desk or from our neighborhood office. (Email me and I will deliver it to your house). You can even participate without having an Escrip card, if you register the credit/debit cards you typically use when shopping.  We are listed as Southwest Garden Neighborhood Assoc. Our group ID# is 500030675. If you do not want to add a credit/debit card, just click “Next” at the bottom of the registration page and it will continue through the process. Email our office if you have any difficulty and I will help you through the process.  Register here.

October 2011 newsletter is now available

The neighborhood association would like to share ideas for a streetscape master plan for Kingshighway, from Southwest Avenue to Arsenal.  The focus is on improving pedestrian and bicycle safety.  The plan involves traffic calming measures and improved pedestrian and bicyclist access.  We want feedback from the residents on the initial plans drafted and to hear your ideas. As opportunities for grants arise, our office wants to be prepared to submit an application.

Concepts include: a) reducing traffic lanes to two lanes in each direction by adding a center turn lane and a protected parking lane on the west / residential side of the street.  b) adding a crosswalk with a pedestrian signal at Reber Place and the entrance to Tower Grove Park.  Review the concept drawings and email director@southwestgarden.org with your comments.

With the help of interns Kirsten Pearson, Master of Architecture grad and Yang Xu, an architecture and construction management student at Washington University, initial photographs and concept drawings have been created for prospective improvements to Kingshighway.  Residents on Kingshighway have long complained about excessive speeds, noise, and lack of parking.

Ken Stratman, traffic engineer, has provided input. Noel Fehr, of Planning Design Studio, has volunteered to help with the cost estimates for upcoming grant applications.  Our office has reached out to community organizations surrounding Tower Grove Park, so we can partner on developing a comprehensive plan when applying for grants.  Together we will partner with professionals and students in developing streetscape enhancement plans, creating safer access to our parks and a more pleasant place to live.

Learn about architecture in the Southwest Garden neighborhood, while riding your bike. Harold Karabell, bicycle advocate and veteran bike tour leader, is our guide.  Participants should bring their bicycle and a helmet.  Meet at the neighborhood office, 4950 Southwest Avenue, zip 63110.  A donation per rider would be appreciated.  The tour will begin at 6 pm.

The July 2011 Southwest Garden Neighborhood Newsletter is now available for download (PDF)!