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Starting Thursday, Sept. 20, students at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) and Ferguson-area residents will be connected from the heart of the UMSL campus to Old Town Ferguson, thanks to the newest segment of the Great Rivers Greenway trail system. The St. Vincent Greenway Cross-Campus Trail serves as an important connector in the Great Rivers Greenway system. Eventually, the St. Vincent Greenway will extend from UMSL to Forest Park.

UMSL students and the general public are invited to participate in the grand opening of the Cross-Campus Trail at 2 p.m., Sept. 20 on the south side of the Millennium Student Center, near the Wayne Goode statue on the UMSL campus. The event can be reached from the UMSL North MetroLink Station or public parking will be allowed in Lot C, located off Grobman Drive.

Following a ribbon cutting, residents and students will be encouraged to explore the new trail, which extends just under a half-mile. The new segment serves as an integral connection to the existing 4.3-mile St. Vincent Greenway Trail, which links UMSL to the area just south of the North Hanley Metrolink Station, and the Ted Jones Trail, a 2.2 mile off-road portion of the North County Bikeway that connects UMSL with Old Town Ferguson.

The trail is the latest addition to the St. Vincent Greenway, which was undertaken with the goal of unifying the community through an interconnected system of parks, trails and neighborhoods in north St. Louis County, all while encouraging redevelopment of neighborhoods in that area.

“The St. Vincent Greenway Cross-Campus Trail is a great example of a shared vision between Great Rivers Greenway and UMSL,” said Susan Trautman, executive director of Great Rivers Greenway.

“In addition, working with the St. Louis County Parks Department to connect to the North County Bikeway makes it possible to create a trail that allows for the campus to connect  to the community, and for students and residents alike to have yet another option for transportation.”

Of the new trail, the latest in the St. Vincent Greenway connections, UMSL Chancellor Thomas George said, “The new St. Vincent Greenway Cross-Campus Trail is a beautiful addition to the campus and to the trail system. Two great institutions, the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Great Rivers Greenway, continue to work together connecting communities.”

At the grand opening event, free bicycle rentals will be provided by Ferguson Bicycle Shop and Live Well Ferguson and golf carts will also be available for those who wish to enjoy the new 10-foot-wide trail. Kona Ice will also be on hand, providing free regular and kiddie-size shaved ice treats, and a variety of ice cream desserts.

About Great Rivers Greenway:

Great Rivers Greenway is a public organization developing an interconnected system of trails and greenways to make the region a better place to live. These linear green spaces link neighborhoods and communities, increase the economic vitality of the region, preserve nature, provide transportation alternatives, and improve health. Great Rivers Greenway includes St. Louis City and County and St. Charles County. For more information, www.grgstl.org.