MVVA, who was also responsible for the redesign of Pennsylvania Avenue at the White House, and the design of Brooklyn Bridge Park, has considerable experience in designing urban landscapes. Their plan for the redesign of the area of the national monument fully integrates each the waterfront, the Illinois bank, the immediate surrounding streetscape, and downtown St. Louis area. Within their submission, MVVA proposes a series of new parks, squares, restaurants and recreational activity space all landscaped according to the ecology of the locality and river, which utilizes organic landscaping practices.

Some of the highlights of the proposed plan include lowering the I-70 as it runs downtown and creating a rooftop park that will connect the memorial to both the downtown area and the Old Courthouse. Moreover a larger “Underpass Park” will be created below I-64 as it crosses the river into downtown. The Museum of Westward Expansion will also find a new location at the base of the Arch, beneath ground, and crowned with green space atop.

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