Master Plan for Benton Park
Prepared by Saunders and Associates, December, 1993

Key Topics

1. Background
2. Mission Statement
3. Existing Conditions
4. Concept Plan
5. Priorities and Cost
6. APPENDIX A: Existing Tree Survey
7. APPENDIX B: Recommended Plant List (coming soon)
8. APPENDIX C: Phase One Planting - Budget
9. APPENDIX D: Color Scheme for Community Building

 

1. Background

Benton Park, now bordered by Arsenal Wyoming, Illinois and Jefferson streets in St. Louis, was originally zoned as part of the St. Louis Common by an Act of Congress in 1812. The Common was a tract of grazing ground to be used by the cities’ first inhabitants. In 1842 the city designated the tract as “the St. Louis Cemetery,” and many cholera victims were buried there as a result of epidemics during the middle of the century. In 1865 and 1866 ordinances were passed which relocated the graves and which established the cemetery area as a public park to be called Benton Park in honor of Thomas Hart Benton, a famous Missouri statesman.

To the east of Benton Park was a natural cave first used by Ezra English, an early brewer as a place to store his malt beer. When English’s brewery expanded, the caves were no longer adequate for storage, and the caverns were used for raising mushrooms.

When the park was established, an artificial lake was created to enhance the grounds. Yet the water from the lake often drained into the nearby caverns. The problem was resolved by filling the leaking creavesses with concrete. In 1888, Park Commissioner Richard Klemm further altered the lake by ordering it filled to an average depth of three and a half feet to avoid hazardously deep areas.

Early in the history of the park, E. Krausnick, horticulturist and landscape gardener, was hired as superintendent. Under his expert guidance, the park become one of the most beautiful and popular resorts in the city, filled with rare trees, shrubs, and flowers. A devastating tornado in 1896 destroyed many of the park’s trees. In 1882 the Hecker monument, a granite obelisk, was dedicated to Friederich karl Hecker, a German revolutionary who served the Union Army during the Civil War.

During the eight of Benton Park’s popularity, visitors could enjoy boat rides on the lake and classical concerts at the bandstand for a modest sum. Shortly after World War I, (however) there started a noticeable decline in the beauty of the park which mirrored the decline in the neighborhood – homes began to summer from obsolescence. During the decades that followed, the park served its purpose as a children’s play area and gathering place for the elderly, but “the old grandeur was gone.”

In 1956 and 1957, Benton Park was rehabilitated under the 1955 bond issue at a cost of $163,829. A “modern” playground was installed and a community building was built on the site of the old bandstand. Further decline of the park during the past few decades resulted in vandalism and disrepair in the park’s facilities and a lost of more than half of the park’s trees.

In 1985 the Benton Park Neighborhood was granted Federal Historical District status. The recent revitalization of the neighborhood which followed has been reflected in Park improvements including the addition of tennis courts, the planting of evergreens throughout the park and oaks along the Jefferson border, and (more recently) the addition of an entry marker at the corner of Jefferson and Arsenal.


2. Mission Statement

The mission of the Benton Park Neighborhood Association is to revitalize Benton Park as a reflection of and as a catalyst to the revitalization of the Benton Park Neighborhood.

The mission of the Benton Park Beautification Committee (A task force within the Neighborhood Association) is to administer and implement the Park’s revitalization via an overall master plan.

The mission of the planning firm of Saunders & Associates, after analysis of the site and the neighborhood, is to develop a master plan which will guide the Park’s development and, thereby, consolidate the efforts of well-intentioned people to work towards a comprehensive goal.

3. Existing Conditions

Aside from the steady decline and loss of trees, the eastern two thirds of the park’s 14 acres remains essentially as it was in the 1860’s – a very attractive Victorian park with curvilinear walkway systems, pleasantly shaped lagoons, bridges and undulating topography. The park is surrounded by neighborhood ball fields and schoolyard playgrounds. Further, a community center at the southwest corner of the park provides various indoor recreational facilities.

Each of the park’s street borders possess unique characteristics. Jefferson Avenue, the west border, is a major urban thoroughfare. However, a newly planted avenue of oaks has softened the street’s noise and has created a pleasant western border for the park. Arsenal Street to the north is also a busy street. There is little landscaping on this border which unfortunately allows the noise and visual excitement of this street to encroach upon the serenity of the park (although the historic homes facing the park form a nice visual backdrop). Wyoming Street to the south is shielded from the park by a steep slope and relatively dense vegetation. Illinois Street to the east is a quiet dead-end street of large Victorian homes which contribute greatly to the park’s character.

Park maintenance is provided by the city’s Parks Department and consists primarily of mowing lawns and emptying trash cans. However, the park has difficulty maintaining adequate trash cans and benches due to the preponderance of the original Victorian plan’s physiographic features. Many of the existing drinking fountains are inoperable. (even though the inner structure of the waterlines an sewer lines to the pond are still in place) creating a stagnant eyesore. In addition, much of the park’s walkways and facilities are inaccessible to handicapped people.

Besides the tennis courts, the existing adult recreational facilities – horseshoe pitches and shuffleboard courts – are severely neglected. Yet, the modern playground area is relatively well kempt. The community and restroom building overlooking the round pond is terribly neglected, with all rooms locked at all times and industrial strength fencing covering all window openings – clearly not the intention of the building’s original designer.

General Problems:

Potential Activities:

Improve Entry Areas By Degree of Importance – Typically

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Point 9

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Other notes on the analysis:

4. Concept Plan

I Overall Concept

Benton Park was designed as a Victorian park – with undulating contours and pictorial water features. The few relatively flat areas in the park that exist were the result of 1950’s alternations which included long rectilinear retaining walls). Further, the Benton Park Neighborhood, a historic district, has a rich context of Victorian architecture. For these reasons (and because there already exists adequate recreational facilities in the immediate vicinity) , it is the planner’s recommendation that the major concept of the master plan be one of restoration.

In addition to restoration, another major thrust of the master plan would be to enhance and increase the features of the park which would increase the pedestrian activity and encourage greater recreational use of the park. Because of its Victorian character, the park is best suited to “passive” recreational activities – walking, picnics, etc. The eastern two thirds of the park should undergo relatively minor enhancements and major preservation efforts (particularly landscaping). The western third of the park, particularly around the community and rest room facility and playground, would require a more major rehabilitation.


II Repair and Restoration

a. Landscape

The park needs a major implementation of plantings, including a full spectrum of shade trees, evergreen trees, flowering trees, shrubs and bedding plants. This implementation would need to be supported and maintained by gardening groups in the neighborhood with a full term care which would be beyond the scope of city-provided maintenance. (The city would, however, provide water hydrants necessary for irrigation systems). The continuing decline of existing plants should be addressed as soon as possible. Entry points to the park, in particular, should be enhanced with landscape elements. Erosion control measures must also be taken.

Phase I – Phase I Landscape Restoration focuses on three areas: the Round Pond, the North Lagoon, and the northwest corner entrance.

b. Hardscape

Repair and restoration to the park infrastructure and hardscape include continued repair and maintenance of existing structures – repair/replacement of handrails, patching and replacement of walks, repairs and replacement of trash receptacles, drinking fountains, and park benches. Of high priority is the alternation of existing walks and facilities making them accessible to handicapped persons in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Also of high priority is the repair of the fountain in the Round Pond. The importance of this improvement is that is would be a major symbol of rebirth and restoration in the park and would thereby encourage popular support for further restoration projects.

A phased enhancements of the community/restroom building should begin with a programmatic examination of the building and its function. More appropriate and aesthetic security features can be utilized (eg. Use of Lexan coating instead of industrial fencing presently protecting the windows). Further enhancement of the building should include repainting of existing doors and trim to a more historically appropriate color scheme. Also a roof structure should be altered to exhibit a more historically appropriate design. Further, modern lighting fixtures and standards should be replaced with historic fixtures (Existing ornamental light standards have been reclaimed in various parts of the city and have been stored for future use).

III Improvements

Bandstand/Amphitheatre

The open valley north of the playground could be converted into a bandstand and amphitheatre. A bandstand was one of the original structures in the park. It would provide not only a site for concert type activities, but provide a major three dimensional element to enhance the part experience.

Picnic Shelter

There are currently no picnic shelters in the park – no place for families or other groups to hold picnics during inclement weather. A shelter would provide the setting for picnics and other gatherings. In addition, a man-made structure would serve as a textural contract to the strictly vegetative vertical elements (trees) in the park and would help define its larger scaled spatial relationship. (The shelter is shown on the map to be the south west between the lagoon walkway and the intersection of the two paths)

New Path/Entrances

The perimeter circulation through the northwest part of the site could be improved by adding a path which would connect to the perimeter path of the south and eastern portions of the park. This would also provide a biking/jogging trail and encourage greater activity in the park. Addition entrance paths should be provided at street intersections.

Hard surfaced Recreational Upgrade

The hard surfaced area to the southwest could benefit from more contemporary forms of adult recreation – basketball, handball and/or bocci ball courts in lieu of the existing shuffleboards and horseshoes facilities.

Promenade

A promenade next to the existing community and restroom building would enhance the straight line walkway connecting the western and central portions of the site and provide an activity center for art shows, pet shows, etc. The promenade would also provide easy access to the community and restroom building, basketball/bocci/handball courts, children’s play area , and amphitheatre.

Boat Rental/Storage

The structure beneath the bridge to the west of the lagoon could be rehabilitated to be used as a concessions area and boat rental/storage facility. The original park featured canoes and row boats for rent. Such an activity would be appropriate to the park’s character and would provide part-time employment for a concessionaire either elderly or youthful. The storage could be easily secured. Part of this structure could also be used for concession of snacks and soft drinks as well as fishing bait and tackle.

Lily Pond

Another element would be a lily pond at the west side of the bridge over the boat rental facility. This would enhance not only the view from the bridge but also from the amphitheatre.
 

5. Priorities and Costs

APPENDIX A: Existing Tree Survey

APPENDIX B: Recommended Plant List

(coming soon)

APPENDIX C: Phase One Planting - Budget

APPENDIX D: Color Scheme for Community Building

The rest of the plan describes the recommended planting of trees and bushes and the 1993 dollar cost for making the improvements and plantings.
 

Last updated: Friday, November 14, 2008