Part of a $380 million renovation project on the Gateway Arch grounds, a new riverfront path is built two feet higher above the banks of the mighty Mississippi River.

"The stretch of riverfront below the Gateway Arch should better withstand flooding after being raised about two feet, meaning fewer shutdowns when the Mississippi River rises in the area popular with tourists," reports Leah Thorsen.
The riverfront project is part of a $380 million restoration of the Gateway Arch grounds, including the rebuilt Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard and a bike path along a 1.5-mile stretch from Chouteau Avenue to Biddle Street. "Other upgrades include new lighting, landscaping, benches and bike racks," adds Thorsen. Planetizen has been tracking the CityArchRiver project, as it's called, since its early conceptual stages in September 2010.
The flood control aspects of the project weigh prominently, however, as the city prepares to celebrate the opening of the new path today. Just this previous winter, the city of St. Louis saw widespread flooding, and construction of the Gateway Arch renovation project was shut down three times by flooding since construction commenced in December 2013. The rest of Gateway Arch grounds are expected to reopen this fall.
FULL STORY: Rebuilt and elevated Arch riverfront should mean less flooding

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research