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EAST ST. LOUIS
Dignitaries piled into a large bucket lift Saturday that took them 40 feet into the air to give them a glimpse of the view they could expect when an observation deck opens at that height in Martin Memorial Park early next summer.
The deck will provide a view of the Gateway Arch and downtown St. Louis. The Metro East Park and Recreation District, which will maintain the deck, expects the facility to attract at least 400,000 visitors a year and help transform the East St. Louis riverfront into a tourist and cultural hot spot.
St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern called the view spectacular.
"It helps to finish Eero Saarinen's plans for the riverfront where he planned a park on both sides of the river," Kern said after exiting the lift. "This is a few years later than I am sure he had envisioned, but certainly is no less as monumental. It will do great things for the entire metropolitan St. Louis area."
The $4 million Mississippi River overlook platform will be 195 feet long and 24 feet wide across the river from the Arch. The deck will be accessible for the disabled.
A geyser, a large spray of water on the eastern river bank that reaches 600 feet when turned on twice a day between April 15 and Oct. 15, now is in the park. Saturday's overlook groundbreaking comes 11 years after the geyser made its debut in the park named after Malcolm W. Martin. He raised money for the water feature through a nonprofit foundation, the Gateway Center of Metropolitan St. Louis.
The foundation donated the land and $2.5 million to the Metro East Park District and continued raising money to develop the park, including funds for the observation deck. The park district will operate and maintain the 34-acre facility.
On hand for the groundbreaking were several state, county and local officials, including U. S. Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Belleville; Illinois state Rep. Wyvetter H. Younge, D-East St. Louis; Madison County Board Chairman Alan Dunstan; and Mike Buehlhorn, executive director of the park district.
East St. Louis Mayor Carl Officer said the platform represents progress, partnership and prosperity.
Saying many great people in East St. Louis have had parks and buildings named after them, Officer suggested the platform should be named after James William Sr., the first African-American mayor of East St. Louis.
Harold Byers, president of park district, said the riverfront would be admired.
"Not only will this project transform the East St. Louis shoreline, it will serve as a catalyst for the continued revitalization of this community," Byers said. "We have much to look forward to as this site becomes the 'Forest Park' of the Metro East."
To reach the park from westbound Interstate 55-70, take the 4th Street exit, turn left on River Park Drive, left on Front Street and pass the Casino Queen and the Cargill grain elevator. To get to the park from eastbound I-55-70, take the 3rd Street exit, turn right on River Park Drive and left on Front Street.
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