Kiener Plaza renovation planned to upgrade drainage, paving, trees, lighting and irrigation in two areas

A new round of construction is planned for downtown’s Kiener Plaza

Kiener Plaza, the 3.5-acre public park just west of Gateway Arch National Park and directly in front of the Old Courthouse, is slated for its first significant renovation work since the plaza’s 2017 reopening. Project documents for bidding describe a package of site improvements focused on two areas: the “Shade Garden” and the “Oval Lawn.”

The improvements are framed as targeted fixes to park performance issues that can develop in intensively used urban landscapes—particularly drainage, surface durability and long-term functionality—rather than a wholesale redesign of the full plaza.

What is being changed: Shade Garden

The Shade Garden work area is described as adjacent to the visitor center. Planned construction includes replacing an existing crushed-aggregate surface with precast concrete or stone pavers, along with subsurface upgrades intended to improve how the surface performs over time.

Plans also call for removing existing trees and installing new shade trees supported by a subterranean modular soil containment system. New site furniture is included as part of the scope.

What is being changed: Oval Lawn

On the eastern half of the park, the Oval Lawn improvements are designed to reshape and rebuild the lawn’s underlying structure. The bid scope calls for removing an existing soil mound to create a flatter, level surface and reconstructing the soil profile with subsurface drainage infrastructure.

Specimen trees along the perimeter are slated for removal and replacement. The project also includes installation of new light fixtures in this area.

Systems work: irrigation, lighting and electrical upgrades

Across both project areas, the work package includes irrigation system upgrades and a set of electrical improvements or replacements, alongside lighting work and additional landscape and site elements. The stated purpose of these modifications is to enhance drainage, usability and overall site functionality.

Context: a plaza last comprehensively rebuilt in 2017

Kiener Plaza underwent a major reconstruction that reopened in 2017 after a closure that began in early 2016. That earlier project introduced features that have defined the plaza’s current layout and operations, including multiple fountains, a playground, extensive new landscaping and an event lawn designed for large gatherings.

Key elements described in the bid scope

• Replacement of crushed-aggregate plaza surfacing in the Shade Garden with precast pavers
• Subsurface upgrades and a modular soil containment system for new shade trees
• Regrading the Oval Lawn by removing a soil mound and rebuilding the soil profile
• Installation of subsurface drainage infrastructure beneath the Oval Lawn
• Removal and replacement of select trees, plus new light fixtures
• Irrigation and electrical upgrades in both work areas

Kiener Plaza’s planned upgrades concentrate on two defined zones, pairing surface replacements with underground drainage and utility work to address functionality and maintenance needs.

Construction timing, final cost, and any associated closures or detours will depend on contract award and project scheduling following the bidding process described in the project materials.