Keeley Civil Spotlight: Great Rivers Greenway Chain of Rocks

Keeley Construction has proudly built relationships across the St. Louis area and is dedicated to enhancing our communities. Keeley Civil Infrastructure’s bid was one chosen by Great Rivers Greenway to complete a 20-year-in-the-making restoration project at Chain of Rocks Park. The team was immediately built on trust and that trust carried through to the grand opening celebration.

The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is the northern anchor for the Mississippi Greenway Riverfront Trail. Since the bridge was taken out of vehicular service, the area was in need of revitalization. The Keeley Civil Infrastructure team was brought in to restore the wetlands and the woodlands in Chain of Rocks Park on an 8-acre construction landfill site. Keeping the trail open for people walking, running, and riding a bicycle was a top priority, so enhanced site security and safety measures were put into place including the addition of gated entrance & exit drives, a fence around the park, lighting in the parking lot & along the pedestrian walkways, video surveillance cameras, and an emergency phone. A permeable paved parking lot for daily use was added and included handicap, bus, and RV spaces, along with a grass lot for overflow parking. Structures were constructed for portable restrooms as well as a picnic pavilion for group gatherings. Finally, power and water connections were incorporated for food trucks and other vendors along the added Vendor Plaza. The park and trail remained open and operational for 90% of the construction duration with 100% safety of team members and pedestrians.

At the beginning of the storm drainage system construction, a large amount of debris was discovered. Chain of Rocks Parks sits on Osage Nation land, so an archeological review was conducted during deep excavations. A report was shared with the Osage Nation with no findings and with negative results for archeological objects. The Keeley Team prioritized safely disposing of debris while keeping the site clean and focusing on the environment as there was a forest on the site with new trees that were not yet part of a functioning ecosystems. Any debris and garbage that were hauled away were replaced with new vegetation and plant life to encourage a flourishing environment for years to come.

Keeley Construction was proud to provide the Power of One on this project. Keeley Industrial came in to assist Keeley Civil Infrastructure on the construction of the pre-engineered pavilion and restroom structures as well as installation of miscellaneous steel components such as dumpster gates and railings. Keeley Paving also stepped up to complete the asphalt paving of the Greenway along Riverview Drive. Utilizing the Power of One allowed Keeley to have control over quality, cost, and schedule throughout the various scopes of the project.

Keeley proudly completed this project under budget and ahead of schedule, with the park ready for the grand opening celebration for 1,000+ community members. The team is grateful for the opportunity to revitalize Chain of Rocks Park, a staple in the community, ensuring a safe, clean park for community members and visitors to enjoy for years to come.

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