City revisits plan to convert Buck O’Neil Bridge into park

December 2021

Talk of plans to transform the historic bridge have been brought to the forefront again, City Hall officials noting the project as a top priority. A December presentation indicated a cost of $50 million to convert the park.

Plans to turn the Buck O’Neil Bridge into a linear park are on the table once again. Earlier in the month, a presentation projected that the cost to transform the structure into a pedestrian space connecting downtown and the Northland would require at least $50 million.

MoDOT (Missouri Department of Transportation) has plans to demolish the old bridge in 2023, leaving space for its replacement project set to the tune of $220 million.

Although the preliminary budget prepared by the city noted a cost of $50 million to create a linear park, no estimate was provided for ongoing maintenance and operational costs of the bridge and park.

It is also unclear of who would have ownership and manage the structure.