Editing Gateway Arch National Park (section)

====Renovations====
For most of its existence, the Memorial was largely separated from the rest of [[Downtown St. Louis]] by a sunken section of [[I-70]] (now I-44 with the rerouting of I-70 over a new bridge), but in 2014, a lid was installed over the highway, creating the foundation for a park connecting downtown with the Memorial grounds. In November 2015, Saarinen's original master plan was brought to fruition. Building of the Gateway Arch Connector linking the Old Courthouse with the grounds of the arch was completed.<ref>{{cite web |last= Bomar |first= Mary A. |author-link= Mary A. Bomar |title= Summary of Park Centennial Strategies |publisher= National Park Service |date= August 2007 |url= http://www.nps.gov/2016/assets/files/Summary-of-Park-Centennial-Strategies.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911093229/http://www.nps.gov/2016/assets/files/Summary-of-Park-Centennial-Strategies.pdf |archive-date=2007-09-11 |url-status=live |access-date= February 15, 2008}}</ref>  This design, and other design components were imagined by Michael Van Valkenburg Associates. In September 2010 [[Michael Van Valkenburgh|Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates]] won a design contest to "re-envision the visitor experience" of the grounds.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cityarchrivercompetition.org/ |title=The City + the Arch + the River &#124; St. Louis Arch International Design Competition |access-date=May 25, 2021 |archive-date=September 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903141112/http://www.cityarchrivercompetition.org/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aia.org/practicing/AIAB086219|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121130001132/http://www.aia.org/practicing/AIAB086219|archive-date = November 30, 2012|title = Practice - AIA}}</ref> The project, originally planned for completion in 2015 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the opening of the arch,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/morning_call/2015/09/gateway-arch-grounds-renovations-fall-further.html| last=Barr| first=Diana |title=Gateway Arch grounds renovations fall further behind schedule| work=St. Louis Business Journal |date=2015-09-15| access-date=2017-06-22}}</ref> was completed in 2018.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.kmov.com/story/35716227/gateway-arch-museum-delayed-until-summer-2018| author=<!--Not stated-->| title=Gateway Arch museum delayed until summer 2018| date=2017-06-21| website=KMOV.com| access-date=2017-06-24| archive-date=June 21, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621175626/http://www.kmov.com/story/35716227/gateway-arch-museum-delayed-until-summer-2018| url-status=dead}}</ref> It includes:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_ccccaf5a-c5ba-11df-ae53-00127992bc8b.html |title=New York firm MVVA wins Arch design competition &#124; Metro |publisher=stltoday.com |date=2010-09-21 |access-date=2016-07-16}}</ref>
*replacing the north garage with an outdoor amphitheater, an explorers garden for children and an addition of 7.5 acres of green space. 
*new cobblestone plaza between the arch and the river
*elevated walkways on the [[Illinois]] side, reaching 35 feet and winding through a new bird sanctuary, (Congress has authorized the purchase of the Illinois acreage)
*an expanded museum below the Gateway Arch with a new western entrance nearly a block closer to downtown than the original entrances.

In 2016, many [[ash tree]]s on the grounds were removed to preempt damage from [[emerald ash borers]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/timber-most-of-st-louis-ash-trees-coming-down-to/article_78a39113-7f16-5a1b-994f-2015ad3cfc48.html|title=Timber! Most of St. Louis' 15,000 ash trees coming down to stop bug invasion|last=Taketa|first=Kristen|access-date=2016-08-26}}</ref> Prior to the work of CityArchRiver, there were 1,800 trees on the grounds. There are now 4,200.

The $380 million project was funded both privately and publicly. The public funding, provided largely by Proposition P, totaled $159 million. The remaining $221 million were secured via fundraising efforts of Gateway Arch Park foundation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/planners-hit-fundraising-goal-arch-grounds-renovation#stream/0|title=Planners hit fundraising goal for Arch grounds renovation|last=Moffitt|first=Kelly|access-date=2017-06-21|language=en}}</ref>