ST. LOUIS—Construction work to transform the Steinberg Pavillion and Rink into more of a year-round destination could begin as early as next year, as the city and the non-profit organization that works to maintain and improve Forest Park chart the next chapter in their relationship under a bill signed Wednesday by Mayor Tishaura Jones.

What You Need To Know

  • Board Bill 66 details “an Amended and Restated Maintenance Cooperation Agreement, between the City of St. Louis and Forest Park Forever”

  • Under the agreement, Forest Park Forever agrees to raise $85 million for the project to re-imagine the Steinberg Pavillion and Rink complex

  • Preliminary design concepts would renovate and expand rink operations in the area of equipment rentals and warming rooms, add meeting/party rooms, bring restaurant concepts to the space and allow access from Kinsghighway

  • Construction could begin after the coming skating season ends in March

Board Bill 66 details “an Amended and Restated Maintenance Cooperation Agreement, between the City of St. Louis and Forest Park Forever.”

More specifically, it spells out how the city and Forest Park Forever will move forward on a project that could cost up to $85 million to renovate and update the Steinberg grounds.

“At the heart of this agreement is a commitment that the city will sustain its funding for the park, while Forest Park continues to raise the private support that, in effect, multiplies that funding. Together we can continue to make capital improvements to the park, together we’ll continue to address the annual needs and make this a best in class, best in the country experience for visitors,” said John Kemper, Board Chair of Forest Park Forever

“Forest Park is an essential gathering place for residents and visitors of St. Louis and it’s a crucial part of our history, the present and the future of our wonderful city. Its vibrant cultural attractions and beautiful green spaces create a one of a kind spaces for communities to come together. We know that it takes partnership and funding to maintain this cultural gem in the heart of our city,” Jones said.

A 1995 Forest Park Master Plan called for Steinberg to be an “all-season” facility.  A public engagement process that began in 2021 has been boiled down into a handful of preliminary concepts that include new skate-changing areas, meeting/party rooms, more space for equipment rentals, in addition to more restaurant options, including one on a proposed second floor of the pavilion. 

Another goal is to improve accessibility so that patrons can reach the site directly from Kingshighway.

The plans could begin to go before the city’s Preservation Board and the Forest Park Advisory Board by the end of the year, said Dominik Jansky, Director of Communications and Marketing for Forest Park Forever.

“The concepts that we’re working on will, I think, create countless new opportunities, countless new memories for our community to interact and to enjoy this east end of the park,” Kemper said.

Under the agreement, Forest Park Forever will raise the $85 million for the project but can’t start construction without having commitments of at least $51 million. Jansky said the organization is in a “quiet” stage of fundraising, and that the entire construction phase could run about 19 months.

Pending approval from various oversight boards, work could begin when the 2024-25 skating season ends in March.