Great Rivers Greenway seeks renovations to Kiener Plaza plaza; board to consider public-improvement request

On July 22, 2025, the Board of Public Service received a joint recommendation from the directors of public utilities, streets, human services, and parks, recreation and forestry to approve a public-improvement request by Great Rivers Greenway at Kiener Plaza (listed on the agenda as 500 Chestnut Street). The proposal described two main areas of work: upgrades to the shade garden and work on the Veil Lawn. Shade-garden improvements include replacing the crushed-aggregate plaza with precast concrete pavers, upgrading the subsurface, removing existing trees and installing new shade trees with a subterranean modular soil-containment system, and installing new site furniture. The Veil Lawn improvements described removing an existing soil mound to create a level surface, rebuilding the soil profile with subsurface drainage infrastructure, replacing specimen perimeter trees, installing new light fixtures, upgrading irrigation, and adding landscape elements. The presentation identified irrigation and electrical improvements and said the modifications were designed to enhance drainage and overall site functionality. The transcript presents the request and technical elements; it characterizes the recommendation as subject to certain conditions. The provided excerpt does not show a separate roll-call vote adopting the public-improvement request in the supplied lines. Why it matters: Kiener Plaza is a central park area; changes to its layout and tree canopy affect park users and adjacent downtown spaces. What the record does not show: the transcript excerpt lists scope and components but does not include detailed conditions, cost estimates, or a recorded final action in the supplied lines.