#248: Grants Trail

Growing up and coming from Glen Carbon/Edwardsville, I am no stranger to bike/walking trails. After all, the Ronald Foster Bike Trail is one of the first 'rails to trails' in Illinois, and is still a fun place to ride and walk on. On the other side of the border and river in Missouri, I haven't experienced any until I ventured onto the Grants Trail.

Grants Trail is 8 miles long. I've been on most of the trails in Madison County, where some are longer than others. What makes Grants Trail stand out so much is that its more travel/tourist-friendly. You will always find signs of many things, plus some businesses that are off the trail have water jugs for animals. That's something you don't see on the Illinois side. I parked at the Sappington House & Museum after snapping the cake picture and walked a mile and a half to Grant's Farm, which is off the trail. (Hey, I wanted to dodge the $12 parking fee) Of course, had I known better, I could have parked at Applebee's too (off Watson Road). I also noticed that the trail is taken very seriously, as it has its own traffic signals on the major roads and highways. That's another thing you can't find on Illinois trails...just the yield and/or stop sign.

On my way to Grant's Farm. What? I got another mile?

A cool horizontal, far-away view of the trail, going east

A historical marking of Clydesdale Park (close to the cake)

Another area close to the cake and parking lot, with the Tesson Ferry overpass

Visit the website and it will give you a full-detailed version of what you'll see throughout the trail, as well as where to park and stop.

How do I get to the cake at Grants Trail? It's tricky. It is obviously off of Grants Trail, so if you happen to be walking, running or biking right by it, then....oh wait, you want to drive to get to it? No problem! When you're driving on MO Highway 21, or Tesson Ferry Road (depending on which direction), make sure you turn on Tiffany Square Parkway, which is a subdivision. When on that street, immediately turn right on Tiffany Village Court. Despite of the signs that say 'Private' and all, make sure you turn into the private road that leads to a parking lot to the bike trail. Here are the sides of the cake:

Right side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Top of the cake

NOW: The cake sold for $455 on 1/1/2015 (biddingforgood auction).

Wikipedia link
Official website

Located at Tesson Ferry Road & Grants Trail (see instructions above), ST. LOUIS, MO, 63123
Cake artist: Corinne Didisheim

#213: Centennial Greenway/KATY Trail

This is where two important trails in Missouri will come together. It is currently being planned that the Centennial Greenway will connect bikers/joggers/runners to the Katy Trail from most parts of St. Louis, including downtown!

Facts about the Centennial Greenway:

• Named for the 100th anniversary of the St. Louis World's Fair and the founding of University City.
• The trail will connect from Forest Park to Creve Coeur Memorial Park. 
• It is destined to be a 20-mile trail from St. Charles to St. Louis.
• Some parts of the trail have been completed, including the part that passes through Ruth Porter Park, and from this point (at the meeting of Katy Trail) to the St. Charles Heritage Museum.

The Katy Trail:

• Missouri's longest trail
• The country's longest 'rails-to-trails' path
• Edward 'Ted' Jones donated $2 million to the construction of this trail.
• Western terminus is located in Clinton, MO, and the eastern terminus is at the Edward 'Ted' and Pat Jones State Park. 
• Trails length is 237.7 miles, passing through such Missouri River towns and cities like Jefferson City, Hermann, Boonville, Columbia, and of course St. Charles.

The cake:

Right side of the cake

Top of the cake. Unfortunately, Mr. Swain's cake was subject to vandalism

***2015 Update***

The cake was purchased by the Cakelovers and its artist Mark Swain re-painted it. It is now the 'Saturday Morning Cartoon Cake', featuring several cartoon characters from the 1950's-on. On April 17, 2015, the cake was unveiled at R Space Gallery (in Soulard) and will be on display there until July 2015.

Centennial Greenway Official website

2886 Arena Parkway, ST. CHARLES, MO, 63303
Cake artist: Mark Swain

#197: Ashley Street Power House/Riverfront Trail

Facts about the Ashley Street Power House:

• It was constructed in 1902 by architect/engineer Charles Ledlic. 
• It was the first large electrical power plant to be erected by Union Electric (later became Ameren). 
• The building was intentionally placed near the Mississippi River.
• Designated as a City Landmark in 1971.
• Even though still in use, the building is currently not open to the public as of this writing.

Right side of the Ashley Street Power House building

Hey wait, that's my shadow! Dang it

Next to the building is the southern starting point for the Riverfront Trail. The trail is 11.8 miles long and it ends at the point of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. Considered as an 'urban trail', there are many buildings it passes, plus wildlife is seen. The Riverfront Trail parallels the Mississippi River. One of the major stops on the trail is the Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing.

Left side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Right side of the cake

Unfortunately at this time there is no official website for either the Riverfront Trail and the Ashley Street Power House.

Located at the corner of Biddle and Leonor K. Sullivan streets
Cake artist: Theresa Hopkins

#47: Ruth Porter Park on the St. Vincent Greenway

Ruth who? Ruth C. Porter (1915-1967) was a founding member of the Greater St. Louis Committee for Freedom of Residence. She is remembered for her tireless efforts for equality treatment between race and class in St. Louis. This includes the revitalization of the West End, where the park is located. In 1965, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) named her 'the outstanding woman of the year'. Porter also helped integrate housing and break down housing restrictions in St. Louis.

The park is nearly 9 acres, and it has some water sprinklers, as well as a peaceful walkway. Some may not say its peaceful, since its right off two busy roads: Delmar and DeBaliviere. Still, its a great way to remember one of St. Louis' great civil rights leaders. The St. Vincent Greenway Trail, which connects to North County, can be accessed through here. This gives bikers and walkers easy access to Forest Park, as the Missouri History Museum (the northern part of Forest Park) is just down the road south on DeBaliviere.

The sign as seen from the corner of DeBaliviere and Delmar

The trail

Ruth Porter Park on St. Louis' city website

5659 Delmar Blvd., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63112
Cake artist: Liza Fishbone (she also decorated the cake at Turtle Park)