Learn St. Louis History along the Brickline Greenway

Walk along the Brickline Greenway to discover the history of Mill Creek Valley and the Negro National League in St. Louis.

Overview

This is a 2.3-mile out-and-back walk on a paved surface with 125 feet of elevation gain, from the corner of Compton and Market, near Chaifetz Arena, to Energizer Park in St. Louis. It took me about 46 minutes to complete. The walkway is wide and includes trees, and you can take a leisurely pace on the section to the left of the main walkway.

*Informatinal sign on the Brickline Greenway*

Start of the Walk

I parked on the street along Market Street near the Compton intersection. First, I familiarized myself with the Brickline Greenway information sign, which also includes conceptual designs for future extensions.

Mill Creek Plaza commemorates the lost neighborhood of Mill Creek. On the right is one of the few buildings left from that era. — *Mill Creek Plaza commemorates the lost neighborhood of Mill Creek Valley. On the right is one of the few buildings left from that era.*

Mill Creek Plaza Area

Next, I came to a plaza with pillars and a gray stone edifice with a map. The map shows the housing that once stood along Market Street, part of an African American community that was bought out for urban renewal. Sadly, 20,000 people were moved out of the once vibrant Mill Creek Valley neighborhood. The pillars symbolize the story of the people rising from the ground.

*The Negor National League once played at this location. The main blog photo is a mural of some of the great players who once graced this baseball field.*

Stars Park

Shortly after going around the pillars, I came to Stars Park. The grounds of the current baseball field for Harris-Stowe University were once the land for the Starrs Baseball Team. They were part of the Negro National League, a league for African Americans. The Starrs Field was the first baseball park owned exclusively by African Americans. The Negro Leagues gradually ended with the integration of Major League Baseball.

Along the walk near the baseball field, a sign explains the “Taking of Mill Creek Valley.”

Past Stars Park

As you walk, you can see that the path on the left is for a more leisurely stroll, and the one on the right is for a faster pace or for bicycles.

I cross Garrison Avenue.

*Usage meter of those who use Brickline*

Next at 0.3 miles, I came to a counter that tracks the number of bicyclists and pedestrians throughout the year and that day.

Watch for traffic from side streets as you pass the Wells Fargo Advisors campus on the left.

Beaumont and Market Street is an intersection with a stoplight.

*Pillar with a child sculpture on the top*

Next, I came to a pillar with a child sculpture at the top, part of the Mill Creek sculpture work, along with a nearby stone quote.

*Learn about the Civil Rights movement along the walk.*

Then I came to the information sign on Championing Civil Rights.

At 0.65 miles, I came to the intersection of busy Jefferson and Market Street and crossed here.

*The pillars near the baseball stadium memorialize Mill Creek Valley. It is fronted with a map relief of the neighborhood, which can also be seen by the pillars at the start of the walk.*

Energizer Park

After I crossed 22^nd Street at the light, I came to Energizer Park, home of the St. Louis City Soccer Club.

On the plaza for the soccer stadium along the Brickline, pillars memorialize Mill Creek Valley.

*Addresses of former homes that were once located along Market Street.*

As you walk past the stadium, you pass numbers that mark the addresses of homes that once stood here.

By Union Station

At 1 mile, I came to the end of Brickline Greenway. I crossed 22^nd Street to walk by Aloe Plaza, where a large fountain with sculptures can be seen.

Across the street is St. Louis Union Station, which includes restaurants, a hotel, an aquarium, and amusement rides.

Heading Back

From here, I turn around to head back on the Brickline. I noticed a map of the different practice fields by the stadium.

I took another look at some of the stone quotes by Energizer Park.

Near Jefferson, I noticed pillars with 0s and 1s representing computer binary code in front of Ponce Health Sciences University in St. Louis.

*Quotes from former residents of the Mill Creek Valley neighborhood can be found along the walk.*

On the walk back, I also took a moment to read some of the quotes on the sidewalk from those who lived in Mill Creek.

Lastly, I was back at the start.

Final Thoughts

The walk is a good length for some exercise if you want to get outside, if you are in the downtown St. Louis area. The history written in stone along the walk is interesting and adds to the experience of the hike

DETAILS

Drive: Take the exit for Jefferson Avenue and go north, and then make a left onto Market Street and look for street parking on the right before you come to Compton Avenue.

Hours: Public Walkway open 24 hours

Address: Near the intersection of Market Street and Compton Avenue (Address of building found at the intersection)