Renovations Complete at Mount St. Mary Park in St. Charles

Renovations have been completed at along the Fox River in downtown St. Charles.

The improvements were partially funded by a $400,000 development grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development program and by a grant from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

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The renovations include an improved playground with safety surfacing, a new permanent restroom facility containing vault toilets, and a new 35-foot picnic shelter, among other features.

Decorative pavers have been installed to enhance and widen the asphalt pedestrian walkway running along the park’s riverfront and the remaining asphalt pathway system has been entirely resurfaced. The tennis court was refurbished and upgraded to a combination tennis/ basketball court.

The grant also allowed for an extension of the Fox River Trail along Route 31, providing a safer path for pedestrians and bicyclist. The Fox River Trail previously terminated along Route 31 about midway through Mount St. Mary Park. The extension creates a bypass to enable bicyclists to continue further north along the front edge of the park and then east around the northern boundary of the park before reconnecting to the trail just south of the Illinois Street Bridge, according to a press release from the .

The received a matching grant from the Illinois EPA for shoreline stabilization and erosion reduction along the park’s riverfront to promote better water quality for the Fox River.

Shoreline improvements include two overlook plazas approved by the Corps of Engineers. The elevated plazas feature decorative railings and provide panoramic views of the Fox River.

A canoe launch also was upgraded for increased durability and accessibility.

For more information, visit www.stcparks.org or call 630-584-1055.