Benton Monument Restoration
The monumental statue of Thomas Hart Benton, Missouri's
first senator, has deteriorated over the decades from the weather and
now requires conservation. At an estimated cost of $160,000,
this project will remove the oxidation from the bronze statue,
repair its stone base and steps,
replicate the urns that originally stood at the four corners of
the base, and renovate its decorative
plantings, returning the entire monument to its original glory.
Approximately $24,000 was raised during 2008 and the first phase
of the restoration, costing $54,000 was completed in August 2011.
Rock Garden Irrigation
Saving countless hours of manual watering, an
automated irrigation system was installed in the Rock Garden on
the western side of the park in 2010, thanks to matching grants
from St. Louis Master Gardeners and Flora Conservancy, plus many
generous donations from park supporters. We're now looking
forward to many more years of beautiful flowers, with less time
spent watering and more spent planting, dividing, mulching and
weeding this glorious and tranquil spot.
Revolutionary War Monument
The first of the three guns from the British warship
HMS Actaeon, sunk in the Charleston, SC harbor in 1776, was
handsomely restored and conserved in 2009. Its newly constructed
wood-and-iron carriage, with a design life of 100+ years, now
rests on its own brick-surfaced foundation
Park Benches
Seven new park benches have been installed and five
completely refurbished from 2007 to 2010, primarily
near the grotto area and around the main lake. The Conservancy
plans to purchase and install at least two new benches per year.
Park House Gazebo
Constructed in 2009, the gazebo attached to the Park
House evokes one that once graced the same spot early in
Lafayette Park's history. Hats off to the
Lafayette Square Restoration Committee,
who raised the necessary funds and managed the
construction project. In addition
to providing a shady respite from St. Louis summer heat and
extending the event space available at the Park House, the gazebo provides
ground-level ADA access and further enhances the visual
impact of this southeast corner of the park.
Urns at the Mississippi Steps to the
Grotto
Thanks to private benefactors, two handsome urns were
installed at the head of the steps down to the grotto area in
2008, complementing the ones installed earlier on the grotto
bridge and enhancing the overall look of this beautifully
planted area that is frequented by photographers and artists of
every stripe.
New Washington Statue Plantings
Begun in 2008 and completed in 2009, the replacement
of spirea and rose shrubs features disease-resistant varieties
and a permanent sprinkler system that makes watering much easier
to accomplish. Four peripheral beds were replanted in 2010 with
weeping cherry trees (a tribute to Washington!) and colorful
summer annuals.
Urns on the Grotto Bridge
Thanks to generous private donations, the four
long-missing historic urns that originally graced the ends
of the grotto's iron bridge were re-created in 2007 using a mold
hand-sculpted from photographs to replicate the original urn
design. The replicated urns were cast and finished, then mounted
on the original pedestals at the corners of the Bridge, which
were also restored and re-piped.
Park House - Interior Renovation
This interior renovation project, completed by the
LSRC in early 2007, included
restoring deteriorated and water-damaged walls and ceilings,
replacing flooring and light fixtures, and reconfiguring the
second floor to create a more flexible meeting and working
space. The interior decoration has been reinterpreted using
appropriate historic themes, and the Park House now hosts many
meetings and other events throughout the year.
Park House - Exterior Renovation
The Lafayette Square Restoration Committee obtained a
matching grant of $25,000 from the Whitaker Foundation,
fulfilled through generous support from the City of
St. Louis and the LSRC itself, to help fund the restoration of the historic Park
House at the Southeast corner of the park. The LPC especially
appreciates the support of Alderman Lewis Reed, who was
instrumental in securing the funds from the City, along with the
sponsors of the LSRC Winter and Spring Home Tours, proceeds of
which contributed greatly to the Park House improvements.
R. G. Ross Construction implemented the restoration with
extraordinary results. The project included replacing the deteriorated asphalt
shingle roof with an historically accurate slate roof, replacing
the rectangular and round windows with authentic replicas, installing copper gutters, tuckpointing
the brick exterior and painting the exterior trim. The
Conservancy completed the project by redesigning and replanting
the decorative landscaping surrounding the Park House.
The Multi-Purpose Recreation Field
Improvements to the under-utilized athletic field at the
northwest corner of the park have made the space more inviting
for activities like kite flying and frisbee throwing, while maintaining
an expansive field for casual softball, soccer and football
games. St. Louis's own 1860s vintage baseball teams, the
St. Louis Perfectos and Cyclone, claim
the Park as their home field. Members of those teams have been
instrumental in implementing the changes recommended by the Park
Plan, including removing the deteriorated backstops and benches
and replacing the dirt infield with a continuous expanse of
grass lawn.
Lagoon Drainage in the Grotto
The Lafayette Square Restoration Committee funded a massive project to dredge decades of
accumulated sledge from the Grotto and to improve the drainage
system. In the process, a large sinkhole was discovered, which
required excavation and extensive in-fill.
