Plan to Expand Longview Parking Lot Revealed

After months of studying how or if to expand parking at , a committee now recommends adding 15 additional parking spots on the land and parking lot already designated for the park.

Former Town and Country Mayor Skip Mange has been heading up the Ad Hoc Committee in charge of finding a solution to parking overcrowding at the park. Members first met to begin studying the issue in March.

Monday, Mange revealed that the committee feels more parking spaces are needed and the best option is to add 15. One of the two park entrances would close and that area would also be used for the additional spaces. The 15 spaces will be added by slanting parking spots to create more room and then adding additional spaces on the top and bottom levels of the parking lot, mostly around the tennis courts. 

Due to concerns by residents of overcrowding at the park, Mange said the committee gave no further consideration to adding an amphitheater or an additional playground to the park.

"We don't want to put anything new in this park to attract new people," Mange said.

He explained that to better understand the number of spots needed in the park, the city purchased four electronic drive sensors that were stationed at each of the two entrances of Longview Farm Park. The sensors were mounted from May 17 to May 30 and counted the number of cars that entered and exited the park on a daily basis during that time.

It was determined the park only saw over 50 cars per day on four or five days, during that two-week time period. Overflow parking was also observed on 10 separate occasions, not necessarily within that time frame, but over the summer months.

Mange said it's the recommendation of the Town and Country Director of Parks and Recreation Anne Nixon that 10 to 15 additional spaces are needed if the city wants to use the Longview Farmhouse year-round for events.

"It was always the intent of the city that the house be put to active use," Mange told aldermen Monday night. "I think the continued use of that house is important to the community."

Mange also said even with the extra spots, valet parking will still be necessary for larger events.

The expansion will mean covering some greenspace in the median of one of the park entrances with asphalt. Just over 900 square feet of greenspace will be lost.

"The loss of greenspace is minimal," Mange explained.

He said the final recommendation by the Ad Hoc Committee is to add the 15 spots as proposed. He said the recommendation has also been approved by the city's Parks and Trails Commission.

No action was taken on the proposal at Monday night's meeting and there is no date set for a vote by aldermen on the proposed expansion.

The city also plans to apply for grants for the parking expansion project.

Nixon said the city is in "good standing" to receive grant money and the project would qualify for the funding.

"We are in communications with the (St. Louis County) Municipal League for grant funding for this project," Mayor Jon Dalton added.

However, Dalton also pointed out on a side note Monday that the city is not looking to add a dog park to the grounds.

"Do not look for a dog park in Longview Farm Park any time soon," Dalton said.

Ad Hoc Committee members also met with nearby Wheatfield neighborhood residents and are working with those residents to address their concerns.

The parking recommendations are available in the PDF portion of this article and will soon be posted on the city's website.

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