The St. Joseph Parkway

St. Joseph, MO was/is known for a lot of things---a trading post, river-town gateway to the west, its stockyards, wholesale, the Pony Express, Jesse James, grand architecture, and more.  In 1886, the Chicago Times reported that, "St. Joseph is a modern wonder, a city of 60,000 inhabitants, eleven railroads, 70 passenger trains each day, 170 factories, thirteen miles of the best paved streets, the largest stockyards west of Chicago, a wholesale trade as large as that of Kansas City and Omaha combined...".  Many of the remnants of this city's prime are still visible today.  With such a rich heritage comes unique characteristics.  One of those unique characteristics is our parkway system. 

A "green belt" through the city, the St. Joseph Parkway is a parkway system that ribbons 26 miles from the north end, through the east side, to the south end part of town---from Krug Park to Hyde Park.  It includes urban forests, creeks, ponds, walking/bike trails, open lawns and gardens.  It connects principal parks along its way.  It was developed in 1918 by internationally known landscape architect, George Burnap, who was a landscape architect for the Office of Public Buildings and Grounds in Washington, D.C. and was involved in the design and redesign of many of the District’s most celebrated public spaces, including the Tidal Basin, with its flowering cherry trees, and both Montrose and Meridian Hill Parks. Burnap designed parks and park systems in Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina.  St. Joseph was one of the first cities in the U.S. to develop a comprehensive parkway plan, and it is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

"Parkway Walk"

14x20 pastel

2016

The parkway makes a nice drive through town, getting away from the regular traffic.  It's nice, it's quiet, a convenient place to enjoy the outdoors, and inspiring for the plein air artist.  My wife and I walk along the eastern stretch with the kids when ever possible, at least once a week. While out, I'm always seeking places to paint or scenes to photograph for potential studio paintings like the one posted here.  Some areas flood after heavy rains, making a nice temporary wetland with puddles of water. 

The Parkway has been used for  fundraising events, walks for different causes, marathon races, and even the 1996 Olympic Torch Relay.  If St. Joe were to have an annual plein air painting event, the parkway would definitely need to be included as a painting location.  It's a very nice setting, one of the jewels of the city.  It has a lot that can be shared on canvas in every season, and has the potential to be a subject for some very fine artwork. 

The painting "Parkway Walk" is a studio piece done from a reference photo.  The photo was taken along the walkway near the fork of NW and NE Pkwy.  Sunny mornings and evenings offer dramatic light and shadows.

This fall I will be offering a Pastel en Plein Air workshop around the Corby Pond/Park area.  I'm shooting for October when the trees are changing colors.  Details will be sent out soon.


Interested in the painting?  It's available.  Contact me at bks@brentseevers.com to inquire.