Henry Shaw had a dream…

In the 1860’s a prosperous English-born St. Louis businessman, Henry Shaw, dreamed of a beautiful park for all to enjoy: unique and beautiful buildings, ponds, statuary, fountains. . . and trees. Shaw spent much of the latter part of his life converting the pastures and farmlands of his Tower Grove estate into a magnificent urban forest.  Shaw gave his property to the City of St. Louis in 1868 to create Tower Grove Park. Using his extensive experience from travel abroad, Shaw created a gardenesque landscape of great beauty and diversity. One of the most important projects in creating the Park was planting of thousands of trees of over 340 varieties. 

This great legacy, however, is in danger. Over the past few decades, there has been a slow decline as a result of natural aging of the trees, many of which are over 100 years old. If action is not taken, our generation could witness the loss of a great legacy. 

This need not be the case. Over the past ten years, and with the assistance of federal and state grants and private support, the staff at Tower Grove Park has undertaken a careful analysis of the historic forest at the Park. The varieties of trees and shrubs that remain - their locations, the condition of the individual specimens, and the need for replacements - have been documented.  The staff has also studied the original Park design, and developed a plan for the restoration of the original Victorian forest that was planted by Henry Shaw and his gardeners.

You can be part of the dream

With this plan in place, we are now able to bring about a revitalization of the original forest at Tower Grove Park. This will require more funding than the Park receives through regular appropriations. As a result, the Park has established a reforestation program based on contributions and grants. This program enables individuals and organizations to participate in the reforestation program and the restoration of a significant St. Louis asset.

You or your organization can contribute funds for the planting of one or more new trees or can donate to a tree care fund to maintain our existing trees and shrubs.  Supporting the tree care fund helps insure a longer and healthier life for the thousands of trees and shrubs that now live in the Park.

Please help the trees!

With your donation, you are making a commitment to the future — and to the quality of life in St. Louis.  Donations start at $250 per tree, and are tax deductible.  You will be invited to participate in the planting of your tree, and your name and your special tree will be recorded on the permanent donor recognition plaque in the Park office. You will be provided with a map with the location of your tree. You can also designate your tree in memory of someone or in honor of a person or event.

There are several donation options to choose from:
$250 per tree and recogntion on donor plaque in the Park Office
$1,000 per tree with permanent bronze plaque at the site
$2,000 per tree, permanent bronze plaque at the site, and perpetual care of the tree.

For further information, or to have an informational brochure mailed to you, please call Penelope Beache, Development Director at 771-4454.