Ackert Walkway and a Path to Urban Renewal

Ackert Walkway and a Path to Urban Renewal. Centennial Greenway: Ackert Walkway. , By 1920, the Kirkwood-Ferguson streetcar line stretched through the heart of University City, and provided access to vibrant shopping in the Delmar Loop and to local attractions such as the Delmar Garden Amusement Park and the Delmar Race Track. It ran between two new residential subdivisions , North Parkview on the west, and Delmar Garden on the east , creating what is now Ackert Walkway., After World War II, with the growing suburban population and economic boom, automobiles became more widespread and fewer people were taking public transportation. The old Kirkwood-Ferguson streetcar became obsolete and the land became vacant., In 1961, an urban renewal plan was approved. the overall plan for University City took years to complete, but by 1967 it was well on its way. On May 19, 1967, Mayor Nathan Kaufman dedicated the new linear park in honor of Harold C. Ackert, who was instrumental in the expansion of the city's park system., Ackert Walkway is now part of a key stretch in the Centennial Greenway. Running from Forest Park through Washington University's Danforth Campus and University City, the trail connects the diverse parts of the St. Louis region.