About the Grove

The Grove, once known as “Adam’s Grove”, “Rock Spring” and “Forest Park Southeast,” is an area of St. Louis City originally developed as one of the first real subdivisions with charming, affordable housing options no more than ten minutes from downtown and the city parks. The first subdivisions were named Laclede Race Course, McRee Place and Gibson Heights.

Laclede Race Course is in an area that was once laid out by French settlers around 1769 and included a series of common-use fields. Parts of these fields were converted into a horse race course. The track was just east of Kingshighway and south of Manchester. In 1869, an area adjacent to the course was also later named Laclede Race Course and became the area’s first subdivision. 141 years later we will race through this historic area on “iron horses”.

Read more on history here.

The Grove neighborhood is located directly south of the Central West End and wraps around the southeast corner of Forest Park. The neighborhood is bordered by I-64/US-40 on the north, Vandeventer Avenue on the east, I-44 on the south, and Kingshighway and Forest Park on the west.

The Grove is surrounded by many of St. Louis’s wonderful amenities, including the Missouri Botanical Garden, Forest Park and Tower Grove Park, and is also close to renowned hospitals and universities. As was the case in many parts of St. Louis in the 40s and 50s, an area that once relied on industry and railroads saw a major population decline which was followed by a period of neglect. This area continues to undergo a facelift as developers snatch up vacant lots and invest money into this area in hopes of attracting residents and non-chain retailers that will help bring back the look and feel once realized in this area when small “mom and pop” stores adorned Manchester Ave. Developers and area residents understand the importance and necessity of preserving the historical and cultural aspects of this once-thriving neighborhood, and they’re committed to seeing their vision through to completion.

Come explore streets lined with bungalows and row houses as you wheel through a piece of history that begs to share stories from the past.

Recent Grove Happenings

  • There are numerous residential and commercial projects approved and budgeted for The Grove neighborhood. Please click here and here for more information.
  • Click here for information on infrastructure upgrades.
  • To learn more about the first “green” LEED-certified project, read this.
  • Painter Grace McCammond recently completed painting 50 “Forest Park Southeast-themed” fire hydrants in The Grove funded by WUMC.

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