KienerPlazaSSABTW

Kiener Plaza STL Cake Walk Named after Kiener who was born in St. Louis on February 27, 1881. He was a boxer, wrestler and swimmer, but he was recognized for his position on the U.S. track team in the Olympics held in St. Louis in 1904 during the World's Fair. Harry J. Kiener died in 1960 at the age of 80. What started as a conversation between Dennis Woldum at Gateway Greening, a developer Kevin McGowan and KMOX radio was the host Charlie Brennan developed into Gateway Greening’s Civic Greening project for downtown St. Louis. Every year, Gateway Greening staff and volunteers come together with St. Louis Master Gardeners to brighten the downtown landscape with the seasonal flowers. Plantings take place at Kiener Plaza and the Market Street median. Every year, a theme is dedicated to the design. The park is highlighted by the May Amphitheater and "The Runner" sculpture. The Runner is made by William Zorach. The Amphitheater takes its name from Morton D. May (1914­1983). May donated many, many works of art to the St. Louis Art Museum. Kiener Plaza was built in the 1960’s, and today it’s a wonderful location in the downtown area. It is within sight of the Old Courthouse, and it offers a nice place to relax. It is also photo friendly to any who visit, because both the Old Courthouse and the Arch are visible in the background to those who face east. The sight to see at Kiener Plaza is a statue sculpted by William Zorach, who created the statue of a man running, and therefore entitled “The Runner.”