Wildwood Valley Gardens' Waterfall

Brookside recently added some new art to its website. Included were several shots of a project at Bellefontaine Cemetery. The project is part of Wildwood Valley Gardens. Wildwood Valley Gardens is considered a “botanical jewel” and was designed by award winning landscape architect, Herb Shaal, with the gardens designed by William Cullina. Brookside built a waterfall in Wildwood Valley that connects Cypress and Cascade lakes. It is 650 ft. long and wraps around Lakeside Columbarium (with 350 niches for cremated remains). It has a shotcrete shell and is built primarily of weathered limestone boulders. Curving walls, terraces and fountains are also found along the stream. The Wildwood Valley waterfall was one of the first projects in which Brookside incorporated an additive called xypex. It is the same product used for sea lion and other zoo habitats that must retain water. Brookside was very happy with the results.

Mark Gaia, of RAMMS Building Group, served as project manager for the cemetery project. Brookside is proud to say it has a great working relationship with Mark and the fine people at Bellefontaine Cemetery.

Bellefontaine Cemetery is a Level II Accredited Arboretum and is in the National Register of Historic Places. Started in 1849, it is now comprised of 314 acres, contains a diverse collection of trees and shrubs, hundreds of works of art, important monuments and tombs, and serves as a natural habitat for wildlife and migratory birds. It also contains 14 miles of curved roadways and a 3.5 mile walking trail for anyone interested in touring the “community classroom,” as it is called. It is referred to in this way because there are many notable St. Louisans interred there, about whom there is much to learn, and who may serve as an inspiration to the community.

At Brookside we are proud to have some of our work displayed in a place of such historical and environmental significance and are always happy to bring our expertise in water feature construction to the table on projects so highly focused on fine architecture, horticulture and the green movement.