The bicycle track in Penrose Park, called the "Penrose Park Bowl," was the scene of the 1962 National Cycling Championships.
The story of how the new bicycle track came about began in 1934 when the W.P.A. built a 1/4-mile track in Forest Park at Oakland and Kingshighway. This track was never accepted by the racing public as a first- class racing track. It was used mostly for weekly training sessions, but also used for at least four major meets during the past 25 years. A serious problem occurred in 1960 when it was determined that the Missouri Highway Department would take the bicycle track in the course of widening the Daniel Boone Express Highway (Highway 40).
A suitable location for a new track in Forest Park could not be found, and even if one had been found, the city did not have the necessary funds to build a new track.
The St. Louis Cycling Club met with the Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry several times during 1960-61, and it was finally decided in October, 1961 to give the St. Louis Cycling Club a new track site in Penrose Park immediately south of the Mark Twain Expressway, now I-70, and east of Kingshighway. Penrose Park is a 51-acre park located at North Kingshighway and Penrose and extends north to I-70. The park is divided into 5 areas because of the railroad tracks and Kingshighway Boulevard.
The Cycling Club paid for the construction of the new track and waived all claims for reimbursement of these costs. The city in turn agreed to assure responsibility for the maintenance and supervision of the track. The St. Louis Cycling Club immediately undertook the task of building a 1/5-mile track, which has since been acclaimed the best in the United States.
The City of St. Louis added water lines, a drainage system, sewers and plumbing, drinking fountains, landscaping, and painting lines on the track. In addition, the city bore part of the cost of the grading and paving for the new track.
Penrose Park is not affiliated with AmericanTowns Media
