ST. PETERS • A new three-mile stretch of Dardenne Greenway is opening in St. Peters this week.

Great Rivers Greenway and the city will have a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday in Woodlands Sports Park, 1 Woodlands Parkway, celebrating the trail's opening.

The 10-foot-wide asphalt path stretches from Woodlands Sports Park to Mexico Road, where an underpass connects it to another trail along Dardenne Creek to Dardenne Park.

Nancy Thompson, community outreach manager with Great Rivers Greenway, said the city provided much of the labor for constructing the trail. Great Rivers has provided the city with about $1.9 million to date to cover staff time. The organization pledged up to $2 million, she said.

The city will maintain the trail, Thompson said.

The new segment is part of a 26-mile long-range plan for the Dardenne Greenway. Eventually, the trail will run along Dardenne Creek from the Busch conservation area to the Lakeside 370 Park, which is under construction now.

Thompson said Great Rivers hopes to work with St. Charles Community College and the City of Cottleville on plans to connect the new segment to existing trails to the south.

The new segment offers access to Rabbit Run Park and surrounding neighborhoods, including the Ohmes Farm subdivision. Features include a 180-foot pedestrian and bicycling bridge spanning Dardenne Creek and a nature observation overlook.