The Dardenne Creek Greenway & Blueway is a multi-site public recreation initiative designed to expand outdoor access throughout St. Charles County. The project connects parks, trails, and creek access points through a coordinated system of land-based greenways and water-based blueways that support walking, biking, and kayaking.

BAX Engineering is engaged as a surveying subconsultant to support the engineering and design efforts for this large-scale municipal project. Bax partnered with Intuition and Logic Engineering, Inc. to provide surveying services across dozens of individual locations along the Dardenne Creek corridor, extending from Highway 64 to Highway 70.

BAX Engineering provided comprehensive boundary and topographic surveying services for each site, using a combination of conventional and modern methods to meet the project’s technical demands.

Services included:

• Topographic surveying using traditional field methods and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) with lidar and photogrammetry
• Bathymetric surveying of Dardenne Creek using remote-controlled sonar-equipped survey boats, allowing data collection in areas inaccessible to survey crews
• Property boundary analysis to support future easement acquisition
• Coordination with title companies to obtain informational title reports identify existing easements or survey matters
• Preparation of easement exhibits to support future grading and construction

To address complex ownership questions related to the New Dardenne Creek Channel, BAX conducted in-depth historical research, including a review of early 20th-century Circuit Court cases and records at the St. Charles County Historical Society. This research proved critical in determining fee ownership and providing clarity for the project team.

To date, BAX has completed survey work for 15 access point and grade control sites, with additional locations planned as the project continues. Portions of the Blueway are already open and in use, providing residents with new opportunities for kayaking and outdoor recreation in St. Charles County.

By delivering highly accurate survey data, responding quickly to evolving project needs, and “going the extra step” in both fieldwork and research, BAX helped ensure the engineering team had reliable information to move the project forward with confidence. The project stands as a visible example of how thoughtful surveying and engineering support can directly enhance community amenities and quality of life.

The Dardenne Creek Greenway & Blueway is a highly visible initiative for St. Charles County Parks and a project many residents already recognize and use. For Bax Engineering, it highlights several core strengths:

• The ability to manage large, multi-site surveying efforts without sacrificing accuracy
• Willingness to apply innovative and non-conventional surveying methods when conditions demand it
• Commitment to thorough research and due diligence, even when solutions require extra effort
• A collaborative, responsive approach that supports successful public infrastructure projects

This work reflects Bax Engineering’s role as a trusted partner on complex municipal projects, our stewardship of every client, and our commitment to supporting long-term community investment across St. Charles County.