Forest Park–DeBaliviere station
| Company type | Light rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | July 31, 1993 |
| Headquarters | St. Louis , United States |
Area served | St. Louis MetroLink network |
| Products | Light rail transit services (Red and Blue lines) |
Forest Park–DeBaliviere station is an underground light rail stop serving both the Red and Blue routes within the St. Louis MetroLink network. Positioned at the northeast intersection of Forest Park Parkway and DeBaliviere Avenue in St. Louis, this station functions as the key interchange point for passengers transferring between these two lines.
Next to the station's entrance lies a boarding point for the Loop Trolley, a heritage streetcar operating seasonally along DeBaliviere Avenue and Delmar Boulevard.
History
Inaugurated on July 31, 1993, Forest Park–DeBaliviere was among the first stations of the MetroLink system. Originally, it was designed with side platforms and featured a sole entrance leading to the westbound platform; riders had to traverse the full length of this platform and cross tracks to reach the eastbound side.
The station underwent reconstruction during the MetroLink Cross County extension project, where it was redesigned with an island platform layout to facilitate seamless cross-platform transfers between Red and Blue lines. The main entrance was relocated to DeBaliviere Avenue, equipped with elevators and stairways on both sides of the street. While the original westbound platform access points remain intact, they are now limited to maintenance use.
In 2022, two significant transit-oriented developments were completed on land previously occupied by a park and ride facility and an adjacent strip mall. These developments introduced 437 residential units alongside nearly 40,000 square feet of commercial property in close proximity to the station. The new parking structure provides 115 complimentary park and ride spaces dedicated to Metro riders.
On July 26, 2022, a severe flash flood forced a shutdown of the entire MetroLink system for almost three days, resulting in damages estimated at $40 million. At Forest Park-DeBaliviere station, both elevators were rendered inoperative along with a communications room and three signal houses. By September, full service resumed on the Red Line, whereas Blue Line operations continued under restrictions. Subsequently, on July 31, 2023, Metro secured $27.7 million in federal disaster relief funds designated for flood-related repairs.
By March 2024, all signal houses affected by the flood were restored to service, allowing removal of limitations on Blue Line platform access.
Station layout
Access to the platform is provided via elevators or staircases located on either side of DeBaliviere Avenue.
Public artwork
In 2016, Metro's Arts in Transit initiative commissioned Vehicle.Destination.Imagination., a mural created by Con Christeson and Catharine Magel. This artwork adorns the south retaining wall with vibrant colors and three-dimensional features that celebrate the cultural identity of the St. Louis area.
In 2022, artist JONUHHM contributed Better by your side, a mural depicting colorful birds situated on a wall adjacent to the station’s bus turnaround area.