As a nine-year resident of Des Peres, I have to admit I’m totally spoiled by the convenience of everything. The community has so much to offer but is also centrally located in the St. Louis suburban area. Des Peres is located in two different public school districts, both exceptionally rated. West County Mall and many other businesses help keep taxes down while the community still has a very friendly and neighborly feel. We love Des Peres and can’t imagine raising our kids anywhere else.
When our kids were little, we used to load up the stroller and head out on long walks, always stopping at least at one playground along our route. Des Peres has many wonderful parks to offer.
Des Peres Park
Des Peres park is a large community park surrounded by a running trail, with a lake to fish, brand new tennis and pickleball courts, a basketball court, picnic tables, bathrooms, a sprinkler, and a big and small playground. There is plenty of green space as well. This park is definitely a favorite but can get busy.
Harwood Park
Harwood Park is a hidden gem neighborhood park. There are two wonderful playgrounds (the smaller one has the perfect surface for crawlers or new walkers) and a picnic pavilion. There are no bathrooms at this park.
Sugar Creek Park
Sugar Creek Park is a great little park. We like to stop there when going to or from The Museum of Transportation as it’s very close. There’s a flat loop for kids to ride bikes, a field for soccer and baseball, and a small playground with swings and climbing structures. My boys love to play “the floor is lava” here. There are restrooms at this park.
Pioneer Park
Pioneer Park is a sweet little park tucked into a neighborhood off of Manchester Road. The park has tennis courts and a basketball court. There are also fields for baseball and soccer. There’s a small concrete sidewalk around the park, a picnic pavilion, a centrally located playground, and a sprinkler. This park is a favorite of many!
Summer concert series
Each summer Des Peres hosts music once a month (June, July, and August) at Des Peres Park. Each concert is a fun night of picnicking and listening to wonderful local music. This is a family-friendly affair.
Aside from the large West County mall, Des Peres has several local stores. My two favorites are Paper Dolls for great women’s clothing and Cats Meow for darling gifts for all occasions.
Des Peres is also home to Schnucks, Dierbergs, Aldi, and (my favorite) Trader Joes for a great variety of grocery shopping options.
Restaurants are plentiful in Des Peres.
First Watch, Sunny Street Cafe, and Daily Bread are great breakfast and lunch spots. Daily Bread is locally owned and a perfect spot to meet a friend for a coffee and breakfast or soup and a sandwich.
Circle 7, 3 Kings, and The Village Bar are excellent for lunch or dinner. Circle 7 and 3 Kings offer a unique take on bar food, while The Village Bar offers more dive bar greasy food. All three have a patio and are also great for meeting a friend for a drink.
In addition to these, there are also restaurants at the mall, several pizza places, Chinese restaurants, and fast food places, including the all-time favorite Chick Fil A and local favorite Lions Choice.
One thing I love about Des Peres is the plentiful workout options in such a small area. Within a one-mile radius, you will find F45 and 9 Round to meet your High-Intensity Interval Training needs. You will find Pure Barre and Barre 3 for barre workout options. SPENGA offers spinning, yoga, and strength workouts. Finally, Yoga 6 and Prana Yoga offer a variety of yoga class options. I feel extremely lucky to live so close to all of these phenomenal options.
