Bring on spring in St. Louis at these local parks!
We made it. Winter has finally released its grip on St. Louis, and spring has started to take hold. The gloriousness of longer days, abundant sunshine, and warmer temperatures are upon us. For my two boys, this means more time outside and a happier household overall. Although St. Louis boasts many wonderful outdoor activity options, our favorite outdoor activity might just be finding parks to explore.
We frequent several parks within walking distance of our house, but some days my boys request a “new park.” We have developed quite a fondness for setting off on a day of adventure at one of the fabulous parks St. Louis has to offer. I’ve included a round-up of some of our favorite St. Louis parks, most found in the mid-county area.
Deer Creek Park, Maplewood
Affectionately known to locals as “Rocketship Park,” this is one that I was anxious to take my boys to try. The big space-themed playground resembles a large rocketship with various space and NASA references. This playground is best for children over 2 as the play surface is pea gravel, and the drop-offs from the top are quite high. Shade is hard to come by, so it is best for an overcast day, but in the right weather, it is the perfect place to spend some time. There are bathrooms, a soccer field, sand volleyball court, and a pavilion with picnic tables.
Shaw Park, Clayton
Shaw Park is located at the edge of Downtown Clayton. Although I am certain we haven’t come close to exploring the whole park, we have enjoyed two separate playgrounds, a splash pad area, and a large water fountain and pond. This park is gorgeous, and the play areas are perfect for all ages.
Beirne Park, Creve Coeur
Beirne Park is located within a neighborhood in Creve Coeur. This park includes a soccer field, tennis courts, and a large playground. The playground is new and huge (it includes 7 slides) but may be too big for younger ones. Perfect for kids over age two. There are bathrooms and a picnic area.
Larson Park, Webster
Larson Park is located in the northern area of Webster Groves. This park includes tennis courts, fields, a creek area, and a playground. The playground area has a large playground and small playground right next to each other. The large playground is very tall so it is best for older kids. The bathrooms and picnic area are located close to the playground.
Watson Trails Park, Sunset Hills
Watson Trails Park is located shortly off of Lindbergh Boulevard in Sunset Hills. The park includes tennis courts, a couple of playgrounds, a disc golf course, and a pond. The playground highlights are the zip-line and mommy-and-me swing. We also love throwing rocks in the water and walking the trails. The parking lot, bathroom, and picnic area are all centrally located.
Conway Park, Creve Coeur
Conway Park is located just west of Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur. This park is a wonderful little hidden gem with a rarely busy playground. The playground is perfect for bigs and littles alike as there are no extremely high drop-off points. There are some old cabins which are fun to see as well as tennis courts, a dog park, and a pond. Bathrooms are located near the parking area and while there is not a large picnic area there are picnic tables around.
Des Peres Park, Des Peres
Des Peres park is a beautiful park located near Manchester and 270. It’s often busy but for good reason! There is a wonderful walking trail around the park, ball fields, tennis courts, a little and a big kid playground, a sprinkler and a lake for fishing or throwing rocks. The playgrounds aren’t right next to each other so I do find the need to make my kids choose between big or little, but the bathrooms are located between the two so that is a plus!
Harwood Park, Des Peres
Harwood Park is a little gem of a neighborhood park located right off of Manchester Road in Des Peres. This park is rarely crowded. The turf-like surface is perfect for little ones who like to put things into their mouth. The big playground and little playground are close enough to have kids on both, especially since oftentimes we are the only ones there! There are no bathrooms but there are businesses nearby. There is a pavilion with picnic tables.
Pioneer Park, Des Peres
Pioneer Park was completely renovated a few years back, making it even better! There are tennis and basketball courts, bathrooms, ball fields, a sprinkler, a playground, a pavilion, and a small trail that goes around all of it. Everything is close together so It is a great park to allow the kids to run and play. The pavilion is close to the playgrounds which also makes it a great park for birthday parties.
Tilles Park, Ladue
Tilles Park is often known for the Winter Wonderland light display but their summer entertainment is great, too. This park includes tennis courts, a lake, playgrounds, a splash pad, and a large trail that wraps around the park. The splash pad is located directly off of the playground so it can be hard to keep the kids dry on a hot summer day (hint: bring a change of clothes!). Bathrooms and picnic tables are located near the playground. If you prefer a quieter park this is one to visit first thing in the morning as it gets busy, especially when people are looking for a water option.
Rocket Park at Deer Creek is / a Born family favorite!!
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