Parks in Greater St. Louis facts for kids
Parks in Greater St. Louis are administered by a variety of state, county, and municipal authorities. The region also is home to Gateway Arch National Park, site of the Gateway Arch, the only National Memorial in the state of Missouri. Among the largest municipal parks is Forest Park, which is 1,293 acres (5.2 km2) and is located in the city of St. Louis, although both Greensfelder County Park and Creve Coeur Park in St. Louis County are larger, at 1,646 and 2,114 acres (6.7 and 8.6 km2) respectively. St. Louis County is also the location of two large state parks, Babler State Park with 3.8 square miles (9.8 km2) and Castlewood State Park with 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2). The largest state park in the region is Meramec State Park, located near Sullivan, Missouri, with 10.8 square miles (28 km2) of parkland.
Parks in the city of St. Louis
The city of St. Louis owns and maintains more than one hundred parks, ranging in size from 1,371 acres (5.5 km2) of Forest Park to less than 1-acre (4,000 m2). Parks are administered by the city of St. Louis Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, the National Park Service, or a separate private board, such as Tower Grove Park, which is maintained by a Board of Commissioners but remains city property. The Compton Hill Reservoir Park, which is owned by the city and maintained by the St. Louis Water Division.
| Name | Area (acres) | Created † | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aboussie Park | .4 | 1981 | 38°36′07″N 90°12′51″W / 38.6019°N 90.2141°W |
| Adams Park ♦ | 2.3 | − | 38°37′28″N 90°15′31″W / 38.6245°N 90.2586°W |
| Alaska Park | 4.7 | 1995 | 38°33′07″N 90°15′55″W / 38.5520°N 90.2653°W |
| Aloe Plaza | 3.4 | 1931 | 38°37′48″N 90°12′28″W / 38.6299°N 90.2077°W |
| Aloe Plaza West | 1 | 1969 | 38°37′49″N 90°12′35″W / 38.6303°N 90.2098°W |
| Amberg Park | 2.8 | 1963 | 38°35′15″N 90°15′04″W / 38.5875°N 90.2512°W |
| Amherst Park | 4.4 | 1970 | 38°40′04″N 90°17′23″W / 38.6678°N 90.2898°W |
| Banks Park | 3.4 | 1963 | 38°38′46″N 90°13′17″W / 38.6462°N 90.2213°W |
| Barrett Brothers Park | 13.2 | 1947 | 38°40′53″N 90°16′29″W / 38.6814°N 90.2746°W |
| Beckett Park | 3.3 | 1959 | 38°39′17″N 90°14′57″W / 38.6548°N 90.2492°W |
| Bellerive Park | 8.7 | 1908 | 38°33′40″N 90°14′30″W / 38.5611°N 90.2418°W |
| Benton Park | 14.3 | 1866 | 38°35′51″N 90°13′21″W / 38.5975°N 90.2225°W |
| Berra Park | 4.8 | 1945 | 38°37′05″N 90°16′41″W / 38.6180°N 90.2780°W |
| Blase Park ‡ | 112 | − | 38°44′31″N 90°12′04″W / 38.742°N 90.201°W |
| Bradley Park | 3.2 | 1958 | 38°40′29″N 90°14′33″W / 38.6746°N 90.2424°W |
| Buder Park | 2.3 | 1912 | 38°37′17″N 90°13′30″W / 38.6213°N 90.2249°W |
| Busche Park | 6.2 | 1913 | 38°41′59″N 90°13′43″W / 38.6997°N 90.2286°W |
| Carnegie Park | 2.1 | 1899 | 38°35′42″N 90°13′25″W / 38.5949°N 90.2236°W |
| Carondelet Park | 180 | 1929 | 38°33′45″N 90°15′53″W / 38.5625°N 90.2646°W |
| Carondelet Lions Park | 1.7 | 1929 | 38°32′42″N 90°15′53″W / 38.5451°N 90.2647°W |
| Chambers Park | 6.3 | 1966 | 38°38′28″N 90°13′23″W / 38.6410°N 90.2230°W |
| Charles Park | 3 | 1982 | 38°33′35″N 90°14′31″W / 38.5597°N 90.2420°W |
| Cherokee Park | 8.9 | 1924 | 38°35′42″N 90°13′02″W / 38.5949°N 90.2172°W |
| Christy Park | 16.1 | 1910 | 38°34′55″N 90°16′36″W / 38.5820°N 90.2766°W |
| Chouteau Park | 2.8 | 2008 | 38°37′48″N 90°15′24″W / 38.6301°N 90.2568°W |
| Citygarden ‡‡ | 2.9 | − | 38°37′37″N 90°11′38″W / 38.627°N 90.194°W |
| Clifton Heights Park | 4.4 | 1912 | 38°36′51″N 90°17′30″W / 38.6141°N 90.2917°W |
| Columbus Square Park | .5 | 1980 | 11th and Biddle |
| Compton Hill Reservoir Park †† | 36 | 1867 | 38°36′51.84″N 90°14′13.96″W / 38.6144000°N 90.2372111°W |
| DeSoto Park | 17.4 | 1908 | Carr and 20th |
| Dickman Park | 5.2 | 1938 | − |
| Dwight Davis Park | 9.6 | 1951 | Lillian and Oriole |
| Eads Square Park | 4.2 | 1979 | Eads and Ohio |
| Fairground Park | 131 | 1908 | 38°39′56″N 90°13′18″W / 38.6656°N 90.2217°W |
| Fanetti Plaza | 1.7 | 1979 | Michigan and Schirmer |
| Filipiac Park | 4.3 | 1980 | 9th and Biddle |
| Forest Park | 1371 | 1876 | 38°38′20″N 90°17′05″W / 38.6389°N 90.2846°W |
| Fountain Park | 1.5 | 1889 | 38°39′19″N 90°15′36″W / 38.6554°N 90.2599°W |
| Fourteenth Street Mall | 1.3 | 1976 | 14th and Warren |
| Fowler Park | .7 | 1981 | Page and Union |
| Fox Park | 2.7 | 1917 | Iowa and Victor |
| Francis Park | 60 | 1916 | Donovan and Eichelberger |
| Francis R. Slay Park | 9 | 1926 | Donovan and Eichelberger |
| Franz Park | 4.7 | 1915 | Mitchell and Prather |
| Freeman Park | .9 | 1980 | Des Peres and DeBaliviere |
| Fremont Park | 2.3 | 1963 | Lynch and Salena |
| Gateway Mall Plaza | 1.1 | 1970 | 8th and Market |
| Giles Park | 5.4 | 1959 | Hodiamont and Catalpa |
| Gravois Park | 8.2 | 1812 | Louisiana and Miami |
| Hall Park | 2.3 | 1842 | Cole and Shelby Place |
| Hamilton Heights Park | 1.3 | 2002 | − |
| Handy Park | 12 | 1941 | Euclid and Ashland |
| Hickey Park | 16.3 | 1947 | 8700 N. Broadway |
| Hyde Park | 11.8 | 1947 | Blair and Salisbury |
| Interco Plaza | .7 | 1977 | Tucker and Martin Luther King |
| Jackson Place Park | .7 | 1816 | 11th and Market |
| Kaufmann Park | 1 | 1932 | Tucker and Market |
| Kennedy Park | 1 | 2007 | Olive and Washington |
| Kiener Plaza | 1.9 | 1962 | 6th and Broadway |
| Kingsbury Square Park | .6 | 1980 | Kingsbury and Westminster |
| Laclede Park | 3.2 | 1812 | Iowa and Gasconade |
| Lafayette Park | 30 | 1838 | 38°36′58″N 90°12′57″W / 38.6162°N 90.2157°W |
| Leisure Park | 16.1 | 2000 | Kingshighway and Gravois |
| Leisure Park | 7.3 | 1958 | Tucker and Park |
| Lindenwood Park | 14.1 | 1947 | Jamieson and Pernod |
| Lucas Gardens Park | 1.1 | 1857 | 13th and Locust |
| Lucier Park | 3 | 1980 | Hamilton and Westminster |
| Lyon Park | 10.9 | 1868 | Broadway and Arsenal |
| Marquette Park | 17 | 1915 | Osage and Minnesota |
| May Amphitheater | 1.9 | 1982 | 6th and Market |
| McDonald Park | 3 | 1928 | Utah and Bent |
| Memorial Plaza | 11.3 | 1932 | 13th and Chestnut |
| Mestres Park | 2.6 | 1937 | Tucker and Chouteau |
| Minnesota and Hill Park | .5 | 1924 | Minnesota and Hill |
| Minniewood Park | 4.5 | 1925 | Broadway and Meremac |
| Mt. Pleasant Park | 3.2 | 1812 | Michigan and Dakota |
| Murphy Park | 10.1 | 1962 | Cass and Hogan |
| O'Fallon Park | 127 | 1908 | 38°40′51″N 90°13′09″W / 38.6807°N 90.2193°W |
| Parkland Park | 2.4 | 1968 | Hamilton and Maple |
| Penrose Park | 51 | 1910 | Kingshighway and Penrose |
| Perry Park | 11.3 | 1961 | Cabanne and Belt |
| Poelker Park | 1 | 1986 | 12th and Market |
| Pontiac Square Park | 1.5 | 1908 | 9th and Ann |
| Porter Mall | 8.1 | 1975 | DaBaliviere and Delmar |
| River Des Peres Park | 145 | 1926 | 38°34′59″N 90°18′43″W / 38.5830°N 90.3120°W |
| River Des Peres Extension Park | 10.8 | 1954 | Holly Hills and Germania |
| Rumbold Park | 3 | 1945 | Spring and Market |
| Russell Park | 1.1 | 1950 | Cabanne and Russell |
| St. Louis Place Park | 14.1 | 1850 | 38°39′02″N 90°12′17″W / 38.6505°N 90.2048°W |
| Seay Park | 3 | 1936 | Gamble and Glasgow |
| Serra Sculpture Park | 1.1 | 1981 | 11th and Market |
| Sherman Park | 22 | 1917 | Kingshighway and Martin Luther King |
| Soulard Park | 1.9 | 1908 | 7th and Soulard |
| St. Louis Square Park | 1.7 | 1882 | Broadway and Courtois |
| Strauss Park * | − | − | − |
| Strodtman Park | 1.7 | 1924 | 13th and Palm |
| Sublette Park | 13.5 | 1915 | Sublette and Arsenal |
| Tambo Park | 1 | 1985 | Rutger and Ohio |
| Tandy Park | 5.6 | 1918 | Kennerly and Pendleton |
| Terry Park | 4 | 1945 | Compton and Eads |
| Tiffany Park | 1.1 | 1980 | Spring and Blaine |
| Tilles Park | 29 | 1957 | Hampton and Fyler |
| Tower Grove Park ± | 289 | 1868 | 38°36′24″N 90°15′30″W / 38.60654°N 90.25826°W |
| Turner Playground | 1.4 | 1937 | Sarah and West Belle |
| Unity Park | 2 | 2004 | Thekla and Riverview |
| Vivian Astra Park | 1.1 | − | Vivian and Astra |
| Walnut Park | 2.3 | 1974 | Thrush and Lillian |
| Washington Square | 13.5 | 1840 | 14th and Market |
| Willmore Park | 106 | 1947 | Hampton and Jamieson |
| Windsor Park | 3.3 | 1947 | Blair and Penrose |
| Yeatman Square Park | 3.5 | 1906 | Leffingwell and Market |
| † Dates based on city ordinance date establishing park. ♦ Adams Park (also known as Adams Playground) is owned by the city and maintained by the Adams Park Community Center. ‡ Blasé Park (formerly North Riverfront Park) is owned by the city and maintained by the St. Louis Water Division. ‡‡ Citygarden is owned by the city and maintained by the Gateway Foundation. †† Compton Hill Reservoir Park is owned by the city and maintained by the St. Louis Water Division. * Strauss Park is owned by the city and leased and maintained by Grand Center. ± Tower Grove Park is owned by the city and maintained by a separate Board of Commissioners of Tower Grove Park. |
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Other parks
The city of St. Louis is also home to several public parks that are owned by other entities. Among these is Baer Plaza, owned and maintained by CVC/Sports Authority, Gateway Arch National Park, owned and maintained by the National Park Service, Kiel Triangle Park, owned by the Bi-State Development Agency, and Luther Ely Smith Park, owned and maintained by the National Park Service.
Parks in St. Louis County
St. Louis County owns and maintains more than forty parks, including playgrounds and nature preserves. It also operates several recreation centers, the Museum of Transportation, and the Affton Community Center. In addition to parks owned by St. Louis County, several municipalities in the county also own and maintain their own park systems.
| Name | Area (acres) | Region of St. Louis County† |
|---|---|---|
| Bee Tree Park | 199 | South |
| Bella Fontaine Park | 300 | North |
| Bissell House | 9.3 | North |
| Black Forest Park | 4.3 | South |
| Bohrer Park | 16 | South |
| Bon Oak Park | 15 | North |
| Buder Park | 75 | South |
| Castlepoint Park | 11 | North |
| Cliff Cave Park | 560 | South |
| Clydesdale Park | 117 | South |
| Creve Coeur Park | 2,114 | West |
| Ebsworth Park | 10.5 | West |
| Endicott Park | 24 | North |
| Faust Park | 197 | West |
| Endicott Park | 24 | North |
| Fort Bellefontaine Park | 305.6 | North |
| Greensfelder County Park | 1,646 | West |
| Jefferson Barracks Park | 426 | South |
| King Park | 4 | North |
| Kinloch Park | 9 | North |
| Laumeier Sculpture Park | 105 | South |
| Larimore Park | 22 | North |
| Lemay Park | 18.5 | South |
| Lone Elk County Park | 546 | West |
| Love Park | 89 | West |
| Mathilda-Welmering Park | 6 | South |
| McDonnell Park | 133 | North |
| Memorial Park | 2.7 | North |
| Ohlendorf Park | 10 | South |
| Queeny Park | 564 | West |
| Shaw Park | 30 | West |
| Sioux Passage Park | 188 | North |
| Simpson Park | 206 | South |
| Spanish Lake Park | 245 | North |
| St. Vincent Park | 133 | North |
| Suson Park | 98 | South |
| Sylvan Springs Park | 70 | South |
| Tilles Park | 75 | West |
| Unger Park | 140 | South |
| Veterans Memorial Park | 250 | North |
| West Tyson County Park | 670 | West |
| Winter Park | 160 | South |
| † Regions of St. Louis County as defined by the St. Louis County Parks and Recreation Department. | ||
State parks
Eleven Missouri state parks are in Greater St. Louis, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources also operates several state historic sites in the region.
| Name | Area (acres) |
|---|---|
| Babler State Park | 2,441 |
| Castlewood State Park | 1,818 |
| Don Robinson State Park | 818 |
| Hawn State Park | 4,954 |
| Jones-Confluence Point State Park | 1,121 |
| Meramec State Park | 6,896 |
| Robertsville State Park | 1,224 |
| Route 66 State Park | 419 |
| St. Francois State Park | 2,734 |
| St. Joe State Park | 8,243 |
| Washington State Park | 2,148 |
