Queeny Park facts for kids

Queeny Park is a large and popular park located in Ballwin, Missouri. It is one of the biggest parks managed by the St. Louis County Parks system, offering lots of space for outdoor fun and activities.

The Story of Queeny Park

How Queeny Park Began

The land where Queeny Park now stands has a long history. Way back in 1854, a man named Hyacinth Renard built a beautiful house called Jarville. This house was designed in the Greek Revival style, which means it looked a bit like ancient Greek temples with columns and grand entrances.

Later, this land became part of the large estate owned by Edgar Monsanto Queeny. He was once the head of a big company called Monsanto. In 1964, the Queeny family sold the estate to a company that invests in land. The money they earned from this sale was given to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis to help people.

Turning an Estate into a Park

But the story didn't end there! In 1970, the Queeny family bought back their old estate. They had a wonderful idea: they wanted to turn their private land into a public park for everyone to enjoy.

They spent a lot of money, about $2,050,000, to make the estate ready for visitors. This included adding beautiful landscaping, creating areas for families to play, and building a special memorial. This memorial was for Edward Greensfeelder, who was one of the main people who helped pay for the park to be created.

In 1974, the memorial area was officially opened, and Queeny Park welcomed its first visitors. It quickly became a favorite spot for people in the St. Louis area.

Recent Changes at the Park

In December 2019, the St. Louis County Council made a decision about deer in county parks, including Queeny Park. They voted to allow special deer hunts in some parks to help manage the deer population.