Turtle Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Turtle Park |
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Sculpture at Turtle Park
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| Type | Sculpture park and playground |
| Location | St. Louis, Missouri, United States |
| Created | August 1996 |
| Operated by | St. Louis Parks Department and Forest Park Forever |
| Status | Open all year (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) |
Turtle Park, also known as Turtle Playground, is a super fun sculpture park located in St. Louis, Missouri. It's right on the edge of Forest Park, near the Saint Louis Zoo. This park is famous for its giant concrete turtles and a long snake that kids can climb all over! It's a great spot for families to play and explore.
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Discover Turtle Park's Amazing Sculptures
This special park is home to seven concrete turtles and one big snake. All the turtles are designed to look like species that live right here in Missouri. The sculptures were created by an artist named Bob Cassilly. The park first opened its doors in August 1996. You can even see Turtle Park from Interstate 64!
Meet the Giant Turtles!
The park features different types of turtles, each ready for adventure.
- Three Big Turtles: These are a snapping turtle, a Mississippi map turtle, and a red-eared slider. They are named Dick, Tom, and Sally. The snapping turtle is huge, about 40 feet long, and was made with a massive amount of concrete – 120,000 pounds!
- Four Smaller Turtles: These include a stinkpot turtle and three box turtles. They are named David, Adam, Emily, and Antonio.
- Turtle Eggs: You'll also find a "clutch" of concrete eggs, just like real turtle eggs!
The best part is that these turtles are made for climbing! Kids can crawl onto their shells or even peek inside their open mouths. It's like a giant, friendly playground.
The Park's Concrete Snake
A long concrete snake winds its way through the park. Its head is attached to the Tamm Avenue Overpass, making it look like it's biting the bridge! This unique design adds to the park's playful and imaginative feel.
How Turtle Park Was Created
Turtle Park came to life thanks to a kind person named Sunny Glassberg, who loved St. Louis. She had the idea for the park and also gave the money to build it.
A Dream for Kids
Sunny Glassberg wanted to create a place where children could be happy and feel inspired. She believed that happiness could spread from one person to another. She hired Bob Cassilly, the artist, to design all the amazing sculptures. The St. Louis Parks Department and Forest Park Forever helped find the perfect spot for the park. This area was a part of Forest Park that had been separated by Interstate 64.
Park History and Updates
Turtle Park officially opened in August 1996. Years later, when Interstate 64 was rebuilt in 2009, the snake's head had to be temporarily moved. But don't worry, the new bridge was designed so the head could be put right back in its place!
In 2011, Riverfront Times newspaper voted Turtle Park the "Best Picnic Spot" in St. Louis. More recently, in 2015, the MySun Charitable Foundation helped make some great improvements to the park. They added new grass, fixed the walking paths, and even installed a water fountain for everyone to enjoy.
