Sunday, May 16, 2021

Forest Park, Dennis and Judith Jones Variety Wonderland Playground, St. Louis City


Location: 5595 Grand Drive in Forest Park St. Louis, MO 63112

Amenities: playground, restaurant next door, sprayground

Website: https://forestparkmap.org/variety-wonderland-playground

Playground ground cover: Poured Rubber

I'm just going to copy and paste what I found online because it's way better than anything I could write!

This playground is a hidden gem behind the History Museum in Forest Park, and across the street from the tennis courts. It's right next to the Visitors center, and you would not know it's there because it's completely enclosed by shrubs and trees. This half-acre, state-of-the-art playground was specifically designed for ALL children, able-bodied children, and children with disabilities. Featuring 29 pieces of equipment, children will naturally learn about diversity, disabilities, and acceptance through playtime in five areas. First Adventures for children ages 2-5, Big Adventures for children ages 6 to 12, the Secret Garden, and an Observation Relaxation Deck and Living Shelter. Some of the features include a wheelchair-accessible treehouse, Braille panel, and 32 musical pylons for the visually impaired, creative panels, 14 perennials known to attract, feed, and house Monarch butterflies, and talk phones. Customized equipment includes teeter-totter swings with high backs, disc swings, metal slides for children with cochlear implants, double slides, and four-seat seesaws.

There is also a small water feature, a long narrow trough with water jets that shoot up, and a slate area with a couple of water jets as well. The restroom complete with changing table is next door in the visitors center. Forest Park Cafe is also in there and they sell a wide variety of hot food, snacks, and drinks. 

In 2021 they replaced the entire accessible playground surface. They also added new equipment such as a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round and parallel bars, as well as a sensory play wall.












Sprayground/water feature








Behind the playground in the distance are 2 sling swings and 2 baby swings. 















2 comments:

  1. Great review! Checkin out the playground with the kiddos this evening

    ReplyDelete

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