Christy Park, St. Louis City

Location: 5024 Christy Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63116

Website: https://stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/parks/parks/view-park.cfm?parkID=27&parkName=Christy

Playground ground cover: poured rubber

Just a basic neighborhood park, good sized playground though. There is no signage to indicate that it's Christy Park but you can't miss the playground if you drive down Christy Blvd.

This is the old playground which was replaced in 2017. The new playground is great! Now it's almost completely enclosed too! There is an open space without a gate at the entrance but this is an improvement since it's pretty close to the road.

 There are balance beams, stepping stones, chain ladders, a climbing wall, slides, a rock wall, and various bars and poles.

 2 sling swings and 2 baby swings

The red rectangular thing on the right spins around! You stand in it and then it spins you standing up.

Just wish they had restrooms!

They also added a workout area in front of the playground. 

Laumeier Sculpture Park, South County

Location: 12580 Rott Road, St. Louis, MO 63127

Website: http://www.laumeiersculpturepark.org/

Laumeier is a 105 acre park filled with sculpture and trails and wide open spaces. It's a great place to picnic, take a walk, admire some art, and let the kids run wild. They have stroller tours, free family days, camps, and scavenger hunts as well. Check out their calendar to see all the events they have throughout the year.

Here are the trail lengths:
Art Hike Trail: 0.77 miles / 45 minutes
Central Pathway: 0.64 miles / 25 minutes
Western Woodland Trail: 0.15 miles / 10 minutes
Emerson Spring House Trail

Here are some of the sculptures you will see. Laumeier asks that you don't climb on them, please!

I think the 'eye' is the most popular thing here! 

The new deer sculpture in the distance

Installation of the new "Deer" from the Post Dispatch

I think the most popular sculpture used to be "The Way" 

There is just so much to see here! Such a great place to explore with little ones. Get this scavenger hunt booklet and try doing it with your kids!

Here are some great tips to enhance your visit to Laumeier:

LOOK at the artworks from different angles:
Crouch or lie down
Stand far away and up close
Circle around

ASK questions to encourage discussion:
What do you see?
What do you think it means?
How does it make you feel?

MOVE your body to imitate the shapes of the sculptures!

INVENT your own creative titles for the artworks before reading the object labels.

DRAW what you see. Sketchbooks are encouraged!

TAKE A BREAK at the benches and picnic tables located throughout the Park. Public restrooms and water fountains are located in the Museum Circle, Way Field, and Emerson Children’s Sculpture Garden, and in the Adam Aronson Fine Arts Center during regular building hours.

BRING the conversation home:
What sculpture did you like the most?
Did you learn about a new material?
What new projects can you create at home now?

Independence Park, Berkeley

 

Location: 8296 Frost Ave, Berkeley MO 63134

Website: http://www.cityofberkeley.us/egov/apps/locations/facilities.egov?view=detail&id=16

Playground Ground Cover: Poured Rubber


This playground has two areas, one for big kids and one for littles. There is a bathroom building and pavilion nearby but I didn't check them out.

The structures are older but in decent shape. There are several slides, a bridge, and bars and poles for climbing.