Holloway Park, Ballwin

Location: 335 Holloway Road, Ballwin, MO 63011

Amenities: Playground, tennis courts, basketball hoop, pickleball court, outdoor swimming pool

Website: https://www.ballwin.mo.us/About-Our-Parks/

Playground ground cover: wood chips

The sign to enter the park says North Pointe Aquatic Center, there isn't a separate sign for Holloway Park, as the playground is next to the pool. The old playground was orange, the new one is green. 

The playground was replaced in 2023 and is much better! The playground is right next to the parking lot, pickleball court, and basketball court (which is in the parking lot). 

There are 2 playstructures, one for toddlers and one for kids over 5. The larger play structure has a rock wall, slides, steering wheel, pretend window, tic-tac-toe board, stepping stones, and a maze board. 

Musical instrument area. That orange disc spins and sounds like a rainstick.

Restroom building next to the pickleball court

The toddler play structure has steering wheels,slides, speakers, and drums. 

There are 2 sling swings, a modified expression swing, an ADA swing, and a baby swing.

Free standing webbed spinner

Climbing area

Small pavilion next to the playground with 4 picnic tables. 

Kids Empire, Ballwin

Location: 14856 Manchester Rd., Ballwin, MO 63021

Website: https://ballwin.kidsempire.com/

Kids Empire is an indoor playground chain and its first location in Missouri opened in June 2023. It's in the same plaza as Sky Zone Ballwin and Foss Swim School. It's about $20 per child and that gives you unlimited access all day, so you can come and go through the day if you like, just keep your receipt! 

The amenities here include a huge climbing soft play area that has a soccer arena, slides, a spinner, several different climbing elements, motorized vehicles (costs extra), a snack bar, an enclosed toddler area, and a black-light dance area. 

You can spin around on this. Huggy is their mascot.

Cool slide you go down on a scooter thing!

Lots of tables and chairs around so you can sit and watch your bigger kids.

Black-light dance party area

Enclosed toddler area with ball pit.  

Don't forget socks! They cost $3 and even adults must have them. 

Sky Zone Ballwin (formerly Defy), Ballwin

Location: 14820 Manchester Rd, Ballwin, MO 63011  636-591-1850

Website: https://www.skyzone.com/ballwin

My kids love this place. Originally it was the Flying Spider, then it got bought out by Defy, and in 2022 it was bought out by Sky Zone. They have different packages, but a standard 60-minute open flight is $17 for kids under 6 and $22 per person for everyone over 6. In addition, you have to buy their grip socks which are $3.99 each. Just like any other trampoline/bounce place you have to fill out a waiver before they can do anything. They have some kiosks set up and then you take the receipt and pay. Then you can store your shoes and get to bouncing.

 

Regular trampoline area

Ninja Obstacle Course

Little kid area

They have a ton of activities here, including zipline, dodgeball, basketball, foam pits, launching decks, and more. I have been asked if this place is suitable for a toddler or preschooler and I would say it depends on the child. My son is 7 but has a lot of fear and is not very adventurous. He loves the foam pit and regular bouncing but wouldn't try the swing or trapeze or zipline. Since they charge more than Monkey Joes and little guys aren't big enough to do most of the things here I don't think you would get the most out of your money at this place. My 5-year-old is very adventurous and tried everything they had to offer and loved every minute of it!

Dodgeball court

Upstairs area

Party room

I do have to say that this place is showing it's age, it's starting to look run down and ragged.