Little Diggers, Des Peres

Location: 13347 Manchester, Des Peres, MO 63131

Website: https://www.littlediggersplayspace.com/locations/little-diggers-desperes-missouri

From their website, "Little Diggers Des Peres is open right next to Trader Joe's! Our Des Peres indoor sandbox play space gives toddlers and young children ages 7 and under 1,200 square feet of clean, soft sensory sand to dig, build, and explore right in your neighborhood.

Packed with hundreds of construction-themed toys, including our exclusive Sand Stacker and Tower Blocks, Little Diggers Des Peres is the go-to destination for imaginative, hands-on play that supports early childhood development, fine motor skills, and STEM-inspired learning."

A few notes: bare feet are required.  They have free wifi and snacks for purchase. They do parties and special events. They have sensory-friendly time every Monday from 3-5 pm where the music is turned down and the lights dimmed for friends with sensory processing issues. 

They have 2 sandboxes, the main one and a smaller one for little guys off to the right. 

The smaller sandbox

The party room is cute! 

The sand comes from the Bahamas!  “Not only is it beautiful and feels great for that reason, but it’s also one of very few non-silica-based sand types, making it healthier to be around for longer periods of time.” (Quote from the owner Zach Bowers).  Little Diggers is open daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m. It operates on a no-reservations, non-membership model, and it offers a rewards program in which families can earn a free hour of play for every three hours they spend.

The pay scale starts at $12 for one child for a half hour, with discounts for additional siblings and reduced rates for extended time periods. Parents are allowed in the sandbox with their kids, and up to two adults are free with a child admission. 

West County Mall, Des Peres

Location: 80 West County Center, Des Peres, MO 63131

Amenities: playground, family restroom nearby, train

Website: https://www.shopwestcountycenter.com/

Playground ground cover: Poured rubber covered with carpet

The play area is located on the first floor outside JCPenney's. The play area is not that big and is usually pretty crowded. There is a tunnel, a slide, and other play camping structures to climb on.

Des Peres Park, Des Peres

Location: 12325 Manchester Rd., Des Peres, MO 63131

Amenities: 

• 3 Baseball / Softball Fields (April - July)
• Bike / Jogging Trail (one mile, half mile, and quarter mile tracks)
• Reservable Gazebo
• Lake / Fishing (2 acres, lake stocked with blue gill, bass, and catfish)
• 6 Lighted Tennis Courts
• 3 Lighted Pickleball Courts
• 1 Multi-Purpose Court
• Nature Area
• Parcourse Fitness Trail
• Reservable Picnic Pavilion with Grill (Reservable April - November)
• Picnic Sites
• Play Fountain (Memorial Day-Labor Day, controls by bathroom entrance)
• 2 Playgrounds (tot playground and 5-12 year-old playground)
• Rest Rooms (year-round)
• Shuffleboard Courts
• 2 Soccer Fields (Second week in August - Second week in November)

Website: http://www.desperesmo.org/87/Des-Peres-Park

Playground ground cover: Rubber mats, poured rubber, and astroturf

Des Peres Park has 2 very nice playgrounds fairly close to each other. One is designed for younger children, and the other is for kids 5 and up.  The larger playground has several slides, a climbing wall, a zip line, a pretend window, maze boards, ramps, and a splash pad (seasonal).  The button to turn on the splash pad is by the restrooms - there is no sign to direct you to the button. There's also a great little trail that goes around a lake, with a wooden boardwalk. There are usually ducks and geese to watch in the lake.

The tot playground was replaced in 2024. It has many wonderful features including a we-go-round (modified merry-go-round for kids of all abilities), a roller slide, astroturf hills, and more!

These astroturf bumps are fun!

This webbed structure is cool with lots of options for climbing.

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

The play structure has a gear board, a bubble window, slides, a small rock wall, a steering wheel, a tic-tac-toe board, and lots of bars and poles. 

The larger playground for kids over 5 has a large play structure with slides, tunnels, maze boards, ramps, drums, and lots of bars and poles for climbing. 

Overhead photos from their website