Teddy & Friends Playground at Queeny Park, Ballwin

Location: 550 Weidman Rd., St. Louis, MO 63131

Amenities: Fishing, trails, tennis courts, playground, seasonal indoor ice rink (October to February)

Website: http://www.stlouisco.com/ParksandRecreation/ParkPages/Queeny

Playground ground cover: Poured rubber

Queeny Park was amazing, but it failed to pass inspection in 2023, so it was replaced with an Unlimited Play Playground that opened in August 2025. 

I had to leave photos of the old 1974 playground up because it was so iconic. The new playground is called Teddy & Friends after Teddy Gooch. He was diagnosed with dwarfism. This playground is board game-themed, centered on games like Candyland, Chutes & Ladders, Connect Four, and Teddy's favorite- Chess. There is also a "Game of Life" car doubling as a glider, and a "Don't Break the Ice" parallel play rope piece. The entrance features a big hippo, and the sun shades have the Twister pattern on them, too. So fun! With a board game theme and specialized ADA‑accessible design, families, especially those with children of differing abilities, will have more reasons than ever to play together at this wonderful playground! 

Ohlendorf West, Valley Park

Location: 1150 Hanna Road, St. Louis, MO 63021

Amenities: playground, basketball court, fitness trail

Website: https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-departments/parks/places/ohlendorf-west-park/

Playground ground cover: Poured rubber

A new playground was installed at Ohlendorf West Park in the Fall of 2013. There's a swing set with 2 sling swings, a baby swing, and an adaptive swing, plus a saucer swing on a separate swing frame. There's a climbing rope wall and rock to climb in the center. Lastly, there are a couple of spinner seats. There is a gaga pit and a porta-potty as well as a trail to walk. 

Lone Elk Park, Valley Park

Location: 1 Lone Elk Park Rd, St. Louis, MO 63088
(I-44 North Outer Road west of Highway 141, adjacent to the World Bird Sanctuary)

Amenities: picnic shelters, trails, lake with fishing, animal viewing

Website: https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-departments/parks/places/lone-elk-park/

Lone Elk Park is a wildlife management area, with bison, wild turkey, waterfowl, elk, and deer. The first half of the park contains a lake for fishing, some picnic shelters, and picnic areas. The second half of the park is drive-through only (Motorcycles are prohibited), as the larger animals freely roam this part of the park. The photos below are taken from the car with no zoom, to give you an idea of how close to the road they are, and what a good view you get! There is no playground, and you cannot pet or interact with the animals, but this park does give kids a close-up view of animals they would not ordinarily get to see. Note: Domestic animals are not allowed, even if confined in a vehicle.

It's a gorgeous place to drive around, and there are places to pull over and look at the scenery, or animals if they happen to be nearby. 

The visitor's center with restrooms

People have been seriously injured here by trying to interact with the animals, so I just wanted to mention again, DO NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR under any circumstances. Also, the ticks are really bad here, so picnic at your own risk. 

Entrance and exits added late 2020