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! 

William Zimmer Park, Waterloo IL

Location: 732 Rogers St., Waterloo, IL 62298

Website: http://www.waterlooparkdistrict.org/parks/

Playground Ground Cover:

The William Zimmer Memorial Park was opened in May of 2013. The park features a playground, restrooms, a splashpad, and a covered pavilion available for group picnics. The pavilion has running water and electricity, and a barbecue pit nearby.

 

Chicken N Pickle, St. Charles

Location: 1500 S. Main St., St. Charles, MO 63303

Website: https://chickennpickle.com/location/st-charles/

Chicken N Pickle is a unique entertainment complex that combines a casual restaurant and sports bar with pickleball courts, yard games, and event space. It's designed as a family-friendly destination with indoor and outdoor areas for dining, socializing, and playing.

Chicken N Pickle offers a casual dining experience with a menu featuring wood-fired rotisserie chicken, pulled pork, grass-fed beef sandwiches, creative salads, and hand-cut fries. You can order at the counter or from a server, and your order is tracked via a GPS-enabled tent that allows staff to deliver food and drinks to your table, no matter where you are in the complex.

The complex has multiple indoor and outdoor pickleball courts available for rent. You can book courts online or in person, and they offer lessons for all skill levels. Pickleball is played with a wiffle ball and paddles, following specific rules about serving, returning, and volleying.

Beyond pickleball, Chicken N Pickle offers a variety of yard games like cornhole, giant Jenga, Connect Four, Battleship and tabletop tennis. These games are available for guests to enjoy while waiting for a pickleball court or simply to have fun.

 

 

Love this huge Battleship game!

So many places to sit and chat

During the winter, they turned part of the complex into an ice rink!