Charles J. Evola Park, Charlack

Location: 8537 Forest Ave., Charlack, MO 63114

Website: https://www.cityofcharlack.gov/parks

Playground Ground Cover: Astroturf and rubber chips

This used to be the city park but they renamed it in honor of a long-time public works director who died from cancer. The playground was completely replaced in late 2024. The pavilion has 12 tables and is next to the playground and restroom building.

The plays tructure has slides, a maze board, stepping stones, and lots of bars and poles for climbing. 

Love this new bridge that goes across the creek to the upper part of the park. 

This playground has a boulder you can climb on and some notched logs. 

Boo Castle Park (Jeremy Rochman Memorial Park), Carbondale

 

Location: 31 Homewood Dr., Carbondale, IL 62902

Website: https://boocastlepark.com/

This is an amazing park if you're up for a drive (It's a little over 2 hours from St. Louis). It was created in 2005 and has a Dungeons and Dragons theme. The centerpiece is a very large wood and stone castle that has an elaborate jungle gym of tunnels, stairs, and bridges. Hidden doors and passageways invite the small and flexible; most adults are content to walk the battlements. Gargoyles and knights guard the ramparts. An ogre with a spiked club stands atop the portcullis, and an extensive sword collection is bolted to the lofty inner ceiling of one of the towers. Small treasures are scattered throughout the maze of towers for the eye to discover.

The play area is enclosed with a fence, and there are port-a-pottys, a drinking fountain, some benches, and some sand to play in.  

Kids were loving climbing all over this sleeping dragon!

This guy used to be at a bar called the Copper Dragon. They donated it to the playground.

There is rubber chips for the flooring so it's nice and soft. 

The sand area