Backstoppers Park, Oakland

Location: Bounded by Melshire and Holmes Avenues, Oakland MO 63122

Website: https://www.oaklandmo.org/parks-and-recreation.aspx

Playground Ground Cover: Wood Chips

I never really knew Oakland existed! It is a small municipality near Kirkwood. This pocket park is situated right next to Grant's Trail. It has a play structure that includes a few slides and a baseball themed tic tac toe board. It also has a merry-go-round, a teeter-totter, a spinning pole, and climbing wall. Please note there are NO bathrooms here.

Deer Creek Park, Webster Groves- DESTROYED BY ARSON 2019

Location:  Intersection of Marshall and Summit in Webster Groves, MO 63119

Website: http://www.webstergroves.org/172/Deer-Creek-Park

Playground ground cover: Wood chips

This is right around the corner from the more well-known Deer Creek (Rocket) Park in Maplewood. This park is much smaller though. There is just one piece of equipment that features 2 different rock walls, 3 slides, and a tic-tac-toe board. There is also a very small gazebo that sits four and a fire pit off to one side. Down a very steep hill is a ball field. According to wikimapia, the two Deer Creek parks are connected by a pedestrian bridge over Deer Creek. They're not exactly that close so it's probably a bit of a walk. I didn't see any other trails, maybe it's down the hill by the ball field.

Unfortunately nothing is here now as the playground was destroyed by arson and has not been replaced as of 2022.  

Margaret Stoecker Park, Manchester

Location: 224 Henry Ave, Manchester, MO 63021

Amenities: playground, picnic shelter, walking path, restroom

Website: http://manchestermo.gov/923/City-Parks

Playground ground cover: Wood chips

Literally a hidden gem of park playgrounds, you can't see the playground from the parking lot. Take the paved nature trail down a short hill to find the nature themed playground. There's equipment for toddlers through school aged children - with various slides and climbing walls, ropes, etc. There's a spinning ball that kids can climb inside of - a unique take on a merry-go-round. Separate from the main equipment is a swing set with a sling swing and a baby swing, a traditional merry-go-round and a climbing structure shaped like a bug. The restroom is adjacent to this section of the playground and was quite clean the day we visited. There's also a small picnic shelter and a picnic area under the trees past the playground. There are no benches beside the playground at this time, but I wouldn't be surprised if they are added as they complete the finishing touches on the new playground area.

 

 

 

Des Peres Lodge Indoor Pool, Des Peres

Location: 1050 Des Peres Road, Des Peres, MO 63131

Amenities:

• Wave Pool (during some open swim times)
• Children's Area with bubblers and sprays
• Tube Slide
• Hot Tub

Website: http://www.desperesmo.org/index.aspx?NID=150

The indoor pool at The Lodge in Des Peres is like no other in the St. Louis Metro Area. It features an indoor wave pool in addition to the amenities you'd expect in an indoor water park. The waves are generally on during open swim on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (check the calendar on their website for hours), and alternate in an on for 20 minutes, off for 10 minutes fashion. During open swim, there are inflatable inner tubes for patrons to use to float on the waves. When the waves are off, swimmers are allowed to jump off the side into the deepest part of the pool. The large pool goes from zero entry to 8 feet 6 inches. There are life jackets to borrow for the kiddos who are not strong enough swimmers to help them in the waves.

Adjacent to the large pool is a tot pool which is zero entry to about 8 inches deep. There are benches around this area for parents to sit, and there is a bubbler in the center and sprays around the edge. Weekday mornings (Wednesday-Friday) the tot pool is open for 1.5 hours for parents and young children to swim, and during this time they bring out a basket full of pool toys for the kids to play with. This area is open during open swim as well, and you can bring small water toys to play with in this area.

The enclosed indoor slide begins in the corner of the building, goes outside, then comes back inside before dumping the rider into a catch pool. Riders must be at least 42" to ride this slide.

The hot tub is for visitors 16 years and older.

The facility is open to residents and non-residents of Des Peres, however non-residents pay a higher admission fee.

Wild Wonder Outpost, St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis City- ONLY AVAILABLE FOR PRESCHOOL AND CAMPS

Location:  One Government Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110

Amenities: indoor playroom

Website: https://www.stlzoo.org/visit/plan-your-visit

Designed for children ages 0-8, the Wild Wonder Outpost at the St. Louis Zoo is a great playroom with some unique features you won't find in other playrooms around the St. Louis area. For starters, each month, the staff changes up the theme of all the exhibits in the playroom. In the background, they play calming music which really seems to help the kids stay calmer and more focused on their play. There are cubbies to store coats and bags, and an area to park strollers inside the playroom, but separate from the play area. Hours are limited due to the fact that it's also the home of the zoo preschool. 

There's an art area, an area reserved just for children 2 and under, then in the center of the room is the "Wildlife Theater" stage with plenty of puppets and animal dress-up costumes to go around. The "Build a Habitat" play area was a favorite for my daughter, with bins and bins of small plastic zoo animals, along with wooden blocks, felt "ponds", plastic molded rocks, and more to create your own zoo. The animal care area lets your little one play "zookeeper." The large water table is a hit with the kids and they have smocks to help keep the kids dry. However, when it's very cold out - the water in the table is FREEZING as well! The Backyard Wildlife area contains a playhouse and garden, plus a compost bin. Lastly, the sand table is really a fun sensory experience for kids, as the sand is "moon sand" which feels squishy to the touch and forms together to build castles. There are so many different things to play with, there's no way you'll get to play with everything in just one 45-minute session.

And since you can never get through a play session without your little one needing a potty break, there is a restroom inside the playroom, and it even has a small tot toilet.

The Wild Wonder Outpost is located on the lower level of the Living World building at the North end of the St. Louis Zoo. Sessions are 45 minutes and are $3 per person ($2 per person for zoo members). Children under 1 are free. See the website for session times.

"Backyard Wildlife Experience" Playhouse

"Backyard Wildlife Experience" Area

Moon Sand Table

"Wildlife Theater" Stage

Behind the scenes of the "Wildlife Theater"

Water table - the staff changes the water table to go along with the monthly theme.
Top photo: Frog theme, Bottom photo: Penguin theme 

Art Area

Art Area

"Cubs and Pups Area" - for children ages 2 and younger

"Build a Habitat" Area

"Build a Habitat" Area

"Animal Care Corner"