Shaw Park Aquatic Center, Clayton

Location: 111 S. Brentwood Blvd, Clayton, MO 63015

Website: https://www.claytonmo.gov/government/parks-recreation/shaw-park-aquatic-center

Amenities: This three-pool complex consists of a 50-meter competition pool, dive tank, and zero-depth children's pool. The Shaw Park Aquatic Center offers recreational swimming, lap swimming and various specialty classes throughout the summer.

Splash & Play
(Ages 6 months - 6 years) Infants, toddlers, and young children may enjoy the Children’s Pool before it opens to the general public. Parents and caregivers are expected to directly supervise children in their care. Please note: Children attending Splash & Play must be season pass holders in order to participate. Adult season pass holders may bring children who are pass holders or may purchase a Splash & Play punch card to bring children who are not pass holders as their guests. Each non-pass holder child must be accounted for on a punch card for each day of attendance. (There is no punch for the accompanying pass holder adult). 

So to get into this pool for a nonresident (anyone who does not live or work in Clayton) you'd have to buy a season pass and for a family that is $479. Pretty steep. HOWEVER....they have a punch card system that is pretty cool. Here's how it works:

 Non-residents may purchase a 10-visit punch card to attend certain programs. Cards are program-specific, and they allow holders to attend the program ten times, so they can schedule around work, weather, vacations, etc. Season pass holders can even use them to bring guests to their favorite programs! There is no limit to the number of punch cards a person can purchase in a season, and all cards expire on the last day of the program. Punch cards are on sale at The Center of Clayton and Shaw Park Aquatic Center during normal hours of operation. Fees are as follows:

Splash & Play Resident: $60, Non-Resident: $80

 That dolphin is a slide and has water jets spraying out of it. So fun!

 Kid pool with dolphin slide, zero entry, and pop jets

There are lockers, changing rooms, restrooms, and concessions in the building. 

 Dive tank

overhead map of the facility

Thanks go to Ashley for the photos!

Woodlands Sports Park, St. Peters

Location: 1 Woodlands Parkway, St. Peters, MO 63376

Website: http://www.stpetersmo.net/st-peters-parks.aspx#woodlands

Playground Ground Cover: Poured Rubber


This playground was recently renovated and it's so much better than it was!

Before

Now they have 2 adaptive swings, 4 sling swings, and a modified expression swing

The playstructure is huge with maze boards, steering wheels, slides, webbed climbers, and tons of bars and poles. 

Thanks Erin for the photos!

Dardenne Park, St. Peters

Location: 175 Dew Ct, St. Peters, MO 63376

Website: http://www.stpetersmo.net/st-peters-parks.aspx#dardenne

Playground Ground Cover: Poured Rubber

From the website: "Tucked away in a sheltered wooded corner next to Dardenne Creek, Dardenne Park provides visitors with an expansive new playground, a paved pedestrian trail, and quick access to an 18-hole municipal golf course." 

When you arrive you park and then walk down a secluded path. There is a creek here that is small and easy to get to if your kids want to play in it. 

 It's a nice peaceful walk to the playground

We really enjoyed this playground because it has some neat features that you don't see very often. The hippo was a big hit!

 There are 2 baby swings and 2 sling swings. 

 The baby area has a small structure with just a slide and some bars, but it also has a pirate ship!

 The big play structure has several slides, a bridge, a pretend storefront, a musical board, stepping stones, a bubble window, steering wheel, abacus board, and lots of bars and poles.

 You don't see an abacus board very often

 There is one picnic table and several benches scattered around

It's a shame there aren't any restrooms here because this playground is really charming and fun.

Evergreen Park, St. Clair

Location: 931 Park Ave, St. Clair, MO 63077

Website: http://stclairmo.us/residents/parks_and_recreation.php

Playground Ground Cover: Wood Chips

From the website: "Evergreen Park is an approximate 16 acre municipal park located on Park Street across from the St. Clair Community Center and Public Works Facility. Evergreen Park is the home of Veteran’s Field, a fantastic baseball and softball diamond. Evergreen Park is also the home of the 2000+ sq. foot St. Clair Municipal Spray Park. Evergreen Park offers a natural setting, a new walking trail, multiple pavilions, playground equipment, a basketball court, and a shuffleboard deck.  Across Park Drive near the Jaycees Pavilion is a new 9 hole disc golf course. "

The playground is older and has seen better days. It has 2 rocking horses, 2 steering wheels, 2 different graffiti covered slides, and various bars and poles.

 The pavilion right next to the playground

The playground may be lacking but the real gem of this park is the splash pad. It's a good one. And it gets bonus points cause there is a very clean restroom building right next to it.

St. Clair is out 44 and may be the closest splash pad for people who live in Eureka, Pacific, Hillsboro, or the southwest fringes of St. Louis County.

The spray features include various jets, including a noodle tower, a mist tunnel, a tsunami spray, and three water cannons.

The splash pad is next to the parking lot, and the playground is up the hill. 

 View of the splashpad and parking lot from the playground up the hill. 

I love that they have areas protected from the sun. My kids had a blast, and we will be back!