Maplewood Family Aquatic Center, Maplewood

Location: 7550 Lohmeyer, Maplewood, MO 63143    314-646-3665

Website: https://www.richmondheights.org/departments/parks___recreation_cooperative/facilities___parks/maplewood_family_aquatic_center_(mfac)/season_pass_and_daily_rates.php

This pool facility includes an eight-lane, 50-meter competition pool and a 9,400-square-foot leisure pool with a lazy river. It features both one-meter and three-meter springboards as well as two water slides that are over 100 feet tall. The pool offers a large outdoor concession eating area as well as men’s, women’s, and family locker rooms.

You normally can not visit this pool unless you are a resident of Maplewood, Richmond Heights, Brentwood, Rock Hill, or the city of St. Louis, or the guest of a resident. However, they do offer tot time during the week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10-12. Also sometimes they have special events that are open to the general public, and this is how we gained entry.

The leisure pool is awesome and includes zero entry, a dolphin that shoots water, a water umbrella, several fountains, a bucket pole that dumps tiny buckets of water out, and a small slide. There are also 2 big slides for kids 48" and over. One is a 2-story speed slide and one is a 2-story curvy tube slide.  

I included this overhead map because it's a bit confusing to find it. Their address is 7550 Lohmeyer, but my GPS takes me to the Maplewood Library. You can see the pool is directly behind it, and the parking lot is to the right of it (left in the photo). 

There are 2 pools here, the leisure pool and the competition pool. The leisure pool has the slides and the kid's area.

Tiny slide

The lazy river is next to the leisure pool. It's only 3 ft deep and doesn't require inner tubes.

The competition pool has 2 diving boards. 

The concession stand

The slides are so fun! There is one tube slide and one-speed slide. Must be 48".

Dellwood Pool, Dellwood

Location: 10266 W. Florissant Ave, Dellwood, MO 63136

Website: https://www.cityofdellwoodmo.com/253/Parks-Recreation

This pool is located at the city rec center and is only open to Dellwood residents.  It's a pretty basic pool, just 2 rectangles and a small plain kiddie pool. It does have two tube slides though. This pool is open from 12-7 pm daily.

Here's an overhead view from Google Maps. You can see the small kiddie pool at the lower right.

If this pool is too boring for you, the North County Rec Plex Pool is 10 minutes away from here and it is a lot cooler for just a bit more money.

Also at the Dellwood Rec Center is a roller skating rink that was installed in 2020. It also has lockers for your shoes. 

Gravois Park, St. Louis City

Location: Bounded by Potomac, Louisiana, Miami, and S. Compton, St. Louis, MO 63118

Website: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/parks/parks/browse-parks/view-park.cfm?parkID=46&parkName=Gravois%20Park

Playground Ground Cover: Poured rubber

This playground is newer and is next to a very old bandstand. This park is actually the oldest park in St. Louis. The playground was falling apart so the Cherokee Street Development League applied for a grant for a new one and it was installed in 2017. This is the only park in the Gravois Park neighborhood of the city. So who was the Uncle Louie referenced in the sign?

"Louis W. Buckowitz, a former alderman and longtime Democratic leader in south St. Louis, died Tuesday (Sept. 7, 1999) at Alexian Brothers Lansdowne Village in St. Louis. He was 92 and had been in ill health for six years. Mr. Buckowitz was active in city Democratic politics for more than 60 years and served as the 10th Ward alderman from 1977-87. Known as "Uncle Louie," he was proud of the Easter egg hunts and Christmas parties he sponsored for poor children, his influence in persuading ward voters to back favored candidates, and his vigor in helping constituents get jobs or necessary city services. (source)"

Here's a good article about the new playground.

There are 2 play structures, one for kids over 5 and one for kids under 5. There are 2 sling swings and 2 baby swings. There is also a spinning ball.

Veterans Memorial Park and North County Rec Complex, North County

Location: 2577 Redman Ave., St. Louis, MO 63136

Website: https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-departments/parks/places/veterans-memorial-park/

Playground Ground Cover: Poured Rubber

This area is unincorporated in St. Louis County, but it lies right between Spanish Lake and Florissant. The North County Recreation Complex has been renovated to include a multipurpose gymnasium, a walking track, a fitness room, a meeting room, and an aquatic center. Veterans Memorial Park continues to feature four lighted tennis courts, the Leo Wilson picnic shelter, a playground, Black Jack Lake, and a golf course.

The large play structure has a bubble window, tic tac toe board, slides, and lots of bars and poles.

The small play structure has a pretend window, tic tac toe board, slides, and bars and poles for climbing. 

 

 There are 2 baby swings and 2 sling swings.  

There is a water park here and it is amazing. It was built in 2015 and is state of the art with a tot pool, an interactive play structure, a family otter slide, a basketball/volleyball area, three-lap lanes, a 1-meter diving board, a lazy river, a drop slide, and a water slide.