Metter Park, Columbia IL

Location: 124 S. Metter Ave., Columbia IL 62236

Website: https://www.columbiaillinois.com/38/Parks-and-Recreation

Playground Ground Cover: Wood Chips

This is a cute little park, and I love that they have part of it covered! There are 2 play structures, and the one for littles has a little tunnel and 2 slides. The larger play structure has floating steps, a rock wall, several slides, a tic tac toe board, chain climber, and tons of bars and poles. The restrooms are close by and there are several benches and covered seating nearby.

Pavilion

Second pavilion

The Edge, Belleville IL

Location: 701 South Belt West, Belleville, IL 62220                   618-236-2101

Website: http://www.edge5theatres.com/

The Edge is an entertainment venue that has 5 movie screens, laser tag, a bar, bistro dining, bumper cars, bowling, (4) different virtual reality attractions, and indoor go karts.  They have 2 types of theatres: stadium style or bistro style. The bistro theatres are adults 21 and older, and offer motorized, leather recliners with in-seat food and beverage service. You can see their hours and pricing on the website. 

Party room

Arcade area

Virtual Reality

One of their new attractions is the go-karts. They features high performance electric cars racing on an elevated track with banked turns and a timing system that provides high performance cars. With a 13.5 foot elevation change and 3' banked turns, this track provides racers with a unique and exhilarating experience. You must be 52" and 10 years old to ride alone. 

Another Virtual Reality ride

 The bar offers 18 beers on tap, specializing in the many local craft breweries.

Theatre area

The laser tag arena is over 14,000 square feet, making it the "World's Largest Laser Tag Arena" and the only one that can play up to 60 people simultaneously. The arena is multi-level and the equipment provides a wide variety of game formats for the expert and novice player alike.

Lucas Gardens Park, St. Louis City

Location: Downtown St. Louis City (Downtown West Neighborhood)
Bounded by 13th Street, Locust Street, 14th Street, and St. Charles Street, St. Louis, MO 63103

Amenities: playground, fitness trail, dog park

Website: http://stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/parks/parks/view-park.cfm?parkID=57&parkName=Lucas%20Gardens%20Park

Playground ground cover: wood chips

The park is currently being maintained by of a group of downtown residents called Friends of Lucas Park.

The only way to enter the park is from the corner of 13th Street and St. Charles Street (they've blocked off access to the park to break the pattern of illegal behavior which used to take place in this park - panhandling, stealing, public drinking, public urination, and littering).

We ventured to the city to visit the Central Library located across the street from Lucas Park and brought a picnic lunch to eat in the park. The equipment is sized perfectly for preschool children - or young elementary children. There are 2 slides (one is a double slide), various ladders, and a tunnel on the play structure, as well as swings (2 baby swings, a sling swing, and a board swing), a couple bouncy toys, and a music area. The entire playground is shaded, which is a huge bonus!

At the other end of the block-long park is fitness equipment for ages 5 and above. This is in full sun, but given that most people will use it in the morning or evening, the sun will likely not pose much of a problem.

Millstadt Pool, Millstadt IL

Location: 305 W. Parkway Dr., Millstadt, IL 62260

Website: https://www.villageofmillstadt.org/community/pool

This pool is located in Millstadt City Park. It offers open swim from 12-8 pm during the week and 1-8 pm on the weekend. 

In 2019 the new splash pad was unveiled. It replaced the old baby pool. It's a great addition to the pool, which isn't anything fancy. You can pay $2 and just go to the splash pad. Regular hours apply. 

The pool is a modified square shape with a diving board. It opened in 1974 and it's still in good shape, it's just not a very large facility.