Anne O'C. Albrecht Nature Playscape in Forest Park, St. Louis City

 

                       

Location: The Playscape is 17 acres in Forest Park between the Jewel Box and the World's Fair Pavilion.  

Website: https://www.forestparkforever.org/playscape

The Nature Playscape has been designed especially for kids, helping them experience and benefit from nature. What I love about this playground is that it's all unstructured play, so kids can explore and play however they like. 

The Playscape is almost dead center in Forest Park, to the Northeast of the zoo near the Living World parking lot. 

It has 9 distinct areas to explore, they are upland prairie, young forest, gravel bank, bottomland forest, wetland, spring, sensory garden, meadow, and mound. Below are photos of each area. The park is open from 6 am to 10 pm daily. There are 3 entrances, one by the World's Fair Pavilion, one near Carr Dr., and one close to the Living World at the St. Louis Zoo. 

• Boulders & Rocks: 1,500 tons, including Missouri limestone
• Paths: 1+ miles
• Boardwalks: 4
• Wood Stump Steppers: 1,500+
• Sand for Play Areas: 30 tons
• Hand Water Pumps: 5
• Boot-Washing Stations: 2
• Benches: 30+ made from fallen or hazard local trees
• Bike Racks: 7
• Drinking Fountains: 3

Kids will enjoy sand play areas, willow tunnels, stump steppers, boulders and rocks, hand water pumps, and much more. The goal: encourage visitors — especially kids — to connect with nature as they engage their senses as they explore, discover and learn.

This family-friendly play area is also ADA-accessible, with stroller- and wheelchair-accessible paths bridging the 9 areas together. In addition, there are drinking fountains, places for kids to pump water, and restrooms. Parking is found on the street and can be challenging on a pretty day. 

Bluebird Park, Ellisville

Location: 225 Kiefer Creek Rd, Ellisville, MO 63021

Amenities: Consists of 167.36 acres and contains aquatic center, playground, 3 tennis courts, 3 pavilions, 2 softball fields, dog park, disc golf course, amphitheater, picnic area, multiuse pad, and trail.

Website:  https://www.ellisville.mo.us/199/Facility-Rentals-Parks-Trails

Playground Ground Cover: Poured rubber

There is a lot here to do for kids of all ages, including pretend windows, rock walls, chain climbers, a balance beam, a rolling log, a tunnel, a bridge, floating steps, and music instruments. The 2nd play structure (opened in June 2011) also has a couple slides and lots of things to climb and balance on. There are 2 baby swings and 2 sling swings. The restroom is located right next to the playground, and the entire playground is fenced in to keep little ones from running too far. The shade umbrella is either too small or too high to provide much shade to the equipment and children.

All the rubber mats have been replaced with poured rubber in 2018.

The restroom building and drinking fountain are near the entrance.

There is a large covered pavilion right down the hill from the playground