Teddy & Friends Playground at Queeny Park, Ballwin

Location: 550 Weidman Rd., St. Louis, MO 63131

Amenities: Fishing, trails, tennis courts, playground, seasonal indoor ice rink (October to February)

Website: http://www.stlouisco.com/ParksandRecreation/ParkPages/Queeny

Playground ground cover: Poured rubber

The original Queeny Park playground was amazing, but it failed to pass inspection in 2023, so it was replaced with an Unlimited Play Playground that opened in August 2025. 

I had to leave photos of the old 1974 playground up because it was so iconic and different. The new playground is called Teddy & Friends after Teddy Gooch. He was diagnosed with dwarfism. This playground is board game-themed, centered on games like Candyland, Chutes & Ladders, Connect Four, and Teddy's favorite- Chess. There is also a "Game of Life" car doubling as a glider, and a "Don't Break the Ice" parallel play rope piece. The entrance features a big hippo, and the sun shades have the Twister pattern on them, too. So fun! With a board game theme and specialized ADA‑accessible design, families, especially those with children of differing abilities, will have more reasons than ever to play together at this wonderful playground! 

Currently, there are no restrooms, but there are porta-potties and picnic benches right outside the fence. 

The entire playground is enclosed with a fence and a gate. 

Webbed spinner

There are 2 ADA swings, a sling swing, a modified expression swing, and a baby swing. 

A quiet spot for kids who are overwhelmed.

A cute little playhouse with candy accents

We-Go-Round

Gliding car 

Musical instrument area

Hungry hungry hungry hippo entrance!

Saucer swing

Ziplines

Rolley slide

Manipulatives on the ramps

Connect Four Climber

Lots of interactive boards on the play structures

Småland at IKEA, St. Louis City

Location: 1 Ikea Way, St. Louis, MO 63110

Website: https://www.ikea.com/kr/en/customer-service/shopping-at-ikea/smaland/

Småland is a free forest-themed play area at IKEA. While your kids are playing, you can enjoy your shopping experience knowing your children will be safe and cared for. When you arrive, you fill out a form and check your kids in. They have to be between 37 and 54 inches tall and potty-trained. They will give you a beeper and write down the time you need to pick up the kids (you have 60 minutes). 

There are many toys to play with, including blocks, magnatiles, dominoes, musical toys, trains, and cars and trucks. There is also a ball pit, a kitchen, and a slide. There is an upper area where they show movies. They always have crayons and a craft going on as well.  It's an excellent service that IKEA provides! They do limit the room to a certain number of kids, so if it's a weekend or holiday, you may have to wait. The food at IKEA is wonderful and inexpensive, so you could easily spend a few hours here playing, shopping, and eating.