West County Mall, Des Peres

Location: 80 West County Center, Des Peres, MO 63131

Amenities: playground, family restroom nearby, train

Website: https://www.shopwestcountycenter.com/

Playground ground cover: Poured rubber covered with carpet

The play area is located on the first floor outside JCPenney's. The play area is not that big and is usually pretty crowded. There is a tunnel, a slide, and other play camping structures to climb on.

Ohlendorf West, Valley Park

Location: 1150 Hanna Road, St. Louis, MO 63021

Amenities: playground, basketball court, fitness trail

Website: https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-departments/parks/places/ohlendorf-west-park/

Playground ground cover: Poured rubber

A new playground was installed at Ohlendorf West Park in the Fall of 2013. There's a swing set with 2 sling swings, a baby swing, and an adaptive swing, plus a saucer swing on a separate swing frame. There's a climbing rope wall and rock to climb in the center. Lastly, there are a couple of spinner seats. There is a gaga pit and a porta-potty as well as a trail to walk. 

Lone Elk Park, Valley Park

Location: 1 Lone Elk Park Rd, St. Louis, MO 63088
(I-44 North Outer Road west of Highway 141, adjacent to the World Bird Sanctuary)

Amenities: picnic shelters, trails, lake with fishing, animal viewing

Website: https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-departments/parks/places/lone-elk-park/

Lone Elk Park is a wildlife management area, with bison, wild turkey, waterfowl, elk, and deer. The first half of the park contains a lake for fishing, some picnic shelters, and picnic areas. The second half of the park is drive-through only (Motorcycles are prohibited), as the larger animals freely roam this part of the park. The photos below are taken from the car with no zoom, to give you an idea of how close to the road they are, and what a good view you get! There is no playground, and you cannot pet or interact with the animals, but this park does give kids a close-up view of animals they would not ordinarily get to see. Note: Domestic animals are not allowed, even if confined in a vehicle.

It's a gorgeous place to drive around, and there are places to pull over and look at the scenery, or animals if they happen to be nearby. 

The visitor's center with restrooms

People have been seriously injured here by trying to interact with the animals, so I just wanted to mention again, DO NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR under any circumstances. Also, the ticks are really bad here, so picnic at your own risk. 

Entrance and exits added late 2020