Jewish Community Center Open Play, Maryland Heights

Location: 2 Millstone Campus Dr, Maryland Heights, MO 63146 (they also have a Chesterfield location)

Website: https://www.jccstl.com/

This complex is amazing. It's newly renovated and state of the art everything. They offer a free open play but it changes every semester so check their website for current dates and times. It was a bit confusing to find the play room because this sign is right outside the nursery where you drop your kids off when you work out, so I thought it was in there. After sitting there for a while a lady asked me what I was doing and told me I was in the wrong place LOL.

They had some really soft ride on toys the kids seem to love- a firetruck and school bus. They had a train table, small climber/slide, toy kitchen with food, doll house, and other assorted books and toys. I think this room is more for toddlers, my 3.5 year old daughter had fun for about 30 minutes then wanted to leave. They offered snacks to everyone which was nice as well. If you live in the area and have toddlers you will probably really enjoy this open play!

Pavilion at Lemay, Lemay

Location: 305 Gregg Rd (in Jefferson Barracks), St. Louis MO 63125

Website: https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-departments/parks/places/the-pavilion-at-lemay/

This aquatic center was built in 2015. It has a lazy river, aqua climb wall, kiddie play structure designed like a castle, lap pool, water slide, diving board, and high diving platform.  The castle is so fun! It has slides, pop jets, cannons, and more.

The plunge pool has a 3 meter diving platform that I haven't seen at many other pools except Shaw Park. The aqua climb wall and drop slide are fun too. 

The lazy river requres an inner tube. The current is fast but it's not deep at 3 feet. On a busy day there will be a wait for people to get out and hand over their inner tube. 

The lazy river also has an overflow edge and underwater bench. 

This wet deck is really cool, and something I haven't seen at any other area pools. I expected it to be slippery but it wasn't. Laying out here is nice because you're getting wet so it keeps you cooler than if you were on a chair. 

The lap pool has 4 lap lanes, and water volleyball and basketball. 

The leisure pool gradually gets deeper at the opposite end of the kiddie castle.

 I love the graduating terraces with spray features. 

 These outdoor showers are also something I haven't seen at any other area pools. It's a nice feature for people who want to get the chlorine water off. They're right at the exit.  

They have plans in the future to add a playground next to the ballfield. That will be a very nice addition to this area!

Monaco Park, Kirkwood

Location: 100 N. Sappington Rd, Oakland MO 63122

Website: https://www.oaklandmo.org/parks-and-recreation.aspx

Playground Ground Cover: Wood Chips

This playground is on the grounds of Kirkwood Early Childhood Center, which has an amazing discovery room for kids birth to age 5. It is also fenced in which is really nice since it's close to a busy street. There are one of those little free libraries here too, which is such a great idea! The playground features one baby swing and 3 sling swings, a rock wall, several slides, and monkey bars. There are no bathrooms here, but they would probably let you in the childhood center (they have to buzz you in).

 

Little Free Library 

Backstoppers Park, Oakland

Location: Bounded by Melshire and Holmes Avenues, Oakland MO 63122

Website: https://www.oaklandmo.org/parks-and-recreation.aspx

Playground Ground Cover: Wood Chips

I never really knew Oakland existed! It is a small municipality near Kirkwood. This pocket park is situated right next to Grant's Trail. It has a play structure that includes a few slides and a baseball themed tic tac toe board. It also has a merry-go-round, a teeter-totter, a spinning pole, and climbing wall. Please note there are NO bathrooms here.

Barnickel Park, Webster Groves

Location: Bounded by North Bompart and North Forest Avenues, Webster Groves, 63119

Website: http://mo-webstergroves2.civicplus.com/index.aspx?NID=170

Playground Ground Cover: Pea Gravel

The website says it has a 'playground' here but I would use that term lightly. All it has is a baby swing, a sling swing, and 2 motorcycles to rock on. Also note there are no bathrooms here.