Webster Rec Plex Open Play, Webster Groves

Location: 33 E. Glendale Rd., Webster Groves, MO 63119

Website:  http://www.webstergroves.org/119/Recreation-Complex

The Rec Plex/ Community Center in Webster is a great facility. They have a pool, ice rink, tennis courts, playground, and more. During the school year they offer a nice open play. It's best suited for toddlers, I don't know if many preschoolers would enjoy it. I took my 3 year old daughter and she said it was for babies LOL. But the babies seemed to love it!

When you enter the building the person at the front desk will check you in and direct you to the gym. It costs $5 for non-members and $3 for members and residents of the district. It's usually on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30- 11:30 but check with them before going because some semesters they change it up (314-963-5300 ext 4).

They have 2 people that run it, one is a retired preschool teacher and one is a young girl getting her teaching degree. They set up different activities for the kids and they can participate or do free play. Or they can run around like crazy people and then hopefully take a good nap :)

 Passing the ball around in a circle.

 Try to get the ball in the goal

Roll down the mats doing somersaults

 Hop on the colored papers

Bowling

 Try to throw the ball into the bucket

 Everyone's favorite...the parachute

They also had balls, scooters, and other things to play with. She sang some songs and guided play which was nice. Some kids don't want to be guided and just want to do their own thing and that's ok too. It's a nice indoor option to have to burn some energy.

Unlimited Play Playgrounds

Unlimited Play playgrounds are amazing. If you've been to one you know what I'm talking about. The company is a non-profit that builds fully accessible playgrounds that allow all children to play together, regardless of their physical abilities.

Three-year-old Zachary Blakemore provided the original inspiration behind Unlimited Play. Zachary suffers from a rare genetic central nervous system disease (Pelizaeus Merzbacher Disease) that confines him to a wheelchair or assistive walking device. But like all children, Zachary loves to play.
When his mother Natalie would take Zachary to the park to play, the playground would only emphasize his limitations. And even more frustrating was the fact that the playground’s barriers that stopped him from playing also prevented him from interacting with the other children.
But after visiting an accessible playground while traveling to the east coast, Zachary’s parents Natalie and Todd began to dream of creating an accessible playground in Zachary’s hometown – and of the day when playgrounds like this would exist for children everywhere. They teamed with Zachary’s pediatric speech therapist, and Unlimited Play was born in 2003.

And what's more, they are a local family from St. Charles. They have built quite a few playgrounds in and around St. Louis and have more in the works.

They include:
1.)Gus's playground at Willmore Park- south city
2.)Cornerstone STL playground at O'Fallon Park- north city
3.)Kade's playground at Herculaneum City Park
4.)Discovery playground at Jaycee Park- St. Charles
5.)Brendan's playground at Westhoff Park- O'Fallon
6.)Tree Top playground at Shaw Park- Clayton
7.)Zachary's playground at Hawk Ridge Park- O'Fallon
8.)McAuley playground at Hansen Park- Cottleville
9.)Jake's Field of Dreams playground in Heartland Park- Wentzville
10.)Braden & Friends Challenger playground- Ste. Genevieve
11.)Hannah's playground- Breese, IL

12.)Kennedy's playground- St. Peters

13.)Dennis H. Rinderer playground- Highland IL

14.)Angie's Playground at Manion Park- Florissant

15.)Logan's Playground at St. John's Evangelical, South County



Here's a great video about Natalie and Todd and the great work they've accomplished. They have built amazing playgrounds in the Midwest and are branching out all over the country! How awesome is that! Go check out one of these playgrounds today, your kids will thank you.

Eastgate Park, University City

Location: 6238 Cabanne Ave, University City, MO 63130

Website: http://www.ucitymo.org/105/Parks

Playground Ground Cover: Wood Chips

There is just one play structure here and some swings (4 sling swings and 2 baby swings). The structure has 2 slides, a balance beam, some monkey bars and poles, and a tunnel.

Ruth Porter Mall Park, St. Louis City

Location: 5669 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63112

Website: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/parks/parks/browse-parks/view-park.cfm?parkID=77&parkName=Ruth%20Porter%20Mall

This splashpad is just east of the Delmar loop on Delmar at DeBaliviere Ave. This is the only splash pad in the area that isn't attached to a playground. So just so you know, there's nothing else here except pop jets!

Greensfelder Park, University City

Location: 8301 Kempland Pl, University City, MO 63132

Website: http://www.ucitymo.org/105/Parks

Playground Ground Cover: Wood Chips

Greensfelder Park is a neighborhood park located at 8301 Kempland.  The playground area is shaded well.  Also, in 2006 a soccer/football field was put in place.  Beware of poison ivy in the wood line.

In the future, Greensfelder will serve as a trailhead for the Centennial Greenway with the route along the railroad tracks.

This is on the edge of U City almost at Vinita Park. There are 2 sling swings, 2 baby swings, and 2 play structures. One for toddlers and one for bigger kids. The smaller one has a slide and a bridge. The larger one has 2 slides, bridges, poles, and bars. There are no restrooms.

East End Park, Wood River IL

Location: 633 N. Wood River Ave, Wood River, IL 62095

Website: http://www.woodriver.org/index.cfm?page=5032

Playground Ground Cover: Wood chips

This park is small and is adjacent to the City Garage on 14th Street.  It has a lighted ball field, playground, picnic tables, and shelter house with restrooms. There are 2 sling swings, 2 baby swings, a rock wall, a tunnel, a couple slides, and bars and poles.

 It is a real shame someone spray painted graffiti on it. 

 Pavilion

Restroom building

Red Bud Park, Hazelwood

Location: 1621 Cork Ct, Hazelwood, MO 63042

Website: http://www.hazelwoodmo.org/services/parks

Playground Ground Cover: Wood Chips

This is a small pocket park that would be great for toddlers and preschoolers. The play structure has 3 different slides, and lots of bars and poles to climb on. There is a small pavilion and no restrooms.

 

Sunridge Park, Hillsboro

Location: 8093 Tower Rd, Hillsboro, MO 63050

Website: https://www.jeffcomo.org/ParksSunridge.aspx?nodeID=ParksFacilities

Playground Ground Cover: Pea Gravel

This playground is one of only 2 in unincorporated Jefferson County. It is really not suited for little kids at all. It seems best for older kids and teens. There is one old metal play structure that would be ok (my 4 year old daughter liked it), there is some other bar you can just hang from, and then 3 sling swings. There are bathrooms but be warned they are old and kind of gross. There is an 80 foot observation tower that is open to to the public. They say on a clear day you can see all the way to the Arch. Here is a video showing the view if you're too chicken to climb it like I am!

 I have no idea what this is, I guess you just hang from it?

Pavilion and 2 gas grills