Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Ozzie Smith Sports Complex, O'Fallon



Location: 900 T.R. Hughes Blvd, O'Fallon, MO 63366

Website: http://www.ofallon.mo.us/parks&rec/ozzie-smith-sports-complex

Playground Ground Cover: Rubber mats

Baseball and softball are the focus of this 76-acre park, which is named for the St. Louis Baseball Cardinals’ most famous shortstop, Ozzie Smith. The park features CarShield Field, home of the River City Rascals minor league baseball team.

The complex also offers seven lighted outdoor baseball/softball diamonds for league play, restrooms, a concession stand and 2 playgrounds.

I only visited the playground that is in CarShield Field. If you ever go to a River City Rascals game and the kids get bored they can play here. It's enclosed in the field so you can't get to it without going into this building and out onto the field. 


There are 2 play structures, one for littles and one for big kids. The small one just has 2 slides, stepping stones, and an activity board. The larger one has a climbing wall, a chain link climber, several slides, stepping stones, a musical board, and lots of bars and poles.






Hopefully we can go back soon and visit the other playground which is located in the center of 4 ball fields. On this map it's circled in red.


This is a larger view of the area, with CarShield Field playground circled at the top and the other one circled at the bottom.


Monday, August 8, 2016

Dames Park, O'Fallon MO



Location: 37 Dames Park Dr, O'Fallon, MO 63366

Website: https://www.ofallon.mo.us/dames-park

Playground Ground Cover: Rubber Mats

Football is the name of the game at 59-acre Dames Park, with three football fields, two playgrounds, three picnic pavilions, restrooms, a concession stand (open during games), a fitness trail, and a one-mile asphalt walking and biking path. Dames Park is also the home of the Omer Dames War Memorial, commemorating St. Charles County soldiers killed during the Vietnam War.

The first playground is shown below. It is very nice with shaded walking paths and gorgeous landscaping. Everything here feels new and clean. The restrooms and drinking fountains are close, as well as a pavilion. 




The play structure is large and features a rock wall, a bridge, several slides, a spinning log you can run in place on, a maze board, small tunnel, rope climber, stepping stones, musical board, pretend storefront, and tons of bars and poles.












This is the second playground at the back of the park. There is a pavilion here but unfortunately I didn't see any restrooms nearby. It has steering wheels, a small tunnel, an abacus board, a little rock wall, slides, and various bars and poles.









Sunday, August 7, 2016

Dade Park, Ferguson- BEING RENOVATED



Location: 414 Dade Ave, Ferguson, MO 63135

Website: https://www.fergusoncity.com/618/Dade-Park

Playground Ground Cover: Grass

Amenities

  • Ball field
  • Playground
  • Picnic pavilion
  • Basketball court (2)

This playground has seen better days. It's a shame it's not being taken care of. There are 3 rocking horses and 2 large play structures. There is evidence of graffiti in some spots and one of the slides is broken and boarded up. There is one baby swing and one sling swing. There are lots of various bars and poles, several slides, and a bridge.








Boarded up slide


 House across the street from the park





Saturday, August 6, 2016

Shaw Park Aquatic Center, Clayton



Location: 111 S. Brentwood Blvd, Clayton, MO 63015

Website: https://www.claytonmo.gov/government/parks-recreation/shaw-park-aquatic-center

Amenities: This three-pool complex consists of a 50-meter competition pool, dive tank, and zero-depth children's pool. The Shaw Park Aquatic Center offers recreational swimming, lap swimming and various specialty classes throughout the summer.

Splash & Play
(Ages 6 months - 6 years) Infants, toddlers, and young children may enjoy the Children’s Pool before it opens to the general public. Parents and caregivers are expected to directly supervise children in their care. Please note: Children attending Splash & Play must be season pass holders in order to participate. Adult season pass holders may bring children who are pass holders or may purchase a Splash & Play punch card to bring children who are not pass holders as their guests. Each non-pass holder child must be accounted for on a punch card for each day of attendance. (There is no punch for the accompanying pass holder adult). 

So to get into this pool for a nonresident (anyone who does not live or work in Clayton) you'd have to buy a season pass and for a family that is $479. Pretty steep. HOWEVER....they have a punch card system that is pretty cool. Here's how it works:

 Non-residents may purchase a 10-visit punch card to attend certain programs. Cards are program-specific, and they allow holders to attend the program ten times, so they can schedule around work, weather, vacations, etc. Season pass holders can even use them to bring guests to their favorite programs! There is no limit to the number of punch cards a person can purchase in a season, and all cards expire on the last day of the program. Punch cards are on sale at The Center of Clayton and Shaw Park Aquatic Center during normal hours of operation. Fees are as follows:

Splash & Play Resident: $60, Non-Resident: $80




 That dolphin is a slide and has water jets spraying out of it. So fun!


 Kid pool with dolphin slide, zero entry, and pop jets


There are lockers, changing rooms, restrooms, and concessions in the building. 




 Dive tank


overhead map of the facility


Thanks go to Ashley for the photos!

Friday, August 5, 2016

Woodlands Sports Park, St. Peters



Location: 1 Woodlands Parkway, St. Peters, MO 63376

Website: http://www.stpetersmo.net/st-peters-parks.aspx#woodlands

Playground Ground Cover: Poured Rubber


This playground was recently renovated and it's so much better than it was!


Before



Now they have 2 adaptive swings, 4 sling swings, and a modified expression swing



The playstructure is huge with maze boards, steering wheels, slides, webbed climbers, and tons of bars and poles. 




Thanks Erin for the photos!