Being new to St. Louis it is exciting to me to get out and explore all that STL has to offer! One of those things is Forest Park, here is a brief look into the history of Forest Park from Wikipedia…
‘Forest Park is a public park located in western part of the city of St. Louis, Missouri in the United States. It is a prominent civic center and covers 1,371-acre. The park, which opened in 1876 more than a decade after its proposal, has hosted several significant events, including the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904 and the 1904 Summer Olympics. Bounded by Skinker Boulevard, Lindell Boulevard, Kingshighway Boulevard, and Oakland Avenue, the park is known as the “heart of St. Louis” and features a variety of attractions, including the St. Louis Zoo, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, and the St. Louis Science Center.
Since the early 2000s, it has carried out a $100 million restoration of its facilities through a public-private partnership aided by its Master Plan. Changes have extended to improving landscaping and habitat as well. The park’s acreage includes meadows and trees, and a variety of ponds, man made lakes, and freshwater streams. For several years, the park has been restoring prairie and wetlands areas of the park. It has reduced flooding and attracted a much greater variety of birds and wildlife, which have settled in the new natural habitats.’
You can learn much more about the park at this link…Forest Park (St. Louis) but today’s post is all about my review of the park.
I’ve been to Forest Park twice now, once to visit the St. Louis Zoo and the other to visit the Missouri History Museum (both a recommended entertainment!). My most recent visit to Forest Park occurred on Good Friday 2013, it was a beautiful day and I think most of St. Louis was out and about exploring the park.
There is lots to do in Forest Park, the zoo, the museums and the science center but also it is just a great place to walk your dog or get your daily exercise in. The park has lots of walking paths and even a golf club and tennis center and a lots of open areas to fly kites or play ball with your friends.
While on my visit we parked and walked to the great basin which is a man made lake in the park, it has six fountains and is front and center to Art Hill and the art museum. They offer paddle boats and you can paddle around the lake if you like on a beautiful day. The other areas of the park offer picnic areas and wildlife areas. The park also had loads of street parking and parking lots, there is also a trolley (bus) that you can ride around the park and take in all the sites.
So if you ever find yourself in St. Louis, take a drive to Forest Park and have yourself a wonderful fun filled day! Till next time, keep traveling!