Forest Park

Forest Park, one of the largest urban parks in the United States, is a beautiful natural oasis in the heart of the City. Located on 1,300 acres in the center of the St. Louis metropolitan area, Forest Park is nearly 500 acres larger than New York City’s Central Park and boasts over 180 acres of Nature Reserves that include forests, wetlands, prairies and savannas.

The Park also contains many of St. Louis’ major cultural institutions — the Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis Science Center, Saint Louis Zoo, and The Muny, the country’s largest outdoor musical theatre.

Forest Park is also home to iconic destinations and gathering spots such as the World’s Fair Pavilion, the Jewel Box flower conservatory and venue space, the Emerson Grand Basin and the Boathouse, which offers year-round dining  and a variety of boat rental opportunities during the spring, summer and fall.

Within Forest Park you can find a variety of recreation and sports offerings: two public golf courses, the Norman K. Probstein Golf Course and the Highlands Golf and Tennis Center; the Dwight Davis Tennis Center; Steinberg Skating Rink, the oldest and largest outdoor ice skating rink in the Midwest; and other amenities such as playgrounds, picnic sites, ball fields, handball courts and racquetball courts.

Visitors and locals alike enjoy the 5.6-mile bike and pedestrian Dual Recreation Path that circles the perimeter of the Park. A total of 30+ miles of trails throughout the Park allow visitors to explore and experience every corner of this destination.

Annual events held in Forest Park include the GO! St. Louis Marathon (late March/early April), the free Shakespeare Festival St. Louis (late May/June), the Great Forest Park Balloon Race (third weekend in September) and numerous charity walks, runs and community festivals.

Websites:
https://www.forestparkforever.org/
https://forestparkmap.org/
https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/parks/parks/Forest-Park.cfm