Forest Park (St. Louis)

Forest Park in Saint Louis, Missouri, opened in 1876 and the former site of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904, is one of the large urban landscape parks created in the U.S. during the later 19th century, following the example of Central Park in New York. At 1370 acres (6 km²), Forest Park is considerably larger than Central Park.

The park is located along the western edge of the city of St. Louis, though it is located nearly in the center of the entire metropolitan area. It is bordered by Washington University in St. Louis to the west, Highway 64/40 and Oakland Avenue to the south, Barnes-Jewish Hospital to the east, and Lindell Boulevard to the north.

At one time the River des Peres ran openly through the park, but due to sanitary concerns it was moved into a wooden box underground shortly before the World's Fair.[1] However, as part of the park's "Master Plan"[2], the river was brought back to the surface to link the park's lakes.

The other major park in St. Louis is Tower Grove Park.

Attractions

• Saint Louis Zoological Park
• Municipal Opera House ("Muny")
• Saint Louis Science Center (including the McDonnell Planetarium)
• Saint Louis Art Museum
• Jewel Box
• Boat House
• Steinberg Skating rink
• Missouri History Museum
• World's Fair Pavilion
• Turtle Playground
• Golf Course

External Links

• Forest Park - official St. Louis Parks Department website.
  • The History Of Forest Park
  • The Forest Park Master Plan
• St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission Fact Sheet on Forest Park
• Forest Park Forever - an organization supporting restoration of Forest Park
• Forest Park Map (pdf)