Photo Credit: Courtesy of St. Louis County Parks
The typical image of a park playground includes enthusiastic and engaged children playing tag, swinging from monkey bars, jumping from platforms, and laughing together. Then, just off to the side, are the adults—parents and guardians—with only a few venturing into the playground frenzy with their children.
This scene is common in most parks and not inherently bad, but the St. Louis County Parks Foundation noticed an opportunity. What if there was a way to have the whole family playing together?
Since its creation in 2015, the foundation has made significant contributions to St. Louis County Parks and Recreation, which maintains 73 parks, six historical and cultural sites, and six recreation centers, and oversees the use of more than 12,000 acres within the county. With nearly one-million residents, the county is also the largest in Missouri. The foundation was established to support and promote the facilities, programs, capital improvements, and resources of the department.