Lafayette Park

Lafayette Park is one of the oldest parks in St. Louis and sits at the heart of the Lafayette Square neighborhood — one of the city's most beautiful historic districts. For families, it's a lovely, low-key option that combines a quality playground and open green space with the kind of beautiful Victorian surroundings that make even a simple afternoon feel special.

The park itself covers about 30 acres with a central lake, mature trees that provide genuine shade, open lawns ideal for picnics and running, and a playground that works well for kids roughly ages 2-10. The lake draws ducks year-round, and toddlers are predictably obsessed with chasing and feeding them. Bring a bag of duck pellets (available at pet stores) if you want to make that experience last even longer.

Lafayette Square neighborhood surrounding the park is genuinely walkable, with a growing restaurant and cafe scene along Park Ave and Missouri Ave. Weekend mornings here are particularly pleasant — the neighborhood has an active community feel, there are often people out walking dogs and enjoying the space, and several nearby spots open early for brunch. This makes Lafayette Park a great anchor for a neighborhood morning: park first, then walk to brunch.

A practical note: there are no bathroom facilities in the park itself, so plan accordingly for young children. The park is also not fenced, so keep an eye on toddlers near the street edges. Parking is available along the surrounding streets and is generally easy to find except during neighborhood events.

For families new to St. Louis, Lafayette Park is worth making a destination of — particularly if you combine it with the surrounding historic neighborhood, which gives the whole outing a distinctly different feel from a typical park visit.