Forest Park Basketball Courts Open to Community Praise, Celebration — Forest Park Forever

Most of the sports courts and fields in Forest Park were added a century ago, led by the tennis hall of famer and St. Louis parks commissioner Dwight Davis, back when the thought of including active recreation among passive city green spaces was bold. In the 1990s and 2000s, fundraising and restoration efforts by Forest Park Forever were largely focused on restoring the infrastructure and many spaces in Forest Park that had the potential to bring people together, but had fallen into disrepair during the Park’s decline.

Over the past few years, however, in addition to the extensive daily maintenance required for a park with 15.5 million annual visitors, our nonprofit conservancy and the Parks Department have been able to collaborate on creating two new spaces – attractions that are introducing more St. Louisans to the many wonders of a restored Forest Park.

The Anne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape turned a little-used section of turf across from the World’s Fair Pavilion into a place of exploration that encourages children to play outside. And now the Nicholas J. Booker basketball courts, replacing an old blacktop pad and turf just north of the racquetball courts, provide another way to be active along with the runners, bikers, court sport athletes and playground explorers around the Visitor Center.