Forest Park St Louis Forest Park St Louis Mo, Wells Drive, St. Louis, MO, USA

Forest Park, which is owned and operated by the City of St. Louis, is considered one of the nation’s greatest urban public parks. The Park’s 1,300 acres feature beautiful landscapes sprinkled with forests, ecosystems, nature reserves, lakes and streams, as well as five of the region’s major cultural institutions and endless opportunities for recreation. Forest Park attracts 13 million visitors each year, making it the sixth most visited urban park in the United States.

Forest Park truly offers something for everyone — amazing destinations and institutions that challenge the mind, a Dual Path system that invites both leisurely walks and intense workouts, quiet places to picnic and read, and a variety of popular festivals and events — all set in the background of a city oasis, a place to escape it all. 

Welcome to Forest Park. Since it has been beautifully restored through a partnership between our organization and the City of St. Louis, Forest Park has become an incomparable destination for more than 13 million visitors each year. For visitors of every background and interest, Forest Park is welcoming, safe and accessible.

The St. Louis Police Department takes Park safety very seriously. Beginning in 2014, there has been an overall increased Police presence in the Park, more patrols and greater coordination between all the Park institutions when it comes to ensuring a safe visitor experience. 

To help provide you with the best possible time in Forest Park, we have gathered a few tips and numbers for you to keep in mind: 

• Prior to your arrival by car, store valuables and personal belongings out of sight (i.e. in your trunk). Be mindful to stash loose auxiliary or charging cords, as they might allude to valuables in your vehicle.
• For morning Forest Park users, park in the convenient Visitor Center lots. Park Rangers, Mounted Police and St. Louis Police officers monitor the whole Park daily. During early and mid-mornings, when the Park is used by many runners and cyclists, there is a special monitoring focus on the parking lots just south of the Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center. We encourage all early morning Park users to use this convenient parking option. 
• Consider storing valuables in lockers in the Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center. Day-use lockers are available in the Visitor Center lobby and secure locker rooms are housed in the basement.
• If you see any suspicious behavior in the Park, report it to the Police by calling 911. They will take your call quickly and handle it in the appropriate manner. 
• If you are in an emergency situation, look for the nearest light pole. The recently installed light pole address marker system means that a 911 operator will be able to locate you even if you are not quite sure where you are.