UPDATE DEC. 7, 2011 -- St. Louis County Parks announced today that all parks will remain open. A news update on the parks Facebook page said the following: "We're happy to announce that all St. Louis County Parks will remain open. Budget reductions may [affect] service levels, but that is still to be determined. Thanks for your continued support."

NOV. 11, 2011 -- Twenty-seven parks, recreational facilities and amenities in St. Louis County are on the financial chopping block. As supporters of family-friendly destinations in the St. Louis area, parents and St. Louis County residents, we at Sprout, are concerned about the impact of park closures on the region.

Parks are one of the staples of family entertainment. With free admission and plenty of green space to explore, playgrounds, courts and ballfields for playing, the fun families can have in parks is endless. Several of the parks on the list have significant value beyond these standard recreational offerings. Some of these parks have historic and cultural significance that make them destinations for the entire region. At Sprout, we feel it would be a disservice to families to close all of these facilities.

Here's The Facts on St. Louis County Parks and the Budget

The 2012 county budget for parks calls for a 16.9 percent cut in park funding -- that's a reduction of more than $4.3 million dollar. To accommodate these reductions, County Executive Charlie A. Dooley is recommending the closure of, by Sprout's count, 27 facilities, including three pools and an animal farm. You can see the list of potential closures on the St. Louis County Parks website.

The cuts are a result of declining tax revenue and rising prices, Dooley said in a letter to county council members. Learn more about the budget and read the letter.

Specifically, the Dooley is proposing the following parks and facilities be closed in 2012*:

Black Forest Park (9822 Perrin Ave., St. Louis, Mo., 63125)
The 4.25-acre park includes a playground, basketball courts and picnic sites and is adjacent to the Mississippi River.

Bohrer Park (5705 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, Mo., 63123)
The 16-acre park includes a playground, older sprayground features, tennis courts and picnic sites.

Bon Oak Park (1750 Crown Point Drive, St. Louis, Mo., 63136)
The 15-acre park includes a playground, basketball courts and picnic sites.

Castlepoint Park (2465 Baroness Drive, St. Louis, Mo., 63136)
The 11-acre park includes a playground, basketball courts and picnic sites.

Fort Bellefontaine Park (13002 Bellefontaine Road, St. Louis, Mo., 63138)
The 305-acre park includes hiking trails and is home to several historically significant sites. Beginning in 1805, Fort Bellefontaine was the first U.S. military installation west of the Mississippi River. Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery spent the last night of their historic expedition at Fort Bellefontaine, and the park also contains the stonework features added by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s.

George Winter Park (401 Allen Road, St. Louis, Mo., 63026)
The 160-acre park is located along an impoundment of the Meramec River and includes boat ramps, hiking trails and picnic sites.

Greensfelder Park (4515 Hencken Road, St. Louis, Mo., 63069)
The 1,646-acre park includes trails, horse boarding, equestrian and group camping, a nature learning center, picnic sites, playground and team challenge course.

Kennedy Recreation Complex Swimming Pool (6050 Wells Road, St. Louis, Mo., 63128)
The Olympic-sized swimming pool is outdoor. In addition to open swim times, swimming lessons are taught at this pool by the American Red Cross.

Kinloch Park (5541 Mable Ave., St. Louis, Mo., 63140)
The 9-acre park includes a playground, picnic sites and basketball courts.

Larimore Park (11726 Larimore Road, St. Louis, Mo., 63138)
The 22-acre park includes a playground, picnic sites, basketball and tennis courts.

Lone Elk Park (1 Lone Elk Park Road, St. Louis, Mo., 63088)
The 546-acre park is home to bison, wild turkey, waterfowl, elk and deer. The wildlife management area also includes hiking trails, picnic sites and fishing. Lone Elk Park was the subject of a Sprout places article.

Love Park / Ebsworth Park (2239 Mason Lane, St. Louis, Mo., 63021)
The 89-acre Love Park includes playground, picnic sites and hiking trails. A 10-acre property, Ebsworth Park (120 North Ballas Road, St. Louis, Mo., 63122) is home to the Frank Lloyd Wright House, which is operated by a nonprofit organization: The Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park.

Mathilda-Welmering Park (8301 Mathilda Ave., St. Louis, Mo., 63123)
The 6-acre park includes a playground, older sprayground features, basketball courts and picnic sites.

McDonnell Park (2961 Adie Road, St. Louis, Mo., 63074)
The 133-acre park includes an amphitheatre, picnic sites, playground and trails.

North County Recreation Complex Pool (2577 Redman Road, St. Louis, Mo., 63136)
The Olympic-sized swimming pool is outdoor. In addition to open swim times, swimming lessons are taught at this pool by the American Red Cross.

Ohlendorf Park (4444 Spring Drive, St. Louis, Mo., 63123)
The 10-acre park includes a playground and picnic sites.

Ohlendorf West Park / Bright Park (1150 Hanna Road, St. Louis, Mo., 63011)
The 46-acre Ohlendorf West Park includes basketball courts, ball fields and a playground. It is also used as a park-and-ride site for MetroBus. Bright Park is an undeveloped park in Brightfield Subdivision in Ballwin, according to park history documents.

Simpson Park (1234 Marshall Road, St. Louis, Mo., 63088)
The 206-acre park includes a 72-acre lake and boat ramp, soccer fields, playground, picnic sites, trails and fishing dock.

Sioux Passage-Briscoe Park / Champ (17930 Old Jamestown Road, St. Louis, Mo., 63034)
The 188-acre Sioux Passage-Briscoe Park includes picnic and camping sites, disc golf, tennis and basketball courts, a cross country course, access to the Missouri River, fishing, playgrounds and trails. The park is a designated winter sports location where visitors can snowmobile, ride sleds and cross-country ski. Champ Park, a 7-acre park, is located at 19096 Old Jamestown Road, St. Louis, Mo., 63034. The wooded park includes trails.

St. Vincent Community Center and Water Park (7335 St. Charles Rock Rd., St. Louis, Mo., 63133)
The community center includes a water park, gymnasium, weight room and community room.

Suson Park Animal Farm (6073 Wells Road, St. Louis, Mo., 63128)
The farm includes cattle, horses, donkeys, goats, sheep, turkeys, pigs, roosters, chickens and other traditional American farm animals. Suson Park and Animal Farm were mentioned in a Sprout places article. Suson Park is not on the closure list, just the park's animal farm is on that list.

Unger Park (500 Yarnell Road, St. Louis, Mo., 63026)
The 140-acre park includes trails, picnic sites, and fishing in a pond and along the Meramec River.

West Tyson Park / Sherman Beach-Belleview Farm (131 N. Outer Road East, 63025)
The 670-acre West Tyson Park includes campsites, trails and picnic sites. Sherman Beach-Belleview Farm is located off St. Paul Road, just north of West Tyson Park and includes 69 acres. It provides access to the Al Foster Trail and a gravel beach area along the Meramec River.

*Source: Park amenity data was acquired from the St. Louis County Parks website.

Why Families Need Parks

Perhaps today, more than ever, kids need parks and the natural areas they provide.

Studies show that outdoor experiences improve kids' self-esteem, self-confidence, independence, autonomy and initiative, according to the Children and Nature Network. Other studies show that exploring the outdoors builds greater creativity, physical competence, environmental knowledge and problem-solving skills. Reconnecting with nature is often cited as therapeutic and a means for stress-reduction.

Dooley's plan also calls for the closure of three aquatic facilities, including two Olympic-sized swimming pools. These facilities offer affordable access to pools and swimming lessons through the American Red Cross.

Closing these pools is a move swimming expert Ruthie Zarren calls a "terrible disservice," and we agree.

"Swimming is such an important life skill," said Zarren, who owns Little Fishes Swim School in Brentwood. "Swimming lessons have shown to have a protective benefit against drowning."

But, she notes, "every exposure to water is beneficial." Water experience -- even in a shallow area where kids aren't expected to swim -- gives kids more familiarity with water and a greater chance of helping themselves if they get into trouble in the water, she said.

Many of these parks are located along some of our great rivers -- the Missouri, the Mississippi and the Meramec. Some are in flood plains, many are along lakes, and they all provide important buffers between development and our rivers. These buffers help protect us from floods, they improve our water quality, and they provide critical habitat to our flora and fauna. Not to mention, these are great places for families to experience the natural beauty and power of our rivers.

One of these riverside parks is Fort Bellefontaine Park (also referred to as Fort Belle Fontaine). Situated along the Missouri River, the park is also rich in history. The land was a military installation and an overnight stop for Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery.

Shannon Howard, a North County advocate and author of NoCoSTL.com, said closing this park would be very unfortunate.

"Fort Belle Fontaine is a natural and historic treasure for our entire community," Howard said. "If it's closed, it will be a significant loss for all St. Louisans, not just those of us in North County. It is truly a one-of-a-kind gem in the park system, and we should do everything possible to keep it open for generations to come."

St. Louis Sprout's Bottom Line

We understand that we're living in a tough economy and that certain cuts have to be made. We also understand that a few of the parks on the closure list see very little human use. However, every effort should be made to protect our parks. We're particularly concerned about protecting: Fort Bellefontaine Park, George Winter Park, Greensfelder Park, Lone Elk Park, Simpson Park, Sioux Passage-Briscoe Park / Champ, St. Vincent Community Center and Water Park, West Tyson Park / Sherman Beach-Belleview Farm and the county pools.

Make Your Voice Heard

St. Louis County is holding a public hearing on the recommended 2012 budget at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15. All interested persons will be permitted to present their views on the recommended budget during this meeting, according to the county's meeting notice. St. Louis County Council meetings are held in the St. Louis County Council Chamber, Administrative Building, 41 S. Central Ave., Clayton, Mo., 63105.

This story represents the views of St. Louis Sprout & About Publisher Beckie Maislin and Editorial Director Jessica Pupillo. What are your thoughts on potential park closures? Leave us a comment below.

Pictured
Top: Suson Animal Farm
Middle: Lone Elk Park
Bottom: Stock Photography

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