sports
would look for fellow skateboarders while in St. Louis. But this park’s 33,000-squarefoot skate course— the largest outdoor park of its kind in the state — offers myriad challenges and obstacles: bowls of varying difficulty, a street course, ramps… The facility even has a rock-climbing wall.
BROWN ROAD PARK
QUEENY PARK
The park’s Greensfelder Recreation Complex plays host to carefree iceskaters from October through February. But it also transforms into an arena of hard hits, flying elbows, and ingeniously clever names when the Arch Rival Roller Derby, the St. Louis GateKeepers men’s rollerderby team, and Midwest Sport Hockey’s leagues take the floor.
PENROSE PARK
“Mr. Bumpy Face” (so called for its many bumps and undulations) is one of only 27 velodromes in the nation where cyclists can go to race around a NASCAR-like track. Efforts are underway to improve the site that once hosted USA Cycling’s Elite Track National Championships to its former glory, with a smoother concrete track.
GREENSFELDER PARK
At first, the 50-foot Alpine Tower doesn’t look like much: simply a series of logs, cables, ropes, and trees strung together. As groups attempt to scale it, however, they find it requires a blend of problemsolving, trust, and teamwork.
YOUTH ACTIVITY PARK
Dardenne Prairie probably isn’t the first place that an X Games enthusiast
50 / GAT EWAY TO THE B EST
Parks_Gateway.indd 50
2018
Te n a c r e s o f t h i s St. Peters park were transformed into Queeny Park a BMX track, complete with straights, berm turns, and rollers. Today, the St. Peters BMX Gateway group hosts races and practices here for off-road cycling enthusiasts.
CREVE COEUR PARK
Visitors without boats can still get out on the park’s popular 320-acre lake by visiting Creve Coeur Lake Rentals, which rents out kayaks and paddle boards ($10 for the first hour and $5 for every additional hour) and canoes ($15 for the first hour and $5 FOREST 44 every additional).
CONSERVATION AREA
Penrose Park
The Jay Henges Shooting Range has facilities for those with guns and bows.
GO APE!
Creve Coeur Park already offered no shortage of sports-related options: kayaking, disc golf, trails, archery, tennis courts… Then, the Go Ape Treetop Adventure Course opened in the upper park area. Here are some stats to know before visiting the attraction.
$58
admission for adults
2,624
feet of zip lines and obstacles
24
crossings, with such names as Flying Carpet
400
feet for the longest zip lines
2 to 3
hours that it takes to complete the course
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts; courtesy of Bob Dunnell
2/2/18 11:33 AM