This past holiday weekend, I was reminded once again why Tilles Park in Ladue has become almost a second home for my family. This place has so many child-friendly features, yet also serves as an oasis for adults looking for privacy, exercise, a brief break from everyday activity or just a beautiful setting.
It’s also where the annual Christmas light display is every winter, in case you were wondering where you've heard the name.
Not to be confused with the “other” Tilles Park, located on Hampton and Fyler Avenues in the City of St. Louis, Tilles Park is located at Litzsinger and McKnight. It is just a 10-minute walk from our house, so there are many obvious reasons why we spend so much time there. Besides convenience, though, it is the wide-range of activities and amenities that continually attract us.
Our almost-2-year-old girl loves playing in water, yet sometimes we struggle to find public locations around St. Louis that offer a safe, accessible place for us to be around water. Now that we’ve reached Memorial Day and the early, unofficial beginning to the summer season, Tilles Park has turned on its fountain spray pool – and thank goodness! It’s fun to just play in the backyard sometimes, but often it’s easier and more eventful to venture out for play time.
I’m a huge fan of the summer spray pool, but that is in play for only three months out of the year (which perplexes me, to be honest). I feel the first of October is a more appropriate cut-off date, or at least the end of the official summer season on 9.21. Regardless, you can enjoy the nice swing area and impressive playground area anytime during daylight hours. The playground has a safe, spongy surface and features numerous slides, spinners, crawl spaces, gadgets and effective ways to attract and amuse children. It is also easy to get to as you can find parking up close. My daughter enjoys the music area as well, where she can bang the various percussion instruments.
Tilles works out well as a lunch or dinner location, as you can incorporate activities for before and after, and there are many places to settle down and enjoy a picnic.
Tilles Park also has a large lake on its north side that is used for fishing, and the park has an athletic field, tennis courts, trails and picnic sites and shelters that can be reserved. Near the playground is a very nice set of bathrooms, including a large family restroom that has come in handy so many times for us.
We’ve been enjoying Tilles Park for almost eight years, but it is the past two years with our daughter that will make Tilles a place we will never forget because it’s been so central to our family fun.
By Brian Doolittle, Lifestyle Blogger for SmartParenting
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