The Forest Park’s new experiential greenspace, recently named the Anne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape, is now in the final phase of construction. Located near the World’s Fair Pavilion, the play area is slated to open in late spring 2021.
The addition is in its final stage of completion. Before its opening date, the Forest Park team will focus on last-minute details including installing a comprehensive wayfinding signage system, restoring areas that were damaged by heavy 2020 rain, and planting additional shrubs.
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The lead gift for the Anne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape was provided by the Albrecht Family Foundation. “We are so proud of our mother,” Barry Albrecht, director of the Albrecht Family Foundation (and son of Anne O’C. Albrecht) said in a statement. Anne lives in St. Louis with her husband, Doug “After raising three boys, it has been a joy for us to see her surrounded by her grandchildren,” Barry said, “and as a family, we are deeply appreciative of Forest Park and the ways in which it brings all of St. Louis together. A play space filled with smiling and laughing kids that is accessible to everyone just seemed like the perfect tribute.”
The playscape consists of 17 acres in the park. “There is lots of room for visitors to really spread out and enjoy nature safely,” says Stephen Schenkenberg, the vice president of communications and marketing for Forest Park. “Visitors will find a real range to enjoy the space, walking through different ecologies,” he adds.
Features include trees to climb on or crawl through, 1,500 tons of Missouri limestone boulders to explore, and water that can be hand-pumped down the rocks. There will even be boot washing stations so kids can clean up before going home.
Children were a part of the focus groups that gave the design team incredible and unique ideas. “As you walk around, you will feel kids’ imagination,” says Schenkenberg. “The donors to this project, including the lead donor, have been so inspired by what Forest Park is to the community and excited that this project provides joy and connections to nature to kids for generations.”
You can watch the project’s progression below:
