Forest Park: Check Out Turtle Playground

Turtle Playground is a magnet for children of all ages who love climbing on the backs of the giant cement reptiles.

Located across Interstate 64 and the St. Louis Zoo and not far from the intersection of Hampton and Oakland Avenue and part of Forest Park.

History of Turtle Playground

Represented in concrete are a snapping turtle, a soft-shelled turtle, a red-eared slider, a Mississippi map, three box turtles, and a stinkpot turtle.

In addition to the turtles, there are seven oversized turtle eggs, three of which include hatching baby turtles, and a long sinuous snake that appears to be taking a bite out of the overpass.

Created by Bob Cassilly, founder of the unique and quirky City Museum, the sculptures range from seven to forty feet in length.

The turtles are named for her children and grandchildren.

A WALK THROUGH OF THE PARK

Oakland Avenue Playground

I parked along the road near the Oakland Avenue Playground which has slides, climbing walls, and swings.

Also, in the middle is a wooden turtle that kids can climb and walk around on.

Next, I walked on a sidewalk along Oakland Avenue and then entered the Turtle Playground.

Turtle Playground

First, I came to one that had its mouth wide open. ( Main Blog Photo)

Then one with his head up to the sky.

Next, I came to small ones that young kids to climb on.

A large turtle lay straight out on the ground.

I came across a snake with babies and eggs.

Now I follow the back of a long snake.

Finally, the snake takes a bite out of the Tamm Avenue bridge.

*Tamm Avenue bridge crosses over Interstate 44 with the grounds on the other side.*

If you walk across the bridge you would enter Forest Park and then if you want to the right along the sidewalk on Wells Drive you would come to the St. Louis Zoo.

After the street, I turned around and headed back through the Turtle Playground on a path closer to Oakland Avenue coming across some more small turtles. Then I was back at my car.

Final Thoughts

This is a great place to take the kid to climb around and the turtle sculptures are also interesting to see.

*My son and me when he was little at Turtle Playground.*

Turtle Playground With a Toddler

We took our son here when he was two. At this age, the small turtles were big to him.

He went from one turtle to another checking them all out. He petted one like a dog.

I climbed with him on a large one making sure he had good footing.

Andrew loved running back and forth between them and even checking out the eggs.

For him, it was a magical day to see these sculptures.

DETAILS:

DRIVE: Take Interstate 64/US 40 to exit 39 and go south on Hampton Avenue. Then make a right onto Oakland Avenue. Turtle Park will be on the right just before the Tamm Avenue Overpass. It is part of Forest Park even though it is located north of Interstate 64/US 40. It is also near the St. Louis Zoo parking lot.

Hours: 6 am – 10 pm

Address: Oakland Ave at, Tamm Ave, St. Louis, MO 63139