Francis Park
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Francis Park offers a unique blend of active play for children, diverse sports courts for all ages, and serene natural beauty, complemented by a conveniently located beer garden serving pizza and coffee. It's a versatile urban green space ideal for family outings, combining relaxation, recreation, and community events, particularly vibrant during the summer months.
Key Highlights
- ✓Features a beautiful small lotus/water lily pond, serving as a scenic centerpiece.
- ✓Boasts a nice big playground area specifically for children, described as a 'very nice children's play area'.
- ✓Equipped with numerous sports courts, including approximately 8 tennis courts and 6 pickleball courts, and possibly squash/handball courts.
- ✓Conveniently has a beer garden nearby the courts that offers 'amazing pizza and coffee'.
- ✓Provides ample distance for walking paths amidst beautiful mature trees, offering a significant nature experience within the city.
- ✓Hosts great events 'probably a couple times a month', enhancing community engagement.
Standout Features
- ⭐Beer garden providing 'amazing pizza and coffee' for parents and families.
- ⭐Abundance of sports courts (tennis, pickleball) for active recreation.
- ⭐Scenic water lily/lotus pond for peaceful observation and relaxation.
- ⭐Large and well-maintained children's playground.
- ⭐Beautiful mature trees (e.g., maples) and sculptures contributing to the park's aesthetic and natural feel.
- ⭐Extensive walking paths for leisurely strolls or exercise.
- ⭐Public bathrooms located on the back side of the beer garden.
- ⭐Gazebo and benches for resting and picnicking.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Plan visits during the summer months to fully experience the beer garden, active water features, and community events.
- →If planning to use the sports courts, ensure your visit is during daylight hours due to the absence of court lighting.
- →Be prepared for a lively atmosphere with many families and dogs, as it's a popular community spot.
- →Take advantage of the ample street parking, which is widely available.
- →Consider packing a picnic to enjoy the scenic setting, though food is also available for purchase.
Things to Consider
- ⚠The park's beer garden and water features are closed or drained during the winter season, limiting full enjoyment.
- ⚠Sports courts lack lights, restricting play to daylight hours only.
Price & Value
The park itself appears to be free to access. Food and beverages from the on-site beer garden, such as pizza and coffee, would be an additional cost. The general impression is good value, as amenities like sports courts, playground, and natural beauty are freely available.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations (e.g., wheelchair access, sensory-friendly features) are mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •On-site food and beverages are available for purchase at the beer garden, including pizza and coffee.
- •Picnicking is implied as an activity ('sit and have a picnic'), suggesting outside food might be permitted, though not explicitly stated for all areas.
🚗Parking Info
- •Ample street parking is readily available around the park.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Can be quite busy with 'a ton of families and dogs' present.
- •However, some visitors have reported it 'hasn't been too crowded' during their visits, suggesting variability or good crowd distribution due to the park's size and 'ample distance to walk'.
🛡️Safety Features
- •No specific safety features (e.g., staff supervision, security measures) are explicitly mentioned in the reviews.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Visiting in the winter if the primary interest is the beer garden, water features, or specifically planned events, as these may be closed or inactive.
- • Planning late-night sports activities, as the courts are not illuminated.
Pricing/Package/Events
What People Say
What's Great
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 5 reviews)
Recent Reviews
N c
a year agoAmazing park, has a beautiful small lotus pond. Has squash / handball courts (I think). A few tennis and a few pickleball courts, these two which are right next to the beer garden that has amazing pizza and coffee. Closed down for the winter but such a cool spot during the summer. It has a nice big playground for kids as well and ample distance to walk. Such a nice neighborhood around. They also have great events probably a couple times a month. I think it’s my favorite park in St. Louis.
Catelin Robinson
a year agoGreat park! Lots of street parking. There are always a ton of families and dogs here. The beer garden is located near the pickleball and tennis courts. I believe there are 6 pickleball courts and like 8 tennis courts; would love for them to add lights to the courts so we could play later. There are bathrooms on the back side of the beer garden. It looks like there is a very nice children's play area, however, I don't have any children so I have not investigated any further.
Mel P
a year agoI bet the water feature is really neat in the summer. It was drained for the season, but still neat sculptures. Beautiful mature trees. All different kinds. The maples were beautiful in the center of the park. This rural lady needed nature and the park delivered nature in a city. Nice playground for kids, tennis courts, gazebo, benches.
K O
7 months agoThis is a nice place to take a walk, or sit and have a picnic. The water lily pond in the middle is scenic, and it hasn't been too crowded on day that we have visited.
amanda diercks
a month agoLove the walking paths beer garden and all over feel of the park
Contact Information
Eichelberger St & Donovan Ave, St. Louis, MO 63109, USA
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