Willmore Park
4.5(1,410)4.5 out of 5 stars, 1410 reviews St. Louis, MO
About Willmore Park
Willmore Park stands out as a sprawling, meticulously maintained urban oasis offering a diverse range of activities for all ages, from tranquil nature walks and fishing to active sports and a vibrant playground. It's cherished for its peaceful, 'home-like' atmosphere and exceptional upkeep, providing a high-value, free-access experience for families and individuals alike.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families with children of varied ages and interests, offering both active play and tranquil nature.Multi-generational outings, accommodating sports enthusiasts, picnickers, and nature lovers.Picnics and celebrations, utilizing the grills and numerous covered shelters.Active individuals looking for jogging, walking, disc golf, pickleball, or tennis.Dog owners seeking a place for their pets (on-leash walking, dedicated dog park for members).
Why families love it
- Massive and accessible playground catering to children's laughter and imaginative play.
- Extensive and well-kept trails, clean benches, and lush green spaces maintained year-round.
- Six pickleball courts and two tennis courts for active recreation.
- Excellent, beginner-friendly disc golf course.
- Two lakes, stocked for catch-and-release fishing, with abundant wildlife like ducks, geese, and turtles.
- Numerous covered picnic shelters and pavilions with grills, ideal for family gatherings and celebrations.
Insider tips
- **Critical Tip:** Parents with young children should verify bathroom accessibility upon arrival or contact the park in advance, given a past incident of locked toilets.
- Bring a disc golf app or refer to online maps to help navigate the course, especially for first-time players.
- If planning to play pickleball, be aware that courts can be busy; consider visiting during off-peak hours if possible.
- Remember that fishing is strictly catch-and-release.
- Dogs are allowed in the park on-leash outside the specific 'members-only' dog park area.
Good to know before you go
- Visiting if guaranteed immediate and accessible restroom facilities are a non-negotiable necessity for your group, due to the reported issue of locked toilets.
- If seeking a purely quiet pickleball experience, avoid peak times when courts might be unusually busy.
- Critical incident reported where all toilet facilities were locked, causing significant inconvenience for visitors.
- Disc golf course direction can be confusing for new players without a dedicated app.
- Pickleball courts can be busier than normal, especially if other local facilities are unavailable.
- Crowds
- Generally peaceful and not prone to 'noise, chaos, or Instagrammable crowds'.
- Value
- High value. General park access, playground use, trails, and most sports courts (pickleball, tennis, disc golf) are free. Parking is free and ample. Fishing is catch-and-release, implying no cost for fish. A 'members-only' dog park section is mentioned, suggesting a potential membership fee for that specific amenity, but general dog walking (on-leash) is free.
- Food
- Outside food and drink are strongly encouraged, with numerous grills, pavilions, and shelters available for picnics and celebrations.
- Accessibility
- Features an 'accessible playground'.
- Safety
- Park is described as 'well-kept' with clean facilities and 'on-point' landscaping, indirectly contributing to a safer environment.
What parents say
"I’ve been coming to this park since I was a kid, and let me tell you—it never stopped feeling like magic. Tucked away like a little green secret, this place has been the backdrop to so many of my memories. As a kid, I ran wild here—sticky popsicle hands, scraped knees, chasing friends through the trees like we were in some epic fantasy world. And now, years later, it still feels like a sanctuary, a piece of peace carved out in the chaos of life. The park has aged like fine wine—well-kept trails, clean benches, and lush green spaces that somehow manage to look like a Bob Ross painting year-rou"
2 weeks ago
"Every single toilet was locked. Please insure the toilets are excessible. Many people were at the park today and no one had a single place to go to relieve themselves. There is no excuse for that unless you want people peeing on the ground."
2 weeks ago
"My favorite parts to play pickleball at. However, one of the other local places the pickleball courts seems to be under construction. So recently the courts have been busier than normal. There are six pickleball courts and two tennis courts. There is a dog park and a lake that you can go fishing in, however, you have to release all the fish that you catch Free parking. Bathroom facilities. There is at least one covered picnic area, how are there maybe more. Dogs are allowed outside the dog park on leash. Recommend this part for sure."
a year ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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