Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center

Address: 5595 Grand Dr., St. Louis, MO 63112

Forest Park Forever: 314.367.7275

Forest Perk Café is located inside, on the main floor

Meeting Room Rentals: 314.367.7275

Catering St. Louis: 314.961.7588

Visitor Center Forest Park

Restrooms & Information Desk

NOTE: Winter and holiday hours may be different than what is listed below. Check this interactive Forest Park Map for updated hours.

Restrooms and Information Desk in Forest Park's Visitor and Education Center are open during the following hours:

Monday - Friday

  • 6 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Saturday - Sunday

  • 6 a.m. until 7 p.m.

The Forest Perk Café hours:

  • Wednesday - Sunday: 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

  • Mondays - Tuesday: CLOSED

Visitor Center Offerings

Borrowing a Basketball

The Nicholas J. Booker Basketball Courts are open for play! A basketball can be borrowed at the Visitor Center Info Desk free of charge in exchange for an identification card (state ID, license, military ID, or student ID) and must be returned 30 minutes before the Visitor Center closes. Forest Park Forever will NOT lend out a basketball after 7:30 p.m. Monday-Friday or after 6:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

Borrowing Chess Pieces

The Visitor Center grounds now have chess tables available on a first-come, first-served basis! Game pieces can be borrowed at the Visitor Center Info Desk free of charge in exchange for an identification card (state ID, license, military ID, or student ID) and must be returned 30 minutes before the Visitor Center closes. Forest Park Forever will NOT lend out chess pieces after 7:30 p.m. Monday-Friday or after 6:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

Bicycle Tire Pump and Racks for Cyclists

The Visitor Center is situated along Forest Park's paved Dual Recreational Pathway.

Help yourself to free air and tools for bike repairs at the Visitor and Education Center. The pump and maintenance station is located on the north (rear) patio. Bicycle racks are also conveniently located near both facility entrances.

Water fountains are located behind the building, with a fountain and bottle filler inside.

Forest Park Forever Member Benefit Pickup
Members with benefit coupons can redeem them at the Information Desk. Stop by during building hours and our friendly Visitor Services Representatives will be happy to assist you.

Locker Room Information

  • Day-use Lockers: Small lockers located on the Visitor and Education Center’s main floor are free to use and cleaned out daily.

  • Locker Room Membership: Private “men’s” and “women's” locker room facilities are located on the Visitor and Education Center’s lower level and include lockers, showers and clean restrooms. Lean more about Locker Room Memberships.

Lost and Found

  • If you’ve lost an item and want to check if someone has turned it in, call our Visitor Services desk at 314.367.7275 x123.

  • If you find an item, you can turn it in at the Visitor Services Information desk on the main floor.

Patios
The patios at the north and south entrances to the Visitor Center have tables and chairs, and several are equipped with sunshade umbrellas during warm months.

Restrooms
The restroom facilities are open with an occupancy of no more than two (2) people at a time.

Swings

Free-standing swings are located near the north (rear) patio, next to the racquetball courts.

Trolley Room

Limited catered events are available through our catering partner: Catering St. Louis / 314.961.7588, Ext. 221 / info@cateringstlouis.com.

Variety Wonderland Playground

Located just west of the building is the Dennis & Judith Jones Variety Wonderland Playground, a half-acre, state-of-the-art playground specifically designed for ALL children.

Visitor Services

Friendly and knowledgeable staff operate the Information Desk, welcoming Park visitors and answering questions from the main floor of the Visitor Center.

Water Bottle Filler

Located indoors near the public restrooms. An additional drinking fountain, with water bottle filler and dog watering bowl, is located outdoors near the north (rear) patio by the bicycle racks.

Wi-Fi
Enjoy free wireless internet access while utilizing our outdoor patio spaces.

ADA Accessibility

  • There are several ADA parking spaces located in the Visitor Center Lots across from the Visitor and Education Center.

  • There are ADA-compliant crosswalks across Grand Drive between the Visitor and Education Center and parking lots.

  • The street-facing (south) building entrance has an ADA-compliant ramp and automatic door opener. Look for the automatic opener button at the top of the ramp (outside) and next to the left-door when exiting the facility. 

Transit Access

Directions

From the north:
Travel on 1-70 East to exit 244A for Union Blvd. Turn right onto Union Blvd., traveling for about 3.5 miles until you enter the Park. Turn right onto Grand Drive. The Visitor Center will be on your right, with parking on your left.

From the south: via Kingshighway Boulevard
Travel north on Kingshighway Blvd. Turn left onto West Pine Blvd followed by a left onto Grand Drive. The Visitor Center will be on your right, with parking on your left.

From the south: via I-44 and Hampton Ave
Take I-44 to Hampton Ave. Turn right onto Hampton Ave. At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto Concourse Drive. At the next traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto Washington Drive. Turn right onto Government Drive. Turn left onto Pagoda Circle. Turn left onto Cricket Drive (parking will be on your left). Turn left onto Grand Drive. The Visitor Center will be on your right.

From the east:
Take Interstate 64/Highway 40 west to exit 36A/B Kingshighway Blvd. Turn right to travel north on Kingshighway Blvd. Turn left onto West Pine Dr. Turn left into onto Grand Drive. The Visitor Center will eventually be on your right, with parking on your left.

From the west:
Take Interstate 64/Highway 40 east to exit 33C for McCausland Ave. Turn left onto McCausland Ave. and keep left to turn onto Skinker Blvd. Turn right onto Lindell Blvd. Turn right into the Park on Cricket Drive, followed by a right onto Grand Drive. The Visitor Center will be on your right, with parking on your left.

 

Building History

Originally built in 1892 as the Lindell Pavilion Streetcar shelter, the Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center is a historically significant component of the extensive restoration of Forest Park. With its distinctive Spanish architecture and clock tower, the Visitor Center serves as a central hub for visitor information and education, and it also houses a beautiful banquet facility and meeting rooms. It is situated on the north side of the Park in close proximity to the Missouri History Museum and the Dwight Davis Tennis Center.

Questions?

Visitor questions? Please contact Eleni Chirco, Visitor Services Supervisor, by email or by calling 314.561.3298.

Facility questions? Please contact Forest Park Forever’s Facility Manager Steve Burkhardt by email or by calling 314.561.3288.