Visitor and Education Center

The restrooms and Information Desk in Forest Park's Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center are open for public use during the following hours:

Hours (NOTE: Winter and holiday hours may be different, see the map page for holiday updates)

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

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?

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

For visitor services questions, please contact Eleni Chirco, Visitor Services Coordinator, by email or by calling 314.561.3298.

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.

• Bicycle Tire Pump and Racks

  Is your tire a little flat? Stop by the Visitor and Education Center and help yourself to some free air. The pump is located on the north (rear) patio. Bicycle racks are also conveniently located near both facility entrances.

• 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 Membership and Day-use Locker Infor

  The Visitor and Education Center offers small lockers on the main floor for daily use only. Private “men’s” and “women's” locker room facilities are located one floor below and include lockers, showers and clean restrooms. Lean more about Locker Room Memberships here.

• Lost and Found
  Lose an item in the Park? The Visitor Center has a lost & found maintained by our front desk staff. If you’ve lost an item and want to check if someone has turned it in here, call our Visitor Services desk at 314.367.7275 x123. If you find a lost item, you can also turn it in at the Visitor Services desk, and they will log it.

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

• 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 about Forest Park and the St. Louis regional attractions.

• 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 an ADA-compliant ramp and automatic door openers. 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

• The Visitor Center is a 5-minute walk from the Forest Park–DeBaliviere MetroLink station.

• The Hampton 90 bus route travels north through the Park, stopping nearby at the History Museum.

• The Forest Park Explorer is suspended. We will post updates here when the service is restored, hopefully in 2025. We apologize for the inconvenience. The Metro Forest Park Explorer operates spring-fall with stops at the Visitor Center and other popular Park destinations.

• Other Metro Buses that make stops near Forest Park include:

  • 1 – Gold

  • 2 – Red

  • 10 – Gravois-Lindell

  • 13 – Union

  • 16 – City Limits

  • 59 – Dogtown

  • 95 – Kingshighway

Cyclists

• The Visitor Center is situated along the Park's Dual Path, making it an easy destination for cyclists.

• Bike racks are located both in front of and behind the building.

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

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.