Playground Expansion - Phase I
Under the leadership of Lafayette Square resident Julie Stone, and with the assistance of the LSRC and City of St. Louis Officials, this substantial expansion of the Lafayette Park playground was funded through grants and public funds totaling approximately $150,000 and completed in August 2007. Swings damaged by storms were replaced, the existing playground was resurfaced and new playground equipment added to accommodate more and younger children.

Playground Expansion - Phase II
Phase II of the playground expansion includes planting new shade trees and moving the Cassilly frog sculpture closer to the playground. Other improvements such as more trash cans, a water fountain, a message board, picnic benches or additional plantings could also be included if sufficient funds are made available. A total of $5,000 has been raised for completing this work, which is now in the planning stages. If you wish to participate in this Phase II project, please contact Susan Sauer or Susan Pinker-Dodd, who co-chair the LPC Playground Committee.

Color & Signage Modification
The very bright primary colors of the expansion equipment are strikingly different from the tan and green of the older equipment that was installed in 1997 after much neighborhood discussion. Many park patrons asked if the bright colors and large plastic signs of the expansion can somehow be made more muted. A playground focus group was formed to explore solutions, but it met only once without reaching any consensus about how to proceed. Several people from the collapsed focus group joined the Conservancy's playground committee and continued to explore modification options that might satisfy the largest constituency of park patrons.

The Playground Committee has developed a proposal to modify colors by swapping some plastic parts and painting some metal parts, and to reduce signage by replacing the two large manufacturer's signs with one smaller sign in a more muted color. Public comments on this proposal may be submitted in writing to the Lafayette Park Conservancy, or orally at the 6 PM  meeting that will take place on April 20 at the Boathouse for the purpose of presenting the project and hearing public comment. All comments, whether written or oral, will be recorded and forwarded to the Lafayette Park Implementation Advisory Board that reviews all park projects for compliance with the park Master Plan.

Click here for a list of plastic pieces to be swapped out.
Click here for an image showing the proposed color modifications.
Click here for a comparison of existing and proposed signage. (coming soon)
Click here for an overall description of the modification project. (coming soon)