St. Louis has another reason to smile: Forest Park has been named the Best City Park in the United States in the 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards — the third time in five years the beloved green heart of the city has taken the top spot. The honor arrives in a year worth celebrating twice over, as the park marks its 150th anniversary in 2026. Its Variety Wonderland Playground added to the applause, ranking fourth among the nation’s best public playgrounds.
Spread across some 1,300 acres — larger than New York’s Central Park — Forest Park welcomes more than 15.5 million visits a year. Thirty miles of paths and trails wind past a 3.35-mile interconnected waterway, the sweeping Emerson Grand Basin and Art Hill, three playgrounds and the 17-acre Nature Playscape, where kids splash, climb and explore among native plantings. It is also home to five major cultural institutions, all with free admission: the Missouri History Museum, The Muny outdoor theatre, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Saint Louis Science Center and the Saint Louis Zoo.
The award reflects a remarkable community comeback powered by Forest Park Forever, the City of St. Louis and thousands of members and volunteers — more than 2,000 volunteers gave nearly 14,000 hours in 2025 alone. And the 150th year still has gifts to come: The Glade, a 22.5-acre year-round destination built around the restored Steinberg Skating Rink, opens in late 2026, along with two new entry markers welcoming visitors on the park’s east and west ends. If you have not strolled Forest Park lately, this is the year to rediscover America’s favorite city park.
Photo: Forest Park Forever
