One of the nicest
things about the Central West End was its proximity to Forest Park. This
provided an idyllic escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. The
apartment at 5414 Delmar was within walking distance to the park- just one mile
away. However with the scenic country lanes and variety of things to do, Gary likely
drove Pauline there in his car for romatic evenings or weekend dates.
Forest Park in Saint Louis was even larger than Central Park in NYC and was easily accessible by public transportation, and was a favorite place for locals.
My father often spoke of the St. Louis Zoo when Marlin Perkins began his "Wild Kingdom" show in later years on t.v. He had seen Marlin Perkins when he was at the St. Louis zoo. The 77 acre zoo was a favorite place to go in those days.
From a novel cageless bear enclosure to animal shows with monkeys and elephants, it was surely a fun weekend experience.
One of the favorite places was the huge birdcage.
In 1936 the famous "Jewel Box" was completed in Forest Park- a huge glass conservatory.
Another attraction was the Forest Park Highlands- an amusement center with rides, roller coasters, and a fanfare of fun activities.
 |
| Entrance to Forest Park Highlands |
 |
| A thrill ride through pipes and dark tunnels threw riders close together! |
 |
| The ballroom was a favorite dancing spot |
 |
| Nightime at Forest Park Highlands |
Forest Park also an art museum, and a stadium for athletic events.
 |
| The Art Museum at Forest Park |
 |
| St. Louis Arean in Forest Park- larger than Madison Square Garden |
But what young lovers probably enjoyed the most were the miles and miles of meandering walking paths through nearly 1400 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens dotted with ornamental lakes and fountains.
And if the park was not enough, there were evening jazz/dance cruises on the Mississippi Riverboats which docked along the river. I did not know that this was one of my parents' favorite activities until they were at our home in New Orleans on their anniversary many years later and we took them on a Mississippi riverboat for a jazz dinner dance. That was when they shared this secret; it had been one of their favorite things to do when they were dating in St. Louis.
