Celebrating Two Years of Hoops in Forest Park
In a year full of milestones—including Forest Park’s sesquicentennial and Forest Park Forever’s 40th anniversary—we’re commemorating a more recent event that was a long time coming.
On Thursday, July 9, we’ll celebrate two years since the first basketball courts opened in the Park! Join Forest Park Forever and DJ Kut at the Nicholas J. Booker Basketball Courts (“The Nick”) for basketball and lawn games and free snow cones, snacks and soft drinks.
Date: Thursday, July 9
Time: 5–7 p.m.
Location: The Nick
For many years, the addition of basketball courts was a frequent request by visitors, and in 2024, Forest Park Forever and the City of St. Louis were proud to open the The Nick to the public. This project transformed an underused area of turf and asphalt into what’s become a vibrant community gathering place.
As expected, the courts are a popular destination that attracts players from throughout the region. Since opening, the Nick’s two full courts and two half-courts have seen daily use with more than 40,000 visits and 853 basketballs loaned out from the Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center as of June 2026. And soon, a 3,000-square-foot mural by St. Louis-based artist Joseph Mueller will cover all four sides of the nearby racquetball court facility, adding even more energy and visual interest to the area.
About the Sports Courts
Handball has been played recreationally and competitively in the Park since the early 1900s. By 1929, there were two handball courts in Forest Park. Today, handball continues to be a popular sport with a total of four courts near the Visitor Center. Racquetball courts joined the mix in the 1960s, just as the sport was gaining in popularity across the United States. Today, there are four courts that sit adjacent to the handball courts and basketball courts. These amenities draw tens of thousands of visits each year.
In 2024, the opening of the first-ever basketball courts in Forest Park was the culmination of years of planning by the Parks Department and Forest Park Forever, in consultation with the Forest Park Advisory Board (a group including St. Louis public officials and citizens), and following community engagement with more than 2,000 St. Louis residents.
What’s Next?
In partnership with the City of St. Louis and with public support, Forest Park Forever has restored historic landmarks: Emerson Grand Basin, Art Hill, the Boathouse, the World’s Fair Pavilion and the Jewel Box. We’ve also created new spaces, including the Anne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape and The Nick. Later this year, the Glade will be the next must-see destination with year-round activity in Forest Park.
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