FAQs

Forest Park is owned and operated by the City of St. Louis. Our nonprofit conservancy partners with the City and works closely with the police, rangers and the major institutions to keep Forest Park welcoming, safe and accessible for millions of visitors each year.

Find rules, safety tips, prohibited items and other security information on this page of our website.

About Forest Park Forever
Rules, Safety & Security
Key Contacts

Who do I contact?

Details about specific facilities, amenities and cultural institutions within Forest Park are listed on our Key Contacts page.

  • Our “rentals” page is the best place to start.

    In general, for Forest Park permits, including weddings, picnic pavilions, Jewel Box, World's Fair Pavilion and Cabanne House rentals, athletic field reservations and special events, you'll want to contact the Parks Department by calling 314.289.5300.

  • There is a lost and found located in the Visitor Center. If an item is found, please come visit the desk inside the Visitor Center for the touchless process. Please call us at 314.367.7275 if you lost an item.

  • You need a Park permit for an organized group activity and to rent a picnic pavilion, recreational field or other outdoor space. Please contact the City of St. Louis Parks Department & Division of Parks, Recreation and Forestry by email (preferred) or call 314.289.5300 for permit information.

    You can play at Emerson Central Fields as long as it has not rained for over 24 hours, the field has not been permitted for other use and yours is not a group-organized activity.

    Refer to our Key Contacts page for more information about facilities and institutions within Forest Park.

  • Report and injured or sick wildlife to the Citizen’s Service Bureau, or contact the St. Louis City Park Rangers by calling 314.289.5350.

    Animal Care & Control does not respond to reports of nuisance wildlife. St. Louis City Animal Care & Control will respond to a report of injured wildlife, or wildlife that poses a safety or health issue.

    Find more information on how Animal Control handles wildlife and additional organizations who may be able to offer guidance regarding wildlife on the City’s website.

  • If you would like to fly a drone in Forest Park, you will need to submit an application for a City of St. Louis Board of Public Service Permit to BPS Secretary Cherise Jones, Room 305, City Hall. With your application, you will need to submit a copy of your pilot's license, drone specs and a certificate of insurance for $1,000,000. Please contact the Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry at 314.289.5300 with additional questions.

Is this allowed?

Forest Park is closed from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.

Operating hours for the Park’s cultural institutions and staffed amenities vary. Visit their sites for the latest information.

  • Yes. Per City ordinance, pets and companion animals are required to be on leashes. The leash may not be more than six feet long and must be held by a responsible party capable of controlling the animal.

  • No, horseback riding is not allowed inside St. Louis City parks. (Note: The Mounted Police Stables, located in the Park, are home to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit.)

  • Fishing is permitted in the lakes and lagoons in Forest Park, except where restrictions are posted. A valid Missouri fishing license is required. Jefferson Lake is the only lake stocked by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Fishing is not permitted in the Fish Hatchery, except through programs administered by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Fishing is also not permitted in Post-Dispatch Lake.

  • If it has not rained for over 24 hours, yes, you can play at Emerson Central Fields as long as it is not a group-organized activity and there are no other permitted activities happening.

  • Report and injured or sick wildlife to the Citizen’s Service Bureau, or contact the St. Louis City Park Rangers by calling 314.289.5350.

    Animal Care & Control does not respond to reports of nuisance wildlife. St. Louis City Animal Care & Control will respond to a report of injured wildlife, or wildlife that poses a safety or health issue.

    Find more information on how Animal Control handles wildlife and additional organizations who may be able to offer guidance regarding wildlife on the City’s website.

  • Per City  Ordinance 68607, visitors are not permitted to hang anything on the trees.

    There is a “hammock garden” in Forest Park with posts for hanging freestanding hammocks in the grass north of Post-Dispatch Lake, between Picnic Island and the Boathouse.

  • No. Park visitors are not allowed to bring their own boats, kayaks, paddleboards, etc. into or on any park waterways or lakes.

  • If you would like to fly a drone in Forest Park, please refer to the “Flying a drone in or over Forest Park“ part of the “Who do I contact” section above.

  • Motorcycles, electric/motorized scooters and e-bikes are not permitted on the trails, pathways or sidewalks.

  • Learn more about Forest Park’s 6-mile Dual Recreational Path, including how the different surfaces accommodate “heels” and “wheels” traffic. All visitors are encouraged to share the path. Please allow room for others to safely pass on your left. 

  • No. Geocaching is not permissible in Forest Park. 

  • Winter sledding is permitted (and greatly enjoyed) on Art Hill, unless restrictions are posted.

  • No, this is not allowed. We suggest paying a visit to Steinberg Skating Rink during the open season (mid-November through March 1).

  • No, swimming is not allowed anywhere in Forest Park.