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10-12-26 | Feature
Working together, Rainbow for Kids and Herzog, decided on the ambitious Watson Park ADA accessible playground. With seed money from Rainbows for Kids and the Whitey Herzog Foundation, a groundswell of support and giving began.
Also, the city of Sunset Hills was awarded a $370,000 Municipal Parks grant to expand the Playground. The ADA-accessible playground offers for people with disabilities and special needs, including (a first of its kind in the United States) wheelchair-accessible glider/swing and ground level turnabout (merry-go-round).
Gateway Design Studio (GDS) based in St. Louis, Missouri, provided preliminary and final design documents for the renovation of the main playground site. In additions, GDS provided construction administration services related to recent grant funding associated with the proposed playground improvements. A construction budget of approximately $425,000.00 was allocated for the project.
The site previously had older playground equipment which the majority was removed except for the 50th anniversary play structure which was incorporated into the new design.
Plans were based on previous concept drawings prepared by Gateway Design Studio which depicted initial layout of play equipment and colors. Final plans called for the playground equipment location, surfacing, landscaping, seating and sidewalks connections and pavement areas. Existing landscaping around the site was preserved as much as possible. In addition, surrounding runoff and drainage is being mitigated through a raingarden for storm water control.
The new playground at Watson Trail Park is more than a celebration, it's a monumental step in bringing the entire St. Louis community together on an even playing field. Offering features for people with disabilities including a wheelchair accessible swing and merry go round separates this playground from any other in the region, it is one of a kind and is based here in Sunset Hills.
This would have not been possible without all parties involved to help bring this project to fruition; Municipal Parks Grant Commission, Rainbow for Kids, Richard Stieren, Renewal by Andersen, Crestwood/Sunset Hills Rotary Club, Crestwood/Sunset Hills Kiwanis Club, The Whitey Herzog Foundation, and the Foundation for Sunset Hills. Thank you all for your generous support.
To see more Playgrounds projects, go to: https://landscapearchitect.com/landscape-articles/lasns-commercial-retail-development#article1
For more information about submitting a project, go to: https://landscapearchitect.com/research/editorial/editorial-submissions.php
Watson Trail Park Playground
Sunset Hills, Missouri
The non-for-profit Rainbow for Kids initiated the development of the new Watson Trail Park playground in 2020. Several people were involved in this project, such as Rob and Sally Rains and their Rainbow for Kids non-profit, the city of Sunset Hills, and former St. Louis Cardinals Manager, Whitey Hertzog.
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The Playgrounds Issue of Landscape Architect and Specifier News saw many firms submit their projects for feature consideration. Watson Trail Park Playground is one of several great projects we are excited to showcase on LandscapeArchitect.com.
SUNSET HILLS, Mo. - In August 2021, a new playground opened, offering equal fun for all abilities and an all-inclusive experience.
For 21 years, the non-profit organization Rainbow for Kids has raised money for families of children with cancer and projects like the Watson Trail Park Playground.
Working together, Rainbow for Kids and Herzog, decided on the ambitious Watson Park ADA accessible playground. With seed money from Rainbows for Kids and the Whitey Herzog Foundation, a groundswell of support and giving began.
Also, the city of Sunset Hills was awarded a $370,000 Municipal Parks grant to expand the Playground. The ADA-accessible playground offers for people with disabilities and special needs, including (a first of its kind in the United States) wheelchair-accessible glider/swing and ground level turnabout (merry-go-round).
Gateway Design Studio (GDS) based in St. Louis, Missouri, provided preliminary and final design documents for the renovation of the main playground site. In additions, GDS provided construction administration services related to recent grant funding associated with the proposed playground improvements. A construction budget of approximately $425,000.00 was allocated for the project.
The site previously had older playground equipment which the majority was removed except for the 50th anniversary play structure which was incorporated into the new design.
Plans were based on previous concept drawings prepared by Gateway Design Studio which depicted initial layout of play equipment and colors. Final plans called for the playground equipment location, surfacing, landscaping, seating and sidewalks connections and pavement areas. Existing landscaping around the site was preserved as much as possible. In addition, surrounding runoff and drainage is being mitigated through a raingarden for storm water control.
The new playground at Watson Trail Park is more than a celebration, it's a monumental step in bringing the entire St. Louis community together on an even playing field. Offering features for people with disabilities including a wheelchair accessible swing and merry go round separates this playground from any other in the region, it is one of a kind and is based here in Sunset Hills.
This would have not been possible without all parties involved to help bring this project to fruition; Municipal Parks Grant Commission, Rainbow for Kids, Richard Stieren, Renewal by Andersen, Crestwood/Sunset Hills Rotary Club, Crestwood/Sunset Hills Kiwanis Club, The Whitey Herzog Foundation, and the Foundation for Sunset Hills. Thank you all for your generous support.
To see more Playgrounds projects, go to: https://landscapearchitect.com/landscape-articles/lasns-commercial-retail-development#article1
For more information about submitting a project, go to: https://landscapearchitect.com/research/editorial/editorial-submissions.php
Filed Under: SEPTEMBER 2026, PLAYGROUNDS, WATSON TRAIL PARK PLAYGROUND, SUNSET HILLS, MISSOURI, GATEWAY DESIGN STUDIO, LASN
