Category Archives: St Louis region

Babler State Park

Beautiful trails wind through the woods and along the hills. There’s little sun today and crisp cool winds, but I warm pretty quickly as I wander along from trail to interlocking trail. At the top of a hill, a small campfire pit surrounded by benches and tables overlooks the valley where I stop for a quick lunch of boiled eggs and an apple.

A fallen tree across a path of soft mud and fallen leaves forms a bench for writing, a sip of water, and a whispered concert of birds and rustling squirrels and gentle breezes.

Payne – Gentry Park

My January challenge is to get outside, even when the weather plunges back to normal, even when my classroom recaptures my days next week. In thirty one days, I’ll find thirty one parks and document the outdoor beauty that even winter can’t hide.

It’s winter, it’s cold — at least it’s generally expected to be. New Year’s Day was actually sunny and really nice. A soup buffet and game day plan with my sister’s family, turned into open the deck door to let in some air, then take a walk to the park down the street.

With my five year old nephew in tow, the playground was the most important feature of this trip. The day was sunny and barely cool. The kids’ coats scattered like the autumn leaves as they dashed for swings, and slides, and climbing structures. A paved wooded trail circles two playgrounds, a community center, pool, and summer concert stage.

The park memorializes Mary Lee Payne Gentry, whose historic house is available for tours on the grounds.