Greg Freeman Park is 1 of 3 parks in the Skinker-DeBaliviere Neighborhood. It makes up 0.85 acres of the total 2,956 acres of park land in St. Louis. The park was placed into ordinance in 1980.
Located at the corner of Des Peres and Kingsbury Avenues:
The park was named after Greg Freeman, a St. Louis Post-Dispatch writer who was beloved throughout the city. This was done in August, 2009 after he died in 2002.
From a 2009 Beacon article:
Freeman, who died in 2002, was known for his modesty and probably would have insisted that he didn’t deserve the honor. But people who know him say otherwise. One of his closest friends was Lorraine Kee, a former Post-Dispatch writer and columnist who is now manager of corporate Web communications at SSM Health Care. (Photo from thestate Department of Health and Senior Services )
“There are people who disparage St. Louis as being too small, too parochial, too divided,” Kee says. “But, on a daily basis, Greg showed great affection for the community he grew up and worked in. He was one of St. Louis' biggest boosters through his newspaper columns. He and his mother talked affectionately of the Penrose neighborhood he grew up in. He was proud of where he went to high school (Beaumont). He lived in and loved the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood. I can think of few better ways in which to honor Greg and his love for St. Louis than by dedicating a park in his name.” (source)
The park is called the Greg Freeman Four Corners Park, as the space extends to all corners of Des Peres/Kingsbury, with the largest parcel on the southwest corner.
This park is awesome and quite unique in that there is little green space. It is has an urban NYC feel to me.
There is a small stage and planters with vegetation providing shade and privacy.
There is a small playground, a very cool water fountain and beautiful landscaping. You can tell the neighborhood has embraced and is caring for this space.
The park is in the shadow of Joe's Cafe which is another treasure of the Skinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood.
This is one of my favorite pocket parks in the whole city.
