Forest Park Basketball Courts

Forest Park, St. Louis’ iconic 1,300-acre urban park, has served as a cultural and recreational hub since 1876. Despite its amenities, it lacked basketball courts, an essential feature for a park dedicated to inclusivity. SWT Design led the design and implementation of the master plan’s vision to introduce basketball courts to the storied urban park.

Completed in July 2024, the "Nick" Basketball Courts honor Nicholas J. Booker and provides a welcoming space for players and families. The courts support Forest Park’s mission of serving everyone, fostering community connections, and preserving the park’s legacy.

The project includes one full-size and two half-size courts with state-of-the-art user-controlled lighting, spectator seating, and a central pavilion. The project included comprehensive planning, construction oversight, and coordination.

A tree preservation strategy protected a prominent oak and surrounding vegetation, employing detailed grading and tile drainage to address poor soils. The design minimized infrastructure disruption and preserved the park’s natural beauty. SWT Design’s extensive community engagement, including presentations and public sessions, shaped the courts’ features, such as open layouts, buffering from residential areas, dark-sky-compliant lighting, and accessible water fountains.

This historic addition, praised by the community and media alike, demonstrates SWT Design’s commitment to inclusive design, environmental stewardship, and enriching Forest Park’s legacy.