Located in the heart of St. Louis, many natives feel forest Park IS the heart of St. Louis. Officially opened in June of 1876, Forest Park is probably best known to natives and non-St. Louisans alike as the site of the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition - or World's Fair. The fair drew over 20 million visitors to the park from around the world. Today, Forest Park attracts more than 12 million visitors a year. At 1,293 acres, Forest Park is approximately 500 acres larger than Central Park in New York.

Forest Park is more than just a scenic backdrop to St. Louis. It is an active participant and catalyst in the St. Louis community. Monuments, historic buildings, wildlife, waterways and landscapes combine to form a unique cultural institution that is vitally important to the entire St. Louis region. The park is recognized as an important gathering place where people of all ages, races and economic backgrounds can gather and mix in a positive way.

It is the home to the region's major cultural institutions--the Zoo, Art Museum, History Museum, Science center and the Municipal ( Muny ) Opera. It also serves as a sports center for golf, tennis, baseball, bicycling, boating, fishing, handball, ice-skating, roller blading, jogging, cricket, rugby and more.

Forest Park is equally significant from a naturalistic perspective. In a city where 80% of the land has been developed for business, industry or residential uses, the park serves as a natural oasis for the city, an important source of green space, a respite for migrating bird, and an integrated ecosystem where humans and nature interact.

The Parkway Hotel is located just one block from the northeast corner of Forest Park at Kingshighway and Lindell Boulevards.