Citygarden is a free downtown sculpture park that turns two city blocks on Market Street into a public art gallery you can walk through at any hour. It sits at 801 Market Street between 8th and 10th Streets, a short walk from the Arch grounds, the Old Courthouse and the MetroLink station at 8th and Pine, and it is open from sunrise until 10 pm every day of the year. Sculptures are placed among limestone walls, grassy terraces, native plantings and water features, so the garden works as a landscape first and a collection second. You can follow the paths with the free audio tour, which is available on the park's website, or simply wander and let pieces appear around corners. In summer the Children's Spray Plaza runs daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, which makes the garden one of the most popular places for downtown families to cool off. In autumn the video wall hosts short films from a local film organization, and holiday lights and decorations typically run from November through February. The garden was expanded in recent years and remains one of the easiest, most rewarding stops in the city centre.
How to visit
There is no admission fee and no ticket. Metered parking downtown is enforced Monday through Saturday during the day and is free on Sundays and holidays, and nearby surface lots and garages are an alternative. The MetroLink station at 8th and Pine is about a block north. The site is described as accessible, with accessible parking close to the entrances. You are welcome to bring a picnic and eat in the park, though grills and picnic furniture are not allowed.
What to expect
This is a gentle visit, usually 30 to 60 minutes. The two water features, the Split Basin and Voyager Pool, are for looking at, not for swimming or wading, and the park asks visitors not to climb the waterfall or the limestone wall. The spray plaza is the exception: children can play there in season, with swim diapers required for little ones and a caregiver nearby.
There are rules worth knowing before you go. Bikes, skateboards, scooters and similar wheeled devices, drones and alcohol are not allowed, glass containers are prohibited, and dogs must be on a leash. Self-guided brochures are available in the park, and downtown walking tours run by the local historical society start here.
Making the most of it
Citygarden fits neatly between the Arch and the other downtown sights, so use it as a break rather than a destination. Walk over from the Old Courthouse, spend half an hour with the sculptures, and carry on to a late lunch. Mornings are quietest for photographs, and the garden looks good after dark when the lights come up in the cooler months. In summer, bring a change of clothes for children if you plan to use the spray plaza.
Because the garden is free and always open, it is also a good fallback when a timed ticket falls through or the weather improves unexpectedly. On a dry day it is also a good place for a quick, free coffee-and-sit break between museums, since benches and lawns are scattered throughout and the 8th and Pine station is close.
What to expect
The experience
A free, always-open sculpture garden with fountains, lawns, a seasonal spray plaza and a free audio tour.
Best time
Mornings for quiet photographs, summer afternoons for the spray plaza, and evenings in cooler months when the lights come up.
How long
Thirty to sixty minutes.
Tips
Download the audio tour first, remember that bikes, scooters, alcohol and glass are not allowed, and note that the spray plaza runs only from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Art lovers, families, and anyone who wants a free break between downtown sights.
- Families
- The summer spray plaza and open lawns are a hit, and picnics are welcome.
- Couples
- A relaxed stroll with the sculptures, especially in the evening.
- Pair with
- The Old Courthouse and the Gateway Arch grounds, both a short walk away.
- Time needed
- Half an hour to an hour.
Good questions
Is Citygarden free?+
Yes. There is no admission fee, and the garden is open every day of the year from sunrise to 10 pm.
Where is Citygarden?+
It is at 801 Market Street in downtown St. Louis, between 8th and 10th Streets. The 8th and Pine MetroLink station is about a block away.
When does the spray plaza run?+
The Children's Spray Plaza operates daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, in the middle of the day. Swim diapers are required for young children.
Can I bring a picnic or my dog?+
You can eat in the park and bring a picnic, but grills and picnic furniture are not allowed. Dogs are welcome on a leash.
What is not allowed at Citygarden?+
Bikes, skateboards, scooters, drones, alcohol and glass containers are not allowed, and visitors should not climb the waterfall or limestone wall.
