Terry Park

Terry Park is 1 of 108 St. Louis parks.  It makes up 4 of the total 2,956 acres of dedicated park space.  A 4 acre parks seems to be just about the perfect size for the area.  I really like the layout of the park.

The park was placed into ordinance in 1945 and was named in honor of Dr. Robert James Terry, a man well known nationally and locally for his contributions to medical literature. He was also one of the founders of the association which later became the St. Louis Audubon Society (source).

image source: Wash U School of Medicine Bernhard Becker Archives

Robert James Terry was born in St. Louis, Missouri on January 24, 1871. He finished his pre-medical education at Cornell University in New York in 1892. Terry was accepted into the class of 1895 at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. However, after one year of study, financial troubles forced him to leave Columbia University. He returned to St. Louis and completed his medical education at Missouri Medical College, graduating cum laude in 1895. Following graduation, he established a private practice in St. Louis and was appointed as Assistant Director in Anatomy at Missouri Medical College....

Dr. Terry went on to work at Wash U.

In addition to his work at Washington University and his dedication to anatomical education, Terry was also an active member of a number of local and national organizations. He was a founding member of both the American Journal of Anatomy and the American Association of Physical Anthropology, an organization for which he later served as President and Associate Editor of the affiliated journal. Terry also served as president of the St. Louis Academy of Science and the editor of the Washington University Medical Alumni Quarterly. He was also very active in naturalist circles, founding organizations such as the St. Louis Naturalist Club in 1898 and the St. Louis Bird Club in 1901. He also collaborated in the establishment of a migratory bird treaty between the United States and Great Britain and assisted in the founding of the St. Louis Bird Sanctuary. Due to his dedication and passion for nature, Terry was recognized by the City of St. Louis in 1959, when a park at the corner of Eads and Compton was named for him. Dr. Terry remained an active member of both the medical and naturalist communities until his death in 1966. (source)

The park is located in the Gate District and is bordered by Eads Avenue to the north, Louisiana Avenue to the est, Henrietta Street to the south and S. Compton Avenue to the east.

Note the nice density of buildings to the south and east and then to the north it is getting more spotty as many of the homes have been razed.  Then to the west it is completely empty.  That space is near St. Louis University and likely is owned by them (my guess is based upon the "No Trespassing" signs that dot the vast fields of SLU in these parts.  

It is a dumping ground of sorts and detracts from the nice residential to the east.  

This is an exciting part of the Gate District right now as CF. Vatterott homes is building an additional 25 single family homes (at market rate).

This fantastic location offers quick and easy access to Highways 44 and 40!  Located between SLU Medical Center/Cardinal Glennon Hospital on South Grand and CF Vatterott's St. Vincent community of 100 new homes, and just north of HWY 44 - you can't get more centrally located than Terry Park Place!  Minutes from Wells Fargo Advisors and within sight of the medical centers with easy access to both Hwy 40 and 44 - leave the drive behind and live in the middle of it all!   

Terry Park Place will consist of just 25 Single Family homes that have impressive architectural features with all new exterior elevation designs! (source)

Prices range from $179,900 to $297,300, so this is great for the neighborhood and Terry Park will serve the new resident quite well.  Vatterott previously built quite a few homes in the Gate District.  

infill on Eads Avenue, overlooking Terry Park

The park has a nice basketball court, playground, multi-purpose field and a couple pavilions that are rather odd in design as they don't really provide any shade or shelter.  I've not seen this design yet anywhere else in the city.

There are some mature trees that provide nice shade around the playgrounds.  And newer trees including bald cypress along S. Compton Avenue have been planted and will look great as they mature in the next 10 years or so.

The park has a good feel.  If I were living in the neighborhood and could fix one thing it would be to remove the dilapidated chain link fence that surrounds much of the park.  It is in poor condition and cheapens the look of the area.  

I've never understood fencing a park...is that meant to say "keep out"?  Why not have the park's department remove them and you immediately simplify the care of the park (less weed whacking) and greatly improve the perimeter of the park and allow easy access for the current and future residents of the area.

Terry Park should serve the new residents quite well.