On the northwest edge of St. Louis, just blocks away from Washington University, University City is known for its diversity, accessibility, and a balanced blend of quiet neighborhoods and a vibrant downtown. University City (“U. City” to the locals) features a range of living options, from historic homes in quiet neighborhoods to apartments along the famous U. City Delmar Loop.

See our complete list of other St. Louis neighborhoods.

THE FEEL

Even among St. Louis neighborhoods, University City is well known for its racial, ethnic, and age blend. Being close to two universities and a seminary school, many professors, students, and artists-in-residence call University City home.

University City also has more parks per square mile than any other suburb, with over 200 acres of park space. It also has a number of small, beautiful public gardens, due in part to the U City in Bloom Program, a citizen directed and run program providing the area with beautiful gardens and plantings. The University City municipal government also has its own Green Practices Commission.

HISTORY

The love affair with this unique section of St. Louis real estate began around the time of the 1904 World’s Fair that was held in nearby Forest Park. According to www.ucity.org, magazine publisher Edward Gardner Lewis purchased the land to be known as University City in 1902 and opened the still undeveloped “residential community with comfortable homes for people of an upper middle class” to campers for the event. Lewis would later build the headquarters for his magazine empire in University City, which currently serves as City Hall.

ACCESSIBILITY

University City is bordered on the west by I-170, making for easy airport access and access to the other highways running through St. Louis. It is also a short drive to Forest Park, which includes the St. Louis Zoo, Art Museum, and History Museum. There are Metrolink stops in key areas of the city, and plans are in the work for a historic trolley to run up and down The Loop area.

CULTURE

University City is home to the Center of Creative Arts (COCA), which has a nationally recognized pre-professional dance training program and many programs for adults and kids.

The public library, established in 1939, houses more than 150,000 volumes, as well as music and spoken recordings, videotape and DVD collections, and numerous works of art. The library is open seven days a week.

ENTERTAINMENT

University City has the most active downtown entertainment and restaurant district in the St. Louis region, locally known as the Delmar Loop. “The Loop” is famous for its fantastic restaurants, live music scene, and mix of trendy and eclectic shops. A leisurely night could include taking a walk down Delmar and reading about St. Louis’s bright stars on the Walk for Fame, people watching over drinks (outdoors in the summer!), dining at one of the many excellent restaurants, or watching a movie at the Tivoli theatre. There is also a concert venue and vintage-styled bowling alley just over the city line.

Besides The Loop, University City is home to The Green Center botanical gardens and Ruth Park Golf Course. Olive Boulevard (The “Olive corridor”) also features a number of ethnic Asian restaurants, grocery stores, and shops.

Every year, U. City also holds “Fair U City” which features a Jazz Fest, carnival rides, great food, and more.

SCHOOLS

Public:

Julia Goldstein Early Childhood

Barbara C. Jordan

Flynn Park

Jackson Park

Pershing

Brittany Woods Middle

University City High

 

Private:

The Freedom School

Torah Prep School

PARKS & REC

Acker Park - 6600 Delmar | 3.5 acre park with playground.

Eastgate Park - Vernon and Eastgate | 0.93 acre park with playground and basketball courts. 

Flynn Park | This 6.61 acre park includes 5 tennis courts and playground.

Fogerty Park - North 82nd Blvd | This large neighborhood park is ideal for all day outings. Picnic area has weatherproof shelter with restrooms. Other facilities of this 11.80 acre park consists of a full size baseball diamond, children's playground, half mile jogging trail and two tennis courts.

 Greensfelder Park - 8333 Fullerton | 6.75 acres with a ball diamond and playground. 

Heman Park | This is University City's largest park encompassing 85.26 acres and serving the entire community. Outdoor facilities include restroom facilities, several picnic areas, two large baseball diamonds, 6 softball diamonds, 2 regulation baseball diamonds, 4 little league baseball diamonds, paved basketball courts, horseshoe courts, 8 tennis courts, 3 soccer fields, 2 football fields, a 1-1/2 mile jogging course and a large playground. Six of the tennis courts are lighted for night use. Also located in Heman Park are the large outdoor pool, soccer facility, Community Center and park maintenance garage. 

The Heman Park Community Center - 975 Pennsylvania | A multi-purpose facility available for rent. The facility includes two meeting halls that can be converted to one large room. It is equipped with two kitchens. 

The Heman Park Recreation Facility - 7210 Olive Street Road | The facility includes a large turf area, which can be rented for playing soccer, an indoor 1/10 mile track 2 - half basketball courts, game room with ping-pong, pool and foozball tables, fitness room with two treadmills, stair stepper, upright exercise bike, two recumbent exercise bikes, three EFX machines, an "AB" machine, a Butt Buster machine, a variety of free hand weights and 12-station weight machine Heman Pool accommodates the summer playground and teen activities programs, swimming classes, the summer DARE program, Water Aerobic classes and practice sessions for the University City Swim Club and a Lap Swim Program.

Kaufman Park - Mulberry and Blackberry | This 7.77 acre park offers four tennis courts, a tennis practice area, a playground and separate tot lot for small children and a natural wooded area suitable for nature study.

Kingsland Park - Kingsland at Chamberlain | This park is 0.84 acres and includes a children's tot lot.

Lewis Park - Delmar at Yale | Four acres featuring a decorative pond with fountain and playground. 

Janet Majerus Park - Raymond and Partridge Aves | Five acres featuring a decorative pond with fountain, 1/3 mile jogging trail, fitness stations and children's playground.

Metcalfe Park - Kingsland Avenue | Two ball fields and playground on 5.6 acres. 

Millar Park | A larger neighborhood park with 12.19 acres offering a playground area, picnic shelter with restrooms, two baseball diamonds, football field and ½ mile jogging trail with fitness stations.

Mooney Park - Jackson Avenue | 5.2 acres with playground and basketball courts.

Northmoor Park - Big Bend, South of Forsyth | Undeveloped 1.6 acre green space.

Rabe Park - Midland at Canton | Two-acre park with a children's playground. 

Ruth Park Woods | A 26-acre wooded tract with interpretive nature trails developed in cooperation with Missouri Department of Conservation and volunteers.

Ruth Park Golf Course - 8211 Groby Road | The nine-hole Ruth Park Golf Course serves the University City golfing public and is open to non-residents as well. Since 1931, it has had the reputation of being a challenging, well-maintained and popular course.

QUICK STATS

Population: 37,428

Zip Codes: 63105, 63124, 63130

Hospital: St. Louis Children's, Barnes-Jewish

Libraries: University City

Connect: U City, MO

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