Turtle Playground, which features three large and four small turtles, was officially opened in cermonies Saturday, Aug. 3, 1996. It is at Oakland and Tamm avenues, on the south side of Forest Park.

A joint project of the city's Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry and Forest Park Forever, it is a playground within Forest Park. The turtles were designed and sculpted by St. Louis artist Robert Cassilly. The park was designed by architect Richard Claybour.

Robert Cassilly designed and modeled the concrete turtles to resemble real reptiles.

Visitors will find a snapping turtle, a soft-shelled turtle, a red-eared slider, a Mississippi map, three box turtles and a stinkpot along with a snake that is curled to form an area for sitting and a serpent taking a bite out of the Highway 40 overpass. Seven large eggs, three with emerging turtles, adorn the sitting area.

Mrs. Sonya (Sunny) Glassberg, who donated the playground to Forest Park, proposed the project to the Parks Department, chose the site and decided on the concept of turtles for the children's park. The cost is estimated to be $200,000. She is shown at left with Robert Cassilly at the grand opening ceremony.

The three large turtles have plaques naming them for Sunny Glassberg's children Richard, Sally and Tom. The four small turtles are named for her grandchildren Antonio, David, Adam and Emily. Her daughter, Sally, and her family are shown at right sitting on the turtle named for her.

The playground is open from dawn until 10 p.m. daily.