If you want room to breathe without leaving West County, Town and Country delivers. You get mature trees, generous lots, and easy access to parks and trails that make daily outdoor time simple. If you love horses, you also have unique public programs and nearby riding options to round out your routine. In this guide, you’ll see how the city’s parks, regional trail network, and zoning rules shape real outdoor and equestrian living, plus what to check before you buy. Let’s dive in.
Why Town and Country feels “country”
Town and Country blends quiet residential streets with curated green space. The city maintains a compact park system totaling over 60 acres that focuses on trails, play areas, pavilions, and the city’s signature historic farm setting. You also sit next to one of St. Louis County’s largest parks, which adds miles of trails and wide-open fields to your weekend plans. Together, this creates a semi-rural feel without giving up suburban convenience.
- City parks and rentals are listed on the official site, which makes it easy to find hours, pavilions, and contacts for events and programs. You can explore all four parks on the city’s Parks & Recreation page.
Signature parks at your doorstep
Longview Farm Park: Equestrian heart of the city
Longview Farm Park is the community’s outdoor centerpiece. The property features a historic farmhouse available for rentals, ornamental gardens, a small lake, and looped trails under one mile. You can walk past the on-site barn and pasture and learn about the equine-assisted therapy program that operates there. Get event, trail, and rental details on the city’s Longview Farm Park page.
Drace and Preservation: Everyday play and trails
Drace Park (about 9 acres) and Preservation Park (about 12 acres) offer short trails, playgrounds, picnic pavilions, and fields for casual games. Preservation connects to CBC Cadet Park athletic facilities, giving residents even more room to move. For amenities and pavilion info, start with the Drace Park overview, then browse the rest of the city parks.
Queeny Park: The regional greenbelt next door
Edgar M. Queeny Park spans roughly 564 acres and borders parts of Town and Country. It is known for the Hawk Ridge perimeter loop, a roughly 4 to 4.5 mile mixed-surface trail used for hiking, running, and riding. The park also includes a dog park and the Greensfelder Recreation Complex for seasonal ice and roller activities. Learn more on the Queeny Park reference page.
Where horses fit into daily life
Public programs and nearby trails
If you want horses in your week, you can see and support them right in Longview Farm Park. The city’s barn and pasture host an equine-assisted therapy nonprofit, which brings horses into community life in a meaningful way. For longer outings, riders often use the multi-mile loops and open areas at nearby Queeny Park.
Boarding and lessons
Most private boarding and lesson barns operate off-park in the surrounding area. If you are new to the region, reach out to Parks & Recreation for local ideas and to learn about city-hosted programs at Longview. You can find contact and rental information on the city’s Parks & Recreation page.
Can you keep horses at home? Know the rules
Town and Country’s zoning code shapes what you can build and how you can use your land. In the Estate (E) and Suburban Estate (SE) districts, the code permits “farms and orchards,” which supports gardening and hobby orchards on larger lots. Private stables as an accessory to a home, however, require conditional-use approval. The code sets a minimum lot size of 5 acres for private stables and a 60-foot minimum distance from all lot lines. Review these points in the city’s zoning code.
The municipal code also regulates small-scale animal uses. Chickens, for example, are addressed in the Animal Regulations with rules for location, coop standards, and lot sizes. If you plan a coop, start with the city’s Animal Regulations and confirm your parcel’s district.
Accessory buildings have height and footprint limits as well. That matters if you are dreaming of a larger outbuilding or a covered ring. Many projects are possible, but sizes and placements may trigger conditional-use review. Always verify your plan against the zoning code first.
Quick due-diligence checklist
- Check your parcel’s zoning district and lot area in the city’s zoning code.
- Confirm accessory-use and conditional-use requirements for stables, coops, and outbuildings in the zoning code and Animal Regulations.
- Contact Parks & Recreation for park-based equine programs and facility rentals via the Parks & Recreation page.
Designing your outdoor lifestyle on big lots
Large-lot zoning is a hallmark of Town and Country. Minimum lot areas help preserve usable private green space. In the Estate district, the minimum lot area is 80,000 square feet, and in Suburban Estate it is 43,560 square feet. Many districts also require a high percentage of green space and limit building coverage, which keeps yards open for pools, patios, gardens, and play courts. See the standards in the city’s zoning code.
On a one-acre Suburban Estate lot, you can usually plan a generous backyard with a pool, patio, and landscaping while meeting setbacks and open-space requirements. For private stables or a riding ring, you typically need to meet the 5-acre threshold and pursue conditional-use approval. Use the code to confirm what is feasible on a specific address.
Gardening and hobby orchards
Town and Country’s climate supports a broad mix of ornamental and fruiting plants. The area sits around mid-6 to low-7 on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Map. Microclimates matter, so check your property’s exposure and local conditions before you choose species. You can confirm your zone by zip code on the USDA hardiness map.
A day outside in Town and Country
Start with a morning walk at Longview Farm Park. Loop past the farmhouse, the gardens, and the pasture, then grab a few minutes at the lake overlook. Midday, take the kids to Drace or Preservation for playground time and a shaded picnic. On the weekend, head to Queeny for the Hawk Ridge loop and a few rolling hills. You will feel a world away, yet you are still minutes from home.
For sellers: showcase outdoor and equestrian potential
Buyers in Town and Country look for usable outdoor space. If you are selling, highlight sightlines to lawns and gardens, stage patios for dining and play, and show how your lot can support seasonal living. If your property allows it, note code-compliant areas for a sport court, greenhouse, or garden. Avoid marketing features that would require permits unless you have approvals in hand.
For elevated presentation, lean on professional staging, photography, and targeted digital marketing. Those services help buyers imagine the lifestyle that your lot makes possible.
Ready to evaluate a property’s potential or position your listing for this audience? Connect with The Lottmann Group to schedule a market consultation.
FAQs
Are horses allowed on Town and Country properties?
- Sometimes. Private stables as a home accessory use require conditional-use approval, a minimum lot size of 5 acres, and a 60-foot setback from lot lines. Confirm details in the city’s zoning code.
Where can you ride horses near Town and Country?
- For longer loops, riders use trails at nearby Queeny Park. For municipal equine programming, see the barn and therapy program at Longview Farm Park.
Can you keep chickens or plant an orchard in Town and Country?
- “Farms and orchards” are permitted in Estate and Suburban Estate districts, while chickens are regulated with location, lot size, and coop standards. Start with the zoning code and Animal Regulations.
What lot size supports pools and courts in Town and Country?
- A one-acre Suburban Estate lot often supports a pool, patio, and gardens within open-space limits, but larger outbuildings or rings face height and footprint rules. Review standards in the zoning code.
How long are the main trails at Queeny Park?
- The Hawk Ridge loop is commonly referenced as roughly 4 to 4.5 miles around the park perimeter. See the Queeny Park overview.
Where can you find park rentals and contacts?
- The city posts park hours, pavilion rentals, and Longview Farm House details on the Parks & Recreation page.
