(Writer’s Note: With the majority of COVID restrictions already expired, or soon to, many families will be looking to finally get out of the house and enjoy the outdoors again. Fun and Free will seek to highlight a number of great options throughout the Upper Ohio Valley where all, or at minimum most, of the amenities are free to use.).
Continuing east through Belmont County, we come to the third stop on our weekly list, Memorial Park in St. Clairsville.
All of the three stops highlighted thus far have been parks of some sort, either city or state parks. Many offer some of the same amenities. But each also has its own unique activity—free activity—that can serve as a drawing point for families and individual adventurers to seek out.
For Barnesville’s Memorial Park, it’s an impressive playground. It’s not called the Amazing Playground for the sake of it. For Barkcamp? Few places in the area offer swimming free of charge. But the swim beach at Belmont Lake inside Barkcamp State Park does just that.
St. Clairsville’s Memorial Park isn’t as large as either of the aforementioned places, but it does offer its fair share of both free and paid activities. And, like the other two, it has its own unique draw.
Here, it’s the 18 “hole” disc golf course that’s spread throughout the park grounds. Originally constructed with nine holes, a relatively recent expansion took the course up to the full 18.
There are currently two “tees” at each hole, the red for beginners and white for intermediate. According to the Memorial Park web page, advanced blue tees will be added soon.
Disc golf is similar to regular golf both in terms of approach and scoring. But, instead of clubs and golf balls, participants use smaller discs and use multiple throwing techniques to get from the tee to the hole.
It gives Memorial Park a unique feature as the closest courses are at Grand Vue Park in Moundsville and also in Wellsburg.
And as is the theme with this place, it’s free of charge to play. All you need is a set of discs, which you can pick up for well under $50 bucks online or at sporting good stores. They are “slightly” cheaper than a new set of golf clubs.
The main portion of the playground 
The basketball court is pictured, along with the tennis and pickleball courts behind it. 
The map for the roughly 1-mile nature trail is pictured.
Other Amenities
Disc golf is far from the only free activity at Memorial Park.
The facility’s revamped playground recently was given its new surface covering the entirety of the playground area. A few years ago, the park district opted to remove the popular wooden-style playground equipment and apparatuses and install modernized equipment, similar to the upgrade at Barnesville.
There are still multiple areas to climb, slide, swing, and enjoy oneself. The rope tree is still there for those wishing to brave the heights to reach the top. The are also multiple swings, a tire swing, and benches for parents to sit and watch or catch a breather.
Below, there are basketball courts, tennis courts, and pickleball courts. The basketball court was recently expanded with a half-court area behind the backboard of the main full-sized court. All three hoops received new metal backboards.
The tennis courts were also resurfaced in recent years. Further down below, there is a parking lot next to a bathroom facility and a nearby picnic shelter. That shelter also features a few other playground-style options, albeit a bit older and aimed at a younger age group.
Memorial Park also features a wooded walking trail, the Newlin Falls Nature Trail. The NFNT is roughly 1-mile in length. It is wide, hilly, and lined with mulch. A bridge was installed recently, and the path features two small waterfalls.
The trail, like the park itself, is open from dawn until dusk. While that’s the only trail, the park grounds themselves can be used for pedestrian exercise, as the various grounds wind around the park in a lengthy oval that features a number of hills and valleys to increase difficulty.
In the summer, when St. Clairsville Post 159 is playing games at the field, entrance is also free of charge. And, when neither the legion team, nor St. Clairsville High School is using it, the field can be utilized.
Non-Free Amenities
Another big feature of Memorial Park is Allen Pool. Family passes are available, or visitors can purchase a day pass. Children 2 and under are admitted free, 3-17 and 60-and-over are $3 apiece. All other adult admissions are $5.
Weather permitting, Allen Pool is open daily from noon until 6 p.m. with moonlight swims and movie nights offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Memorial Park Facebook page is a good spot to check for any pool updates or special events.
It features two diving boards, a corkscrew-style slide and a concession stand serving cool drinks and food, perfect for hourly 15-minute rest periods at the pool, otherwise referred to as adult swim time.
The park features a number of shelters and picnic pavilions, all of which, much like Allen Pool, can be reserved for private parties and gatherings.
