MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. – On Monday afternoon, Creve Coeur Lake Park was filled with people enjoying the sunshine and record-high temperatures.

“The parking lot was full. That was probably the hardest thing was finding parking,” Angela Collins of St. Peters said.

Curtis Buckhannon, a regular at Creve Coeur Lake Park, has been watching things thaw out.

“I was last out here to look at the frozen waterfall two weeks ago and a week later, too, gradually watching it turn to water,” he said.

Many people are tired of being cooped up indoors with the rough January weather.

“I hibernate during the winter. I don’t know about everybody else. But when it’s cold, I really don’t like to go outside,” Nate McGhee said.

But today was the perfect day to do just that.

“Been waiting on a good warm day to try to get back moving again. To get out and get some exercise,” McGhee said.

“Well, I just couldn’t pass up a day in February like this to come out and ride my bike. I come out here a lot,” Buckhannon.

“We’re going to walk around the whole lake. Got to get that exercise in,” said Julie Thimyan, walking her puppy at the park for the first time.

“Being able to do this when the sun is out, the snow is gone. You know, why not take advantage?” Nicole Clay of St. Louis said.

The nice weather helped to boost everyone’s moods.

“Seasonal depression is real. You know, I supplement with vitamins, you know, to kind of get this type of feeling throughout the winter so that helps,” Clay said.

“It’s just a good day to get natural vitamin D in. it’s kind of my thing to come here and walk so I took the first opportunity we got this year. Yeah, it’s like the perfect weather,” Collins said.

With the crowds at the park, it was hard to believe it’s a Monday looking more like it would on a weekend.

“I think everyone is taking off of work. Playing hooky. You know, this is the day to be out here at Creve Coeur Lake. It’s like it’s so wonderful out here. God is so good. I’m tellin’ ya,” Thimyan said.