Four coordination polymers {[Ca(3-pa) 2(H 2O) 2]·3H 2O} ( 1), {[Sr(3-pa) 2(H 2O) 2]·3H 2O} ( 2), {[Ca(4-pa) 2(H 2O) 4]} ( 3) and {[Sr(4-pa)(H 2O) 6]·[4-pa]} ( 4), (3-pa = pyridine-3-carboxylate, 4-pa = pyridine-4-carboxylate) have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Lots of noncovalent interactions were found in the four compounds, aiding the formation of high-dimensional architectures from the low-dimensional structures. Complex 1 and 2 feature similar 1-D chain structures, which adopt face-to-face orientation to form an interesting 2-D network with pipe-like motif. Chain-like water clusters consisting of infinite tetragonal unit are trapped and stabled in the vacuums of the pipelines. The 2-D sheets are further connected into 3-D architecture by noncovalent interactions. Complex 3 has a discrete mononuclear structure, which is further connected into a 3-D framework by hydrogen bonds and π ···π interactions. In complex 4, the zigzag-like chain structure units are parallel to each other and pack in ABAB mode to give rise to a 2-D network, which is stabled by π···π stacking and hydrogen bonds. The counteranions in 4 are hosted between the nets and act as “glue” linking the 2-D networks into a 3-D architecture. In addition, the photoluminescence properties of the compounds have been investigated.