Ahhh . . . March. In the Midwest, March means two things: unpredictable weather and basketball. Thankfully, the latter doesn’t depend as much on the former. As much of America hunkers down for some March Madness in the form of tournament basketball, cities throughout the Midwest endure a different kind of March madness in the form of snow one day and sunshine the next. HOWEVER, Kansas City (unlike some cities a little further north) gets a glorious taste of spring this time each year. Might it snow during the second or third week of March? Perhaps. But there are typically windows of gorgeous weather that tell us spring is around the corner. This is why we think it appropriate to highlight the best parks in Kansas City and the inflatable obstacle courses to fill them.
A winter of being cooped up indoors is one thing, but let’s not ignore the obvious . . . our world has been through the WRINGER over the last two years and it definitely seems like we are getting over a fairly large pandemic hump. Combine winter with a general public who is itching to get outside, and we recommend finding a park nearby to picnic, play games, and blow up an inflatable obstacle course alongside friends and family.
As for the Kansas City Metro, we know this town is such a family-friendly place to raise kiddos. But whether you’re bringing children along, planning the perfect picnic date, or gathering a community of friends or colleagues, we want to highlight a few of our favorite parks in the metro to meet up.
Best Parks in Kansas City and Where to Find Them
For those who know Kansas City well, you know this isn’t a very small task—narrowing down the best parks in Kansas City. But here we are . . . going out on a limb to inform you, the public, about some gems in town. (Some hidden, some well known). We’d love your feedback on any of the listed parks below, and of course the ones we missed!
- Loose Park. One of the oldest, most well-known, and historic parks in Kansas City, Loose Park sits on 75 acres in a unique part of the metro: just south of the Country Club Plaza. Its location, in proximity to Midtown and Downtown KC, makes it a prime spot to visit before heading out for a downtown dinner or event experience.
- Meadowbrook Park. Hopping across the state line, Meadowbrook Park has come on strong as one of the best parks in Kansas City for a few reasons. For one, this “park” is nestled alongside way more than a park. Meadowbrook Park sits on the same property (that once was Meadowbrook Country Club and Golf Course) as the new Meadowbrook Inn and Verbena Restaurant. Whether you have family or friends in from out of town or looking to plan a date or anniversary, the southeast end of this park has you covered. As for the north end? You can’t miss the GIANT playground for kids of all ages—well, there are some high heights you might want to watch out for with little kids. The park is beside a bustling set of pickleball courts you’ll often see filled with players on the weekend.
- Antioch Park. Now, this is a park that, although historic in its own right, is a little more tucked away than others on this list. Therefore, you might not know Antioch Park exists, but lucky for you . . . we’ve got you covered! With some unique features such as replica towns in Kansas of old, your kiddos will love running in and out of old-time shops throughout the park’s core. Other features include small lakes and ponds to walk alongside.
- Shawnee Mission Park. Speaking of lakes and ponds, the next two parks offer some wonderful water features to experience in the great outdoors! Although Kansas City isn’t near a giant body of water, two of the best parks in Kansas City do a good job of providing water activities alongside other sprawling trails to walk, hike, or bike. Shawnee Mission Park is located west of the city, and you can truly feel the beauty as you pull into the park’s parking lot. With recent renovations to the entrance of the park, we’re willing to bet your family is overdue for a trip out to SMP ASAP!
- Lake Olathe Park. Another park that has BIG vision but is slightly off the beaten path for some. For many Olathe residents, you don’t need to describe Lake Olathe Park. Another recently renovated park, this wonderful park contains a full-on water park in the summer in addition to dry land activities for all. Don’t let spring or summer of 2022 go by without visiting!
Kick It Up a Notch with These Inflatable Obstacle Courses
Boom! There you have it with five of the best parks in Kansas City. We know you might have some strong opinions, but we did our best to spread the love across this wonderfully wide metro area. Now for the really fun part . . . kicking your community experience up a notch. See below for a list of inflatable obstacle courses to set up at any of these parks to make for an unforgettable birthday party, team building activity, church event, family reunion, or wedding reception!
Note: Some of these public parks might require a permit to set up an inflatable obstacle course, so please check with each city’s public parks department accordingly.
No matter which inflatable obstacle course you choose, our main “call to action” is that you get out there with friends and family in 2022, because we know the world is in need of a little more fresh air these days. And we also know (for a FACT!) that the world could use a lot more fun.
