My children love this park because of the merry go round. Do you remember those merry go round playground toys from your youth? Quite honestly, I did not believe that they still existed out in the world of public playgrounds anymore. They are simply a disk with handrails by which children can spin around at high speed. The fun ends when children either fall off or get dragged by the spinning device. Either way, there are tears and fussing and then, once this is over, the kids get right back on and repeat. Good fun. Actually, I remember enjoying these things when I was a child, so who am I to deprive my daughters of some good old fashioned playground fun.
The playground is large but not unwieldy. I am able to keep sightlines with both of my preschool daughters as they play in different areas, on the slides and jungle gym, in the sandbox, on the swings, on the merry go round, etc. The spacious play area is great for the little ones to run around, but the large area is more or less contained by its own parameters (although there are no fences). There is access to public toilets by the picnic area which is a short walk downhill from the playground. The lavatories meet expectations (neither pristine nor filthy).
There are two parking lots, one near the picnic areas and the other by the Shawnee Mission East High School baseball field. Both are quite serviceable, though when I was last there I had to park along the street because there were so many cars. Fortunately, my four year olds were more than able to manage the trek. read more